Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Ifountain Enduro Circuit Championship Series, Round 5 In the Four-Stroke A class, Troy Rhoden. surprised George Villanyi and others by riding his YZ400F to first in class and a respectable sixth overall, while Mark Stevens raised a few eyebrows by finishing first 250cc A and seventh overall. explained. '1t just about put me over the bars." Approximately 30 miles into the loop, there was a split in the course that sent the A-class riders up into some of the steeper trails. These sections contained several areas that kept the riders on their toes. Day-Glo arrows pointed down rock stair-steps and waterfall drop-aways and, with only a split second to pick a line, riders had to choose quickly and go before gravity did the . choosing for them. It was like taking a crash course in trials riding. Gray finished the second loop on the gas, this time losing 25 points - one By Troy Raynor Photos by William Perry 32 MONTROSE, CO, MAY 17 olorado's own enduro-riderturned-Na tiona l-caliberdesert-racer Jim Gray found room in his busy schedule to pound out the overall win at the Dry Creek enduro. The Moose OffRoad/FMF /Dunlop/Elite Motorsbacked KTM rider was fresh off his firstplace ride in the Tonopah 300 big-bore class and he was more than ready to ride round five of the Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit Championship Series. Promoter Greg Huffer decided to put the "endure" back into the enduro by giving the riders all they wan(ed in this one. Huffer and the other Endurocross Inc. members laid out a 36-mile loop that would rival anything you would find at a National event. When is the last time you rode an enduro and the promoter said at the riders' meeting, "You guys might as well just take those computers off your bikes right now, because you're not going to need them?" Gray sure didn't need his as 'he went to work on ilie wicked-tight, supertough 72-mile course. New this year to the Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit, the Dry Creek Enduro has already made a reputation for itseU. The desert-type, mountainous, rocky terrain west of Montrose was used to cut in new, brutally tight trail. As the riders on· the early minutes soon found out, most of the event wasn't even on a trail at all- at least not before the first loop, anyway. The format of the ride was simple and straightforward: Go two times around the 36-inile loop with a 70minute reset and gas stop in between, trying to maintain the 24-mph average. Being on an early J;l1inute did have its advantages, as the talcum-powderlike dust billowed for miles, although strong .crosswind gusts took care of most of it. qnly a short distance into the event, riders were believers of the rumor running (Above) Jim Gray attacked the rocks and silt to win the grueling RMEC Dry Creek Enduro with a 51-point card. (Right) Jeff Hernandez took the A-class overall win. through the pits: that this was going to be a butt-kicker. It was first and second gear most of the time, with lock-to-Jock handlebar cranks, while sliding over the loose rocks with both brakes on. Out of the 221 riders who started, only 141 finished. Gray rode the first loop in true form and had a stranglehold on the overall by dropping only 26 points. "My KTM was running great, and I just set a good pace and held it," Gray said. "I hope to do the same thing on the next loop." Dax Brown came next with a 31, and Casey Colbert, Dennis Larra tt and Jeff Hernandez had strong rides going as well, all tied with a score. of 34. Noticeably late at the reset was Scott Stretch, who had mechanical gremlins riding with him on his KTM. The hot sun continued to bear down on the Rocky Mountains as the riders lined u'p at the restart check. The real question was: Could they hang on and ride the same pace the next time around? Many rider were looking forward to getting another chance at the same loop again. Top AA rider Colbert swore he was not going to hit the deep stream crossing·at speed again. "The first time around I was hard on the gas to get out of the dust and r hit the water in fourth gear," Colbert Peter Zepeda gets the Ironman award for his efforts. He got a flat halfway around the first loop, fixed it at the reset, then got another flat just four miles into the next loop - and he still finished third in the Open A class, behind Bob Conner in second and first in class Bi.lj.y Burgner. The B-class riders had to dig down deep to finish this one: Dave Neimeister rode his Suzuki to yet another overall B win. The C-class riders and the ladies were real heroes, too. Many of them were over an hour and a half late to the finish. For their efforts, fortunately, the hour-out rule was waived. James Ince earned the C-class overall honors. Mona Kurlander finished first in the Ladies' class, while Edie Pa tton and Nicole Bradford tied for second with a unique finishing technique. Early on, they both vowed to work together and help each other get through the event. They both stuck to it and finished at the exact same time. Most riders were in recovery mode after the ride. Said Gray, with a glazed look on his face, "This was as bad as the rocks at the Tulsa Six-Days." Promoter Huffer ·added," ow that the word is out, I want to invite everyone back again next year and include pnyone else that wants to find out what they are made of." John Cougar's song "Hurts so good" comes to mind. ('N RMEC Dry Creek Enduro l\IIentrose, Colorado Results: May 17, 1998 (Rollnd 5) 0/'" Jim G,ay (KTM). OIA A, Jeff Hernandez O

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