Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

RELIABILITY ENDURO AMA NATIONAL RELIABILITY ENDURO SERIES (EASTERN REGION) 18 open) motocross, I knew all I had to do was get out near the front and I'd have a good shot at the overall." In the first turn of that five-lap final special motocross test, Lafferty escaped a t""o-rider pileup between Plessinger and Blackwell, who had shared the holeshot. The two GNCC off-roaders hooked bars, allowing Honda-mounted Kevin Bennet, SCR/Yamaha's Randy Hawkins and Lafferty by. "Scott and I just hooked bars and we went down," Blackwell said. "It was real disappointing because 1 had such a good day going. I knew we were all close (going into the final motocross test) and for a moment it looked like it was going to be between Scott and 1." Blackwell arid Plessinger ende.d up dead last after the their collision. Bennet held the lead for the first lap before Hawkins and Lafferty moved . into first and second. "I just tucked in real close to Randy and just let his momentum pull me along;" Lafferty said. "By the last lap I could see that Doug and Scott were only just behind us and I thou.ght, 'Just stay with Randy: and that's how we finished. Riding with these guys (Hawkins, Plessinger and Blackwell) still kind of intimidates me sometimes. But I guess I proved to myself that I can ride with them today." Second-place overall finisher Smith had to contend with his own pressure going into the final motocross test. The multi-time ISDE veteran and qualifier specialist had an almost perfect day going. "I real1y only had problems on one test, and that was the third grass track (or test four, the site of the first grass track and the final motocross):' Smith said. "It was at the last turn before, the finish' and I just lost the front wheel in a rut and the bike went out from underneath me and I stalled out." Smith finished that test nine seconds behind Lafferty. That test - which was used for test one, test four, and test seven and located at the event's start/ finish - was approximately one mile long and consisted of hilly terrain with rutted corners and 'offc camber switchbacks. "To go fast (on that test) it took a'iot of concentration, especial1y riding a 125," Smith said. "Earlier in the day we were tested on the track and I set the' fastest time. Then I lost it in a rut on the second time through so I knew for the final moto it was going to come down to just concentrating on carrying your speed through all.the switchbacks and tight comers:' Smith's strategy paid off as he set the fastest test score for the final motocross test, topping the 175cc-Open class by 20 seconds. Finishing one second behind Smith, in the 0-125cc final motocross test, was fello", lightweight two-stroke rider Fred Hoess and Guy Cooper, who was campaigning an electric-start 400cc Husaberg in the lightweight 0-400cc four-stroke class. Although the motocross test was the final venue for the shootout between the top finishers, it was the second terrain test, a 5.B-mile-long terrain test, that set the stage for Lafferty. Up until, test four, Smith had set the . day's fastest pace in the first three tests and enjoyed a six-second lead over Plessinger and a seven- and ll-second lead over Lafferty and Blackwell, respectively. But Smith's stall in test four's final corner put him off Lafferty's winning pace, moving Lafferty within two se.conds of Smith overall. Lafferty's biggest test win came dur- organizers Davey Coombes Sr. and former National Enduro Champion Jeff Russell. . "This is a pretty early race date for Tennessee and we were a little nervous about 10 days ago," Russell said. "It got down to about 6 degrees one night and the ground was frozen solid. Then it started to rain and we started wondering what we had gotten ourselves into. It was almost a promoter's worst night. mare." Sun\iay conditions were ideal with overcast skies and temperatures in the . t"N . low 60s. Loretta Lynn ISDE Qualifier Hurricane Mills, Tennessee Results: February 2, 1997 (Round 1 of 3) O/A: 1. Michael Lafferty (KTM); 2. Chris Smith (Hon); 3. Scott Plessinger (KTM); 4. Doug Blackwell (Yam); S. Fred Hoes. (Suz); 6. Jason Dalmers (KTM); 7. Randy Hawkins (Yam); 8. Guy Cooper (Hus); 9, Kevln . Bennett (Hon); 10. Duane Conner (Yam). Upcoming Rounds Round 2 - !'Jew Waverly, TX, May 17-18 Round 3 • McArthur, OH, May 24 ing the final terrain test where he bested Plessinger by 15 seconds, Blackwell by 17 seconds and Smith by 34 seconds. It was here where the Millville, New Jersey, native took over tl1e lead. "That last terrain test was awesome," Lafferty said. "I went into the test alone with no one to compare myself to. . "About midway through I caught Kevin (Bennet) and Jason (Dahners). The bike just seemed to hook up perfectly. So I just went for it and just let it all hang out. When I got to the end, there was Scott (Plessinger) and he was messing with his brakes so I knew he had problems. After that I was just stoked." Plessinger did indeed have brake difficulties, difficulties that had plagued him to varying degrees during the event. "Up until that test everything was going okay until I lost my (rear) brake," PleSSinger said. "It Just faded away. It went away for a little during the first terrain test but nothing like this. I'm sure it cost me. Espetially at the end of the test when I had nothing. We just got the bike and we're still working out some of the little things." Plessinger was not the only top-level rider to have problems. Hawkins ha.d similar gremlins to work out after just recently signing a new contract with Yamaha. "I've literally only had about two hours on the ,YZ since signing my contract with Yamaha two weeks ago," six.time National Enduro Champion Hawkins said. "I've been doing a lot of promoting and we haven't had the time to work on the setup yet. Our box van was jus't finished being pain~ed Friday afternoon and we just packed it up about 6 o'clock that night and drove here. "We haven't even got a 19-inch rear mousse yet and that 'cost me. I had to ride the first grass track with a flat tire. I got caught up in a fence post in another test and stalled the bike a couple times in the last terrain test. But don't worry, we'll get it right. We're just a little rusty. We pretty much just used this event as a shakedown in preparation for the upcoming Coalinga (California) National Enduro." Hawkins finished the event seventh overall. After the race, praises were a~ost unanimous for the Racer Productions~ponsored event. With kudos going to (Above) C.ross country specialist Scott Plessinger proved his versatility by finishing third overall. (Right) Chris Smith was only 13 seconds off Lafferty's pace which was good enough for runner-up honors. by""stprm a'she eas;iy wei" the li9.hiweight O· . 40000' four,stroke· ciass while riding a .box·, . stock electric·start FE400E Husaberg (Cooper ' finished 'eighth overail: The'next closest hi· As r,epor1:ed in Cycle News last month, :Suzu' class. competitor finished' nearly" 200' seconds ki's off;road team:of ROdney Smltll, Steve 'back). ·Just as with Randy 'Hawkins. 'Cooper Haieh ,ana PaGI Edmonson' will" not officially . fou'nd 'himself without a factory'ride wh:en be contesting either.the National EndUro or the "SUZliki-·,announce.d that' it .wDulq, only be 901;- . ·National Reliability Endur\iSeries this year, B.ut . testIng. the National Hare S,crambles Seri~s Smith said In a plione interview 'that /:ie intends' . and the: Grand National Cross Country Series • ,to ride in 'a :few of the Western qualifier rac';·s. for 1.997. "Just·like Randy. I geil a· short phone as ,,:ell'as ,the final national championship race.' call (from SuzukD that said 'I was .no·10nger in: "Officially. Steve.Paul' and ,":lyself, ,are not get· ,Suzuki"s plans:" Cooper ·said. "That left me ',ting any. sUPP9rt for ,ridi.ng the qu,lIifier series ' scrambling fur ,some iyp,? of.ride for,-'97: l'put' 'or Six O.ay"s. but rintend 'on ridi~g ,; few o.f the the worp but 'arid came up with a: KIM/Hus· qualifieT""events when they fit-into my sc.hedule,· abe'Q ride.. In all. .they're giving me seven bike.s .'I'm. also 'planni~g on deferid,inll' my l'itle' in .. to.,ride,this year and 'I'm ·sc~edule.d to ride.in 'no , (McMinnville)," .Smith also announced that·he less, than 25 events." Cooper con,firm"ld 1hat . 'would participate, in Italy's Six Days ;f lie were.. one 'of. those events could be .the' Italian Six' selected for the l:ropny Team, .. If .chosen. for . Days, '" Right no~ the Six Days 'are ,in·.my plans the team. 'I will be going." Smith said. '"Even if I·· but it m'ay b·e. in' con'flict w.itoh a planned have to 'pay my own way." . . . . . '.::, K,TM/.Husa.b!!rg 1998 model introquction p:ress ii~ tentatively schedui~d at. tooperland about '., . Smith's former Suzuki. Off-.Road ·t<;amrriate that same time. 'We'll just have. to 'wait 'a.nd ·GI/Y.Cooper'took tn!' Lo,etta ~ynn QUa!ifier: see:. -~,........~-~- M • • •

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