Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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"R NationalB :'AMA LIA Championship ReliabilityR . :" Round 1: White Bock Qualifier E ILlTY" N UEnduro5eries" E D O:"" , sponsored Hawkins said he felt good about his performan ce, and added, "We'll see how it goes (tomorrow). I'm sure 1can hold on and end up in the top three." And hold on he did. Hawkins started d ay tw o with just a 3.41-second lead over h is Suz u ki teammate, Smith. The two ha d nearly identical scores throughout the second da y, and when the final scores were tallied, it was Hawkins still in front by 2.96 seconds. "I really like ri d ing the 125," said Hawkins, w h o ca m p a ign s a Suzuki RMX250 on the National Enduro circuit. "I rode one a t Six-Days last year. The tests were tigh t enough here that 1 was able to ride a little quicker." After setting the pace in the first special test, Hawkins consistently posted (Left) Randy Hawkins made up for his slow start In the National Enduro series with an overall win at the first qualifier. He rode an RM125. (Left below) Guy Cooper, Mark Hyde and Rodney Smith (left to right) prepare to hit the trail. Cooper and Hyde had problems, but Smith was second overall. By Steve Berkner OZARK NATIONAL FOREST, AR. MAR. 19-20 he entry list for the first round of the AMA National Championship Reliability Enduro Series read like a list of '93 off-road National title-holders. On hand were defending Reliability Enduro Champion Rodney Smith, National Hare Scrambles Champion Scott Summers, Grand National Cross Country Champion Fred Andrews and National Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins, as well as several former champs. When the dust settled on Sunday, however, it was Hawkins who claimed the victory. What brought most of the riders to the White Rock Wildlife Management Area was the first chance to earn points T towards representing the Un ited Sta tes during the 69th ISDE, to be held this fall "in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Over 200 riders competed in the Lette r of Inten t (LOI) divisions, reserved for riders who wish to be considered for the U.s. team . Hawkins narrowly held off Smith, the defending champion, winning by a scant three seconds on his RMI25. Riding in ideal conditions, Hawkins posted the fastest terrain test time during the first special test, and never looked back. After impounding his bike at the end of the first day of competition, the American Suzuki/MSR/Metzeler/Scott/Bieffe/Pro Circuit/Factory Connection/RK/Braking/l00%/Pro-Taper /Motion Prof Acerbis/Bel-Ray/Sprocket Specialists/ Troyl.ee/Boyesen/Uru/Rocky/W.E.R.- times in the top three for his next six test scores. "My tests were pretty uneventful, other than bouncing off a few trees," said the South Carolinian. "Things went okay out there." Due to a problem with the Forest Service's land-use permit, the hosting Razorback Riders had to layout all of their tests in just three sites, consisting of approximately two miles of tight, wooded single-track. "Our special-use permit only allowed us to use the existing single-lane and two-track trails, so we had to put on the event without any motocross tests," explained club president Brad Hilker. On day one, contestants made two . laps of a 54-mile loop, with two terrain tests. The first test was a single-track rocky section, and the second included some two-track trail and was a little more relaxed. The time schedule was casual, allowing the top riders to make it to the check points on time. Two laps over a 60-mile loop were required for day two, with two terrain tests again challenging the riders. The first test was a very tight, rocky section that was followed by day one's first special test. "The time schedule used (on day two) was a little faster to keep the qualifier riders on their toes. If they paid attention to their clocks they should have no problem," said Hilker.