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eENDURO e Enduro Series: Round 2 Joey Hopkins survived the adverse conditions to nab his first-ever National win. Kevin Hines was second, and is currently tied with Jeff Russell for the points lead. George Waller Jr. was impressive, dropping just 39 points for third overall. Hopkins win~ first-ever at Geor ia survival run By Davey Coombs MAXEYS, GA, FEB. 21 iding a modified Kawasaki KX250, local favorite Joey Hopkins bested over 300 riders and pulled out an upset victory at the muddy Cherokee National Enduro. The 30-year-old rider from North Augusta, South Carolina, turned in an impressive low score of 34 points to edge out Husqvarna's 1987 National Champion Kevin Hines and Team Green rider George Waller Jr., and post his first-ever National Enduro win. Rounding out the top five overall were Team KTM riders 1991 National Champion Jeff Russ~ll and Georgian Allen Gravitt. "This is my first National win, but it's also the second time that I've won this particular enduro," said Kawasaki! Team Green/ Aken Motorcycle Sales/ MSR/Scott/Shoei/Race Tech/ Acerbis/Sprocket Specialists-sponsored Hopkins, who rode on minute 20. "Two years ago the club held a 25th anniversary run and I was able to win that, too. lt was also extremely muddy, just like today. I was the first AA rider, and that gave me advantage out there, especially over the guys starting back in the 3Os." Still, Hopkins could take pride in conquering the tough 130-mile (including resets) trail in a steady, day-long R 18 downpour, though he did mention that the toughest section of trail was "from the start to the finish." . The Cherokee Enduro Club last held a National enduro in 1990, but the club has been doing off-road events for 27 years. Under the direction of Harold Barton, the club members designed a challenging-but-popular course. The attrition rate among the A and B division riders was high, as the trails become slimy and rutted while the day progressed. One particularly difficult section towards the end was deleted from the course when club officials decided that the off-camber, root-covered area would be a hazard to riders of all calibers. The pine forests that cover the Greene and Ogelthorpe County area served as the backdrop for the narrow trails, and the Greene County Sheriff's Office provided assistance on the nearly 15 miles of road that was included on the course. "The worst problem I had all day was in the last section, only about a halfmile from the last check," said Hopkins. "Everything was perfect up to that point, but then a rider I came up on just showered me with mud and water, and I really had a hard time seeing from tha t