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Can-Am's John Martin finished second, dropping a point at the first check and then matching Melton's pace. National Enduro Champ Mike Melton got back on track in Indiana, . dropping only five points for the overall win. AMA National Championship Enduro Series: Round 3 Melton edges Martin at Burr Oak By Merle Acord ROSELAWI ,IN. MAY 6 "I don't know about these other guys, but I've got to win some points today," said Team Husqvarna's 1983 National Enduro Champion Mike Melton, prior to the Midwest National Enduro Riders Association's presentation of their 21st Annual BurrOak National Enduro. Melton, riding a Husky 400WR on row 43, then took command of the 118 miles of sand whoops, fast woods trails and open fields that made up the course. He dropped a scant fiye points through 10 time checks, which included four emergency and six observed checks, LO beat out CanAm'slohn Marlin by one minute and win his first National of 1984. jeff Fredelle, who won the National the last two years running, was heavily favored LO repeat again. However, he rode his Team Green Kawasaki KDX 200 into the nimh check one minute hot and the two extra points raised his score to eight and put him out of a shot at the win. Mark Hyde, on a Tcam Husky 125, also dropped eight points in the loose sand and high-speed trails, but lost the tie-breaker and finished fifth. 'Tm riding the 125 again because I did so well on it last year," said Hyde, when asked why he hadn't moved up to a larger displacement machine this year. ,. I have a 400 that I ride in hare scrambles, but in the National enduros, Dick (Burleson) wants me on the 125. I'm used to it now." "This was a tough ride for timekeeping," said Melton. "The woods sections were so fast that if you rode on the top of your minute you took a chance on burning a check. There wasn't any deep water, or slick hills and I don't remember a single trail bollieneckall day. It was really fun LO ride," continued Melton. "I haven't had this much fun at a National in a long time." 'Tm glad he wan," said Team Husky rider and third overall finisher Fritz Kadlec. "We're driving out LO San Diego from here to ride the National Hare Scram bles rounds and Mike is a lot more fun to travel with when he's won." Kevin Hines. the present point leader in the National Enduro Series, wasn'tsmilingmuch. Kevin dropped nine points and finished seventh overall. His doctor had advised him against riding for a while after a recent practice accident left him with two cracked ribs and a tweaked wrist. Hines withdrew from the Oklahoma Three Day Qualifier one week prior LO the NationalLO give himself some extra time to heal. ., Kevin still has the point lead even after my win LOday," said Melton. "Bul they only counl 10 of the 12 Nationals for championship points and I consider the South Carolina National as oneof my two throwaway rides. After we've had five or six nationals and things have sellied down we'll know who' having a good year." It may be early in the season, but Can-Am's lohn Manin has his riding rhythm. Despite giving away an extra point at the first check. Martin was dead even with Melton as each had dropped three points by the 66mile mark where the 24 mph average changed to 30. Fredell.e had dropped a single point. "We raised the speed from 24 to 30 mph for 12 miles," said club official and course referee Dave Rawlins, "with the specific intent of taking points away from the AA riders. We wanted at least fivc. We checked them in. had an emergency check halfway through, then another at the end. Then we had a six mile reset to get the slower riders back on time. "It worked," continued Rawlins. "Not as well as he had hoped, but no rider zeroed that section. MelLOn dropped one minute with Marlin, Kadlec and Cunningham dropping two. A lot of riders, indudingFredelle, dropped three." Bill Gusse, on one of his own Bike Barn Can-Am 250s. won the High Point A trophy by edging Husky rider jcff Russell at the emergency checks after both had dropped I I points. Gussealsosplita motel room with john Martin and prior to the run was waving a paper sack with golden arches on it. He said, "Marlin told me if I was going to ride fast, I had to eat fast." There were others in the 250cc A class who went to the emergency checks to decide their trophies. lim Boyne and Brian Lohmen each had 14 for second and third. One point back Ray Krantz and SCOll Kingadded up their seconds at the tie-breaker for their trophies. Randy Hawkins LOok High Point B honors by dropping 17 points aboard a Husky 125. Hawkins now gets to ride in the A class since the overall B class winner is automatically moved up a class. Chuck Cannon. a District 17 Kawasaki pi lot. won the 200cc A class with a score of 12 which was two points beller than second place rider Rick Walsworth and six beller than third place Gary Peterson. Three Husky riders in the Open A class, Tom Buckles, AI Randt and John Hoffman all posted scores of 12 and after tallying up their emergency check seconds they finished in that order. In addition to the trophies handed out, contingency awards were plentiful. Oury Grips, Smith Roll-Offs, Silkolene Lubrication, Hi-Point Racing Products, Power Motors and B&C Cycle provided the goodies. Results OVERALL: Mike Melton (Hus) 5. HIGH POINT A: Bill Gusse (C-AI 11. HIGH POINT B: Randy Hawkins (Hu's) 17. AA: ,. John Martin (C-A) 6; 2. Fritz Kadlec (Hus) 7; 3. Jeff Fredene (Kawl B; 4. Mark Hyde (HusIB; 5. Terry Cunningham (HusI9; 6. Kevin Hines (HusI9; 7. David Bertram (Hus) 9; 8. Richard Scharphorn (Husl 10; 9. Ron Ribolzi (Hus) 12; 10. Dwight Rudder (Hus) 12; 11. Randy Kline (Hus) 12. 200cc A: 1. Chuck Cannon (Kaw) 12; 2. R. Walsworth (Kaw) 14; 3. Gary Peterson (C-AI lB; 4. David Pierce (Kawl lB; 5. Scon Ford (KTMI. 250cc A: 1. Jeff Russell (Hus) 11; 2. Jim Boyne (Hus) 14; 3. Brian Lohman (Hus) 14; 4. Ray Krantz (Hus) 15; 5. Soon King (Hus) 15. OPEN A: 1. Tom Buckles (HusI12; 2. Alan Randt (Hus) 12: 3. John Hoffman (Hus) 12; 4. Gary Johnson (Hus); 5. Ray MungenaSl (Hus) 14. SR A: 1. Buck Walsworth (Kaw) 19; 2. Emmell COX (KTMI 19; 3. Ohuck Craig (Hus) 20; 4. Dennis Schenk (Kaw) 20; 5. Carl Scharphorn (Hus) 23. PP: D. Coucy (Hus). SR B: 1. R. Garren (HuI); 2. John Menssen (Kaw); 3. Oale Whitton (Husl; 4. Richard Roth (Kaw): 5. Donovan Youno (Mai). 125cc B: 1. Charles Koch (Yam) 31; 2. John Hass (Hon) 44; 3. Reggie Shehon (CagI62; 4. Charles Lee (KTM) B5; 5. Larry Adams (Suzl. 20Dec B: 1. Brent Floyd (Kaw) 25; 2. Tim Farrell (YamI25; 3. Mitchell Shrum (Kaw) 25; 4. Mike Juif (Kawl 26; 5. Randy Spoof (Kewl 26. 250cc B: 1. John Love (Hus) 19; 2. Don Metz(Hus) 19; 3. Bill Bean (Hus) 20; 4. R. Sampson (Hus) 21; 5. Dennis Gale (Husl 22. OPEN B: 1. Dave Rafferty (Yam) 20; 2. John Mit· chell (Hus) 23; 3. Charlie Williams (Hus) 26; 4. Jim Markley (Suz) 30; 5. Ken Witkowsky (Hus) 33. SUPER SR: 1. Richard Lenoyer (Kaw); 2. AI Berg· quist (Hus); 3. Phillip Panerson (Hus); 4. Harold Denny (Yam); 5. Bob Dorris (Hon). 4-STROKE: 1. O. Koccki (Hon); 2. Terry Flynn (Hon); 3. George Tubbs (Hon); 4. Tom Hoffman (Hon); 5. Richard Tracy (Hon).