The 3-Bros 24 Hours of Glen Helen has become an iconic off-road race happening in Southern California. For 2021, over 300 riders on 62 teams came out to test themselves against the time, fatigue, and each other. The course was 9.1 miles around and included the Glen Helen National track, the Vet track, the Lucas Oil truck track, fire roads, and the single track. At the far end of the course, the riders even got a glimpse of the San Manuel Amphitheater before diving back into the ever-more challenging conditions in the dirt.

Chance Fullerton took the lead after helping an injured Colton Aeck.

This year, the battle for the overall lead got more and more intense as the race progressed. Early in the race, the D37 team of Hayden Hintz, Ryan Surratt, Tucker Hopkins, and Brandon Gravley led the show. Soon, the 3-Bros pro team of Colton Aeck, Giacomo Redondi, RJ Wageman, and Nick Stover took over with the Dirt Bike Test Team of Chance Fullerton, Trevor Hunter, Thomas Dunn, and Tyler Belknap following. The 3-Bros team managed to stretch it out at one point, but could never get a full lap ahead. Then their KTM 450 started losing clutch hydraulic fluid. While they struggled with that, the DB Test guys caught up, leading to a showdown in the wee hours of the morning. Chance Fullerton and Colton Aeck were on the two bikes at sunrise, pushing hard when Aeck went down and got trapped under his bike. Fullerton stopped and helped free him, but the damage was done. Aeck limped back in with severe burns from his own exhaust pipe. That opened the door for the Fullerton/Hunter/Belknap/Dunn team to take the overall win.

Brandon Gravley’s team led early in the event and eventually finished third.

The Ironman competition has become more and more intense over the years. At one time, riders could take brief naps and ride at a conservative pace. Not any more. Michael Fichera barely took a break in his 24-hour ordeal to take the win in a packed class. He completed over 66 laps to finish 11th overall. Michael Stewart rushed him the whole way.

Michael Fichera was the top Ironman.

Tyler Gandolfo’s team won the 250 Expert class.

Team Dirt Bike Magazine won the Industry class with Travis Fant, Sean Lipanovich, Sean Foos, Jared Hicks and Richard Taylor.

Mathew Canepa rode on the first-place Open Intermediate team.

The media was well represented at the 24 Hours of Glen Helen this year. Keefer testing put together a team using a $1500 Craigslist bike.

Colton Aeck leads Stephan Pangburn just before his sunrise get-off.