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"I thought the tra il was a little dusty, but it was pretty good enduro otherwise," added Team KTM's Russell, who is now third in the AMA Nationa l Enduro rankings. "They didn't ha ve a lot of land to ride on , so they had to run stuff twice. That made it like baking powder the second time around. 1 had to go through three filters. Every time we stopped for gas it was for a filter, too , but for the western part of Texas 1 thought it was a pretty good event. 1 thought they did a good job with the canyons and all that. It was by no means a des ert race." Moose Racing, Scott, Dunlop , KTM, Ara i, EK and DuraLube are among Russell's sponso rs. The trail featured numerous speed changes, which tripped up several rid ers. Throughout the day Hatch and Hawkins were joined at the top of the ch arts by Russell, Hines, Team KTM's Kelby Pepper and Whitaker, a one-time member of the Junior Trophy team at the ISDEs. Pepper suffered the worst luck of the bunch, fouling a plug in a special test section and scoring a four where most of the top riders zeroed. Russell was also beset by mechanical strife. "I had brake problems for most of the d ay, maybe becaus e of the dry weather," fig u red Russel l. "The brakes wer e getting air in them somehow and they w ere going away o n me. 1 go t rea ll y lucky when the y threw one section out b e cau se th e ch ec ks were too clos e together. Tha t wo rked out to my ad vanta g e because 1 h a d th e worst of m y brak e problems in that section. 1 mean, 1 had an 11, which wo uld have cost me a couple po ints on Steve an d most everyone else." The race b etween Hatch and Ha wkins was all bu t decided in one particular special test area that lasted three miles. "The ve ry last on e w as made to .be exci ting," said Hatch. " It was a threemile grass track with a dead-engine start. Everyone just floored it for three miles. We went on e at a time: Hines hit 1.16, J.R. came in around 1.10, Randy and Kelby around 1.03; I was the last to go through and I hit it at .59, and just barel y made it. It was gre at because everyone wa s watchin g. "My day was outstanding," added Ha tch , who was ce leb ra ting h is si xth AMA Nati on al End uro overa ll victory in jus t over three years on the National circu it. "I w as smoo th and focused and it came out the way 1 envisioned. The last round of th e seri es in California went well, but it had some ups and downs for me and I only managed sixth. I was read y to get back in to the top three today, and finishing first was perfect." "Considering all the problems 1 had, 1 feel really lucky to have fin ished third," said Russell, a native of Ohio who now makes his home in West Virginia. "Bu t if I'm going to win the championship again, I'm going to have to win some races. It looks like Steve's the man to beat right now." t':' Turkey . Texas Results: March 27, 1994 (Round 3 of 9) O/A: 1. Steve Hat ch (5uz) 6.34 poi nts ; 2. Randy Hawkins (Suz) 6.59; 3. Jeff Russe ll (KTM) 7: 4. Kevi n Hines (e RE) 8; 5. Iosb Whitaker (KTM) 8; 6. Kelby Pepper (JaM) 9; 7. Alan Rand t (KTM) 10.129; 8. Matt Sta vish (KTM) 10.216; 9. Kevin Davis (Hon ) 11.107; 10. Te rry Cunningham (Yam) 11.122; 11. Hay din Franklin (KTM) 11.170; 12. Chris Willba nks (Hon) 11.205; 13. Danny Vigil12.212; 14. Rick Higgins 13.170; 15. Nola n Knigh t 13.205; 16" Mike Collin s 13.246; 17. Brian Storri e 14.176; 18. Ken Gilcs 14.221; 19. Bob Bennett 1S.234; 20. Da vid Koontz 15.269. AMA NAT IONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ENDURO SERIES POINT STANDINGS (Aftrr 3 of 9 rounds): 1. Steve Ha tch (75); 2. Jeff Russe ll (61); 3. Kevin Hi nes (eRE); 4. Kd by Pepper (57); S. Randy Hawkins (43). Upcoming rounds: . Round 4 - Perkinston, MS, May 1 Roun d 5 - Wrentham, MA. June 5 lao N HOENIX. 0 .1.0 racers win a t Ph o e n ix w ith ER (Ex clu s ive Ra c in g ) Series Chains. 0 .1.0 ER chain is desig ned exclusively fo r motorcycle racing. This hig h p erform a n c e , light weight and low friction chain provides the winning edge in world class competition. Scot t Z.lm p ,K h, t s t r l,lc e : Harl ey Twi n Sport Se rres at r'noentx -. l-o Troy Corser , F...~t By renacct . t sr N.lce : U.S . Su~rbike Sertes at r'tioemx Eri o n Rddng. I st M ac e : U n li m it ed Team Ch,' lIenge at I'boen tx 0... <: 15