VOL. 50 ISSUE 8 FEBRUARY 26, 2013 P71
BOUNCING
Wanting to forget 2012, Charlie Mullins
is ready to get back to winning.
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAN MOORE
I
t was kind of strange seeing Charlie
Mullins start the opening round of the
Rekluse AMA National Enduro series
in Georgia from the 31st row.
For those unfamiliar with the start procedure in National Enduro this year, at
the first round of the year, the Pro riders line up starting from row 21 according to how they finished in last year���s
standings. Mullins was 11th in last year���s
championship chase and so started
from row 31 - way back there in the enduro world.
Injuries and a rash of freak mechanical problems kept Mullins from reaching his full potential in both the National
Enduro Series and in the GNCC Series,
however, a productive off-season and a
change of bikes has the FMF/KTM rider on the fast track to success in 2013.
After two years on KTM���s 450 SX-F,
Mullins chose to ride the smaller and
more nimble 350 XC-F in the enduro se-
ries and the result was a very impressive
win at the opener in Georgia. In fact, after just two tests, Mullins held almost a
full minute lead over second place.
It was a much-needed win for Mullins,
and certainly a confidence booster.
���I���m really excited about the 350, I
think it was a smart choice,��� Mullins
said after the race. ���If you���ve ever ridden a 450 in tight Georgia pine trees
then you���ll agree the 350 is a good
choice. The 450 is a great bike and for
GNCC races it���s awesome, but I think
for tight woods the 350 is exactly what I
was looking for in the motor. We worked
hard to get the 450 close to what I wanted, but there was just something about
the 350, and I decided to pull the trigger and ride it in enduros, and I think I���ll
just get better on it the more I ride it.���
The 2012 season was a tough pill to
swallow for Mullins, for sure, finishing
outside the top-10 in the enduro series
after winning the title just two years
before. But mechanicals and injury