The recently completed endurance ride, the Hoka Hey Challenge has drawn its fair share of cynics, both from circumstances surrounding the event as well as concerns over the organizers of the 8,300-mile motorcycle race.

In the midst of another tragedy some of the worst suspicions are being realized with reports organizers have declared there is no winner for the cross country challenge meant to test the rider’s ‘warrior spirit’.

A tragic backdrop to the latest twist came with the death of 63-year-old Kenneth J. Greene of Ocala, Florida, who died after crashing his motorcycle Sunday afternoon at Mile 107 of the Glenn Highway near Caribou Creek, between Palmer and Glennallen in Alaska.

Although the first riders had checked in a week ago, it appears Greene was intent on completing the endurance challenge which started in Key West, Florida and officially ended in Homer, Alaska.

Alaska State Troopers say the crash happened after Greene drove onto the shoulder and lost control of his bike. Reportedly not wearing a helmet, he was ejected from the Harley-Davidson motorcycle and died at the scene.

The only other participant known to have died during the Hoka Hey Challenge was Charles C. Lynn, 44, of Sorrento, Florida. Occurring earlier in the challenge authorities suspect Lynn fell asleep while riding southbound on I-25 in Wyoming, which caused his motorcycle to veer off the road and into a median about four miles north of Douglas in Converse County.

Apparently Lynn applied his brakes and tried to steer his bike back onto the roadway when it went into a spin. The motorcycle crashed, ejecting Lynn, who was not wearing a helmet. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The latest death has only managed to heighten the concerns expressed by those both inside and outside of the event. While many have pointed to the questionable past of some organizers, others are seeing their predictions of unfulfilled promises made to participants coming true.

With press releases and on the Hoka Hey website itself, organizers claimed a reality-based documentary would be made filming riders during the challenge. But the absence of any footage being released or even production quality cameras being present during the ride has left many wondering what happened with the television production.

As with the absence of camera crews, the most recent development is an event that didn't take place as promised. Two riders, Frank Kelly of Prosperity, South Carolina and Will Barclay of Highland, Florida crossed the finish line together on Monday morning, June 28^th, apparently winning the prize. Organizers claimed they needed to test the riders, review their riding logs and inspect the motorcycles for any irregularities that may have broken the endurance ride’s rules.

At stake was a purse of $500,000 dollars in gold.

The results of the review were to be announced and the winners were expected to receive the prize at a party organized to celebrate the event, scheduled for July 4^th. But this didn’t appear to happen with some claiming Frank Kelly and Will Barclay have been disqualified because they reportedly missed a checkpoint in South Dakota.

Also, a motorcycle blog has reported Hoka Hey organizer Big Jim Redcloud is requiring each rider who claims to have won the $500,000 prize to submit to an interview with an FBI agent. ‘Making false statements in the interview would be considered fraud,’ the website writes, ‘According to this claim, several riders have declined to participate in the interviews.’

Why the FBI would be involved in a privately organized motorcycle event has not been explained. The latest news to appear on the local newspaper’s website in Homer Alaska ‘Homer News’ is dated July 3^rd and reports about the number of riders in town as the event wraps up with nothing said over any event irregularities.

With riders paying a $1,000 entry fee and an estimated 700 participants in the Hoka Hey Challenge, a simple balancing of the checkbook leaves $700,000 sitting with the organizers of the event. While sponsors clearly have nothing to do with the organization and managing of funds for events, organizers of the endurance ride also enjoyed support from Bruce Rossmeyer’s Harley-Davidson.

With the riding world waiting for the final chapter to be written in the Hoka Hey Challenge, it would seem the would-be celebrations are taking on more suspense than the event itself could ever hope for.