VOL. 56 ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 5, 2019 P67
Y
ou could be forgiven if your
pre-race podium picks didn't
include Russell Bobbitt for the
opening round of the 2019 Kenda AMA
National Enduro Series in Sumter,
South Carolina. After all, the 33-year-
old Georgia rider had retired from full-
time competition nearly two years ago
and he admits that he's just been riding
select events for the sheer pleasure
of competition. The last national that
Bobbitt won was the Cherokee Enduro
in Georgia in 2016.
However, five national titles means
something, even if it's been a while.
And Russell Bobbitt knows the South
Carolina trails like the back of his hand.
So, all things considered, it was not
too terribly surprising when Bobbitt
won the first three tests to start off the
first AMA National Enduro of the year.
Once the test scores started ping-
ing phones around the course, fans
crowded the tape to pull for one of the
all-time favorite riders in series history.
The fact that he was riding a two-stroke,
which he will always be famous for rid-
ing, made the race even more exciting.
In the end, Bobbitt withstood a sec-
ond-half surge from defending series
champ Steward Baylor to claim the win
by 16 seconds.
Afterwards, Bobbitt admitted that he
was a little bit surprised, himself.
"It was super fun to be back on the
two-stroke, it felt like old times," said
Bobbitt. "The first three tests went well
and I kept it clean. The wet sand con-
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAN MOORE
Defending
champ Steward
Baylor took
second overall
despite starting
the enduro with
a sore knee.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
DARIN
CHAPMAN
SURPRISE!
HE MIGHT BE RETIRED, BUT RUSSELL BOBBITT
STILL HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN
