Slaw
Right about now, you’re probably icing your aching back, popping a few Advil, and questioning every life decision that led you to voluntarily sign up for 8 hours and 20 minutes of racing. What the hell was I thinking?! You say outloud to anyone willing to listen. But then the soreness starts to fade. You remember all the laughs, the good times with your buddies, the absolute chaos, and just how much damn fun you had.
And suddenly, that one question starts creeping back into your head… When does registration open for next year?
That’s the magic of the Michelin Vurbmoto 500 East. It’s a little bit of racing, a whole lot of suffering, and somehow one of the best weekends you’ll have on a dirt bike.
The 500 East returned to Lincoln Trail in Casey, Illinois, and once again, a bunch of dirt bike enthusiasts willingly signed themselves up for 500 minutes of what we like to call Fundurance. Some showed up with stacked teams, fresh equipment, and dreams of winning. Others rolled in with a couple of buddies, questionable fitness, and a cooler full of beverages. Both approaches were perfectly acceptable. And that’s the beauty of the 500. You can go all out for the win, ride a few laps, hang out in the pits, or spend most of your afternoon wondering why you thought this was a good idea in the first place.
EVERYONE who signed up for this event is a savage. There is no questioning that. Yes, it is fun. But, it is also demanding and after 8 hours and 20 minutes of racing, a few teams and riders had some serious bragging rights.
Thanks to the Prospect app, we are breaking down the stats from the second 500 East. Make sure to download the app FOR FREE on the App Store and Google Play to check out full results and analytics, event photos and so much more.
All photos via Damon DeWeese of 151 MX Photography. Looking for event photos? You can also find those on the Prospect app. Go direct to the photos here.
The Ironmen Are a Different Breed
First up, we have to give some love to the absolute lunatics who looked at an eight-hour-and-20-minute race and decided teammates were overrated. We’re talking about the Solo Savages, better known as the Ironman Class. No teammates to hand the bike off to. No one to bail you out when things get tough. Just you, your dirt bike, and 500 minutes of questioning your life choices. We’re not sure whether to congratulate these people or recommend professional help, but either way, they deserve a hell of a lot of respect.
Joseph Sapienza (#408) put together a monster ride, completing 25 laps with an average lap time of 20:06.361. His fastest lap came in at 19:04.581. Think about that for a second. Twenty-five laps. Solo. On a course that was doing absolutely nobody any favors. Oh, and to make his race even more impressive, he finished 5th (!!!!!!!) overall. Take a second and re-read that. Of the over 100 teams that competed he finished 5th!!!!
Joseph alone in putting up impressive numbers. Tobin Miller (#917) recorded 23 laps, with a best lap of 18:58.205 and took second overall. Gage Hulsey (#616) also completed 23 laps and rounded out the podium.
Like we said, different breed.
Ironman Overall Results
Team Garver Takes the 2-Man Overall
In the 2-Rider division, Team Garver (#113) got the job done, taking the overall win after completing 23 laps around Lincoln Trail. And looking at the Prospect lap times, these guys figured things out as the day went on. After starting with laps in the 23- and 24-minute range, Team Garver found its groove, consistently clicking off laps in the 21- to 22-minute range. Their fastest lap came in at 21:22.486.
That’s the secret to the 500. You don’t necessarily have to be the fastest team out there. You just have to keep moving, avoid any major disasters, and hope your teammate doesn’t spend too much time hanging out in the pits.
Team Two Tired (#209), which might be the most relatable team name of the weekend, finished second overall, while Team Hudnall (#414) rounded out the podium.
2 Rider Overall Results
Moto Misfits Survive the Chaos to Claim 3-Rider Overall
They call themselves the Moto Misfits, and judging by their day at Lincoln Trail, the name couldn’t be more fitting. It wasn’t always pretty, it certainly wasn’t perfect, but when you’re racing for eight hours and 20 minutes, sometimes a little chaos is just part of the deal.
The Moto Misfits (#213) started strong, leading the opening lap before things went sideways. A brutal 29:02.050 third lap sent them tumbling all the way back to sixth. They clawed their way back through the field, reclaimed the lead on Lap 10, and never gave it up. By the end, the squad had completed 23 laps, averaging 21:51.540 per lap and throwing down their fastest lap of the day, an 18:57.227, on Lap 16.
That’s right. More than halfway through 500 minutes of Fundurance, these guys were still finding speed. It was a fitting win for a team called the Moto Misfits. A little messy, a little unpredictable, but ultimately getting the job done when it mattered most.
Team Goose (#615) finished second overall, with Goon Racing Posse (#102) rounding out the 3-Rider podium.
3 Rider Team Overall
Team LGT Dethrones the Defending Champs in 4-Rider Overall
Heavy is the crown, and apparently, defending a 500 East title isn’t as easy as we—Team Vurb—thought it would be.
The defending champions returned to Lincoln Trail with a stacked lineup featuring Jace Owen, Skyler Leaf, Randy Richardson (the Fastest Man in Piedmont), and late addition Braxtyn Mes, who stepped in to replace Gavin Faith.
On paper, that’s a pretty solid squad. Unfortunately for the boys, Team LGT (#203) didn’t get the memo that Team Vurb was supposed to win again.
Team LGT came out swinging and never let up, leading all 28 laps en route to the 4-Rider overall victory. And these guys were absolutely hauling the mail. They averaged an impressive 18:12.631 per lap and laid down a blistering 16:33.597 on Lap 25. That lap was the fastest of the event!
That’s right. After more than seven hours of racing, they were still finding ways to go faster. Apparently, nobody told them they were supposed to be getting tired. As for Team Vurb? The boys gave it a solid effort but ultimately had to settle for second overall, with Off in the Sand (#101) rounding out the podium.
The dynasty has officially been interrupted. But don’t worry, we’re already looking ahead to 2027, and we’ve got Jace Owen out pounding laps as we speak.
4 Rider Overall
Team LGT Takes the Overall, Too!
Oh, and did we mention Team LGT didn’t just win the 4-Rider division? They also claimed the overall victory at the Michelin Vurbmoto 500 East, topping the entire field with 28 laps completed.
Team Vurb settled for second overall, while Off in the Sand rounded out the podium.
But how about Joseph Sapienza (#408)? The Ironman savage finished an incredible fifth overall, ahead of plenty of teams that had the luxury of swapping riders throughout the day. Sapienza completed 25 laps all by himself, just three shy of the overall winners.
Let that sink in. One dude, one bike, and a fifth-place finish against teams with multiple riders. If that doesn’t deserve a standing ovation (and probably a week on the couch), we don’t know what does.
Overall Results
And finally, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out and made the Michelin Vurbmoto 500 East another unforgettable weekend of Fundurance. From the racers and their families to our sponsors, partners, and everyone behind the scenes who helped pull this crazy thing off, we couldn’t do it without you.
We’re already kicking around ideas, figuring out what worked, what we can improve, and how we can make this thing even bigger and better next year. Hopefully, the soreness has worn off by then, because we’re already looking forward to doing it all over again.
Thanks for being part of the madness. See you in 2027!
