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tors dropped 16 points, so it was clear that Lafferty was the top rider on this day, no doubt about it. However, it didn't start out that way. Lafferty's main rival, last year's Gator winner and multi-time National Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins, was keeping the KTM rider on his toes for over half of the enduro, until Hawkins' Yamaha WR250F came to a sudden stop way out in the Palmentos bushes. "I'm not sure what happened," Hawkins said. "Everything was fine and I had it pinned when it suddenly went 'bwaaaaa.' It didn't lock up, but we think it might've been the ignition." With Hawkins out of the picture, Lafferty was able to relax a little bit as he went on to win the event. "Things went good," Lafferty said. "There were a lot of good sections and long ones - and it was marked well. Everything just went good and I 10 overall with a pair of 21s on their scorecards. (Above left) Over 500 competitors turned out for the Alligator, with many claiming it was the club's best event in years. (Above right) After pitting for motocrosser Larry Ward two days earlier at the ONCC opener, Ashley Brewer rode to sixth overall at the Alligator. Pitting for him was none other than Ward. had no problems. But I'll tell ya, the local guys are really fast here." One of those local guys he was talking about was fellow KTM rider Allen .Gravitt. The Georgian ended up second overall, edging out Gas Gas rider Joey Ambrosin on the tie-breakers. "I got a little tired in the last section," Gravitt admitted. "But this had to be one of the best Alligators ever; the layout was good, it was marked good and the weather was good." By placing second, Gravitt all but wrapped up his 16th SETRA Enduro Championship. Finishing fourth overall was A Senior class winner Jeff Fredette, riding a Kawasaki KDX220. He squeaked Nine·time Grand National Dirt Track Champion Scott Parker competed in the Alligator Enduro for his first off-road competition. After recently competing in a 24-hour ice race with some of his off-roading buddies, including ISDE veteran Jeff Fredette, Parker was talked into riding the Alligator Enduro, and he did so gladly. "I like riding motorcycles," Parker said before the enduro. "So I thought r d come here today and see what it's like and to have fun today. In Michigan, where I'm from, we have a lot of great riding up there, so I've done some off-road riding, but I've never competed in something like this." Kawasaki Team Green's Ron Heben offered Parker a KDX200 to ride and gave him support for the day. And to make things even more fun, a special row was set up for Parker, who ended up riding on the same minute as Dick Burleson, Larry Roeseler and Fredette. Fredette was designated the row's timekeeper. "I was told not to pass anybody, which shouldn't be a problem," Parker said. Parker rode extremely well and was never more than a few minutes behind his fellow minute· mates, But the tough course and mild heat took their toll on the tired rider. "I never thought it was going to end," Parker said moments after rolling through the final check. "I've never had so many people pass me in a race before." A few minutes later, Parker leaned over and asked Burleson: "Are they [enduros) all this hard?" "In different ways," Burleson answered. Back at the pits, Parker said, "It wasn't what I expected. I was expecting the course to be a little more 'groomish' but it was rough - there were some gnarly ruts. But I'd do it again because I just like riding bikes. "I really have to thank Kawasaki for setting all this up for me," Parker added. "And I have to thank all of the club members that put so much effort into this event. They did a great job." KTM-mounted Jeff Harris topped the Four-Stroke class (Grizzle was an AA rider) in 11th overall. The top A rider was W. Donaldson who rode his Honda to a 12th-place by KTM rider Tommy Veator on the tie-breakers with 18 points. finish, while multi-time National Enduro Champion Dick Burleson, rid- "I had no problems," Fredette, a 20time ISDE medalist, said. "Well, I did ing a KTM 200EjXC, topped the A Masters class in 13th overall. eN miss one tum, but that was about it." KTM rider Ashley Brewer, always a Alligator Enduro Daytona Beach, Florida Results: March 8, 2001 threat at the Alligator, overcame clutch problems to finish sixth, edging Gas Gas-mounted Rodney Judson on the tie-breakers with 19 points. O/A: 1. Michael Lafferty Jr. (KTM); 2. Alhm Gravitt (KTM); 3. Joey Ambrosin (0-0); 4. Jeff Fredette (Kaw); 5. Tommy Veator (KTM); 6. Ashley Husaberg-mounted Mark Grizzle Brewer (KTM): 7. Rodney Judson (G-G); 8. Mich.el Grizzle (Hbg): 9. M.lt Stevish (G-G); 10. Doug Mesencup (KTM); II. Jeff H.rds (KTM); 12. W. was the top-finishing four-stroke rider Donaldson (Hon): 13. Dick Burleson (KTM); 14. in eighth. Grizzle dropped 20, while N.th.n King (G-G); 15. Nol.n Knight (G-G): 16. Russell Epley (KTM); 17. Arron Wegner (Y.m): 18. Matt Stavish (Gas-Gas) and Doug Curt Wilcox (Suz): 19. AUlin Lachabelle (KTM); 20. Masencup (KTM) rounded out the top Allen R.nd! (KTM). BRIEFLY••• Motocrosser Larry Ward pitted for KTM rider Ashley Brewer at the Alligator Enduro, and Ward was put to work. Brewer. who pitted for Ward at the GNCC race in Okeechobee a few days earlier. experienced clutch problems in the first half of the enduro. Ward replaced the clutch during the second gas stop. and Brewer went on to finish sixth overall. Long-time competitors Dick Burleson and Larry Roeseler (right>. who rode on the same minute together. diced with each other on the trails all day. "I had a great time riding with L.R.: Burleson said. 'We were going at the same pace. and how often do you get to ride like that with a friend? It was like when we used to ride in the Husky days [early 'SOs] when we were teammates. so it was great fun riding with him again... a U c • e n e _ s MARCH 21, 2001 55