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AMA National Championship Reliability Enduro Series Round 2: Idaho City 10 "They broke it up awesome," sajd Alan Deyo topped the Senior LOllLetler of Intent! clan on day one. winner Russ Pearson. "You'd be in the tight trees, and then they'd throw in a short road section so you could rest." Rain was predicted for Saturday, but didn't materialize until the lead riders were halfway through their race, and then it was hit or miss. [t cooled temperatures a bit and did help cut the dust. Sunday started out cooler, with the trails slightly damp from the previous day's rain, but it quickly dried out. Still, there were few if any complajnts from the riders. At the end of the weekend, most were smiling with that look of tired accomplishment, and given the chance, the majority would have signed up on the spot for next year. The course featured three special tests on Saturday and four on Sunday. Nick started out his weekend by bringing his Montclair Yamaha YZ250F in first with eight seconds to spare over his brother Russ. On Sunday, he felt he'd had a pretty good ride and a good shot at tbe overall, but when the special-test Russ rode a consistent race Satur- scores started going up, he suspected otherwise. "Yesterday, [ didn't think I rode that good," he said, "but [ finished Scrambles), Russ was wondering if he was like 20 seconds off the pace [of was under some sort of curse. Satur- Russ]." day's second-place finish didn't do BRIEFLY•• • With only two Reliability Enduro rounds in 2001 and three this year (Ohio. Idaho and Texas). some are left to wonder what's happening to this series. which once numbered as many as nine rounds. Only about a dozen LOI riders participated in both the Ohio and Idaho rounds. With numerous series competing for the same riders (a WORCS round was held on the Ohio date, and a ONCC round was held on the Idaho date), this one (which pays no money) appears to be losing when it comes to the top riders. The third and final Qualifier is scheduled fer June 22-23, in Altair, Texas. DAY I: 1. Fred Hoeso: 2. Robbie Jenks: 3. TIm Tober: 4. Brodley Sells; 5. 00.., Wolfe. DAY 2: 1. Robbie Jenks; 2. Ooryl Conner, 3. Fred Hoeu: 4. Brodley Sells; 5. Andy She... O/A: I. RobbIe Jenks; 2. Fred Hoeu; 3. BrodIey SeUs; 4. 00.., Wolfe: 5. TIm TlIber: 6. Andy Sheo: 7. John Bemett: 8. Dan Bryon; 9. Mot Slavish; 10. Anthony Glosso. cue & Hounds and the Colorado Hare thought I was doing pretty good, but I For the second year in a row, Yamaha rider Robbie Jenks (above) took the overall, though much like Russ Pearson in Idaho, he had to come from behind after finishing second on day one. That day's win went to ISDE hero Fred Hoess (left), who was piloting a 125cc Husqvama. Hoess was actually the top-fmishing LOI rider, as Jenks is not attempting to qualify for the U.S. team. As is often the case with this event, rain made for wet riding in Ohio - a stark contrast to the dusty conditions found in Idaho. Again, this is typical of the conditions in Europe, where those who qualify will appreciate the chance they had to ride slick grass tracks and drenching stream crossings in Ohio. Very few of the riders who contested the Ohio Qualifier were on-hane! in Idaho, and it's expected that the entry list at the Texas Qualifier in two weeks will primarily comprise another list of new competitors. Based on the first two rounds, however, if a rider were to campaign all three of this year's Qualifiers, he or she would have experienced Just about every type of condition this country has to offer. .JUNE 19, 2002' al recent Nationals (the last two Hare first and then today [Sunday], I Although U.S. interest seems to be at an all-time low this year, there is actually one more Qualifier this year than there was in 2001 - three, to be precise, with Idaho representing the halfway point. One week earlier, and a couple of thousand miles away, the first round went off in McArthur, Ohio, and although there were very few big names on-hand, the Uttle Burr Qualifier was actually quite good (Six Days vet Drew Smith called it a very accurate representation of what the riders are likely to fmd in Europe, with nice grass tracks and stellar organization). This should really come as no surprise, as the Enduro Riders Association is an old club with a lot of history and experience. 46 day, only to find himself in second, again! After finishing second in sever- •• n __ s A glimpse at the results tells much about where the popularity of this most difficult of off-road rides lies. Absent here were the young or less-seasoned riders. In their place: age and maturity (and more than a little gray). There were. more riders in the LOI Senior class than in the 125cc class, and with riders like Jeff Fredette, Alan Deyo and Billy Uhl still going fast. perhaps the young guns simply felt overmatched. In the B Class on Sunday, the Vet. Senior and Super Seniors outnumbered all other B riders combined by 40 to 27. This is a race that takes time to leam, and where the guy that can go fast for 30 minutes plus two laps is at a disadvantage to the rider that knows how to pace himse~ (or herself) and to take care of the machine in order to endure the five or more hours and two or more days that the event lasts. "It was a fun time in Idaho," said Fredette. adding when asked how long he would keep his ISDE streak going, "As long as it feels good." As for the secret to success at such an 'experienced" age, Fredette said, "Just don't do anything stupid." Each year in Idaho, many spectators came out to watch and support the riders. Despite requiring a 20·minute drive on a very rough road, the grass track is always a popular viewing spot. Not even the real threat of rain could diminish interest in this year's event, as many spectators gathered on the hillsides that made up the grass track (actually more of an old·school MX track without much grass). Even more lined other parts of the course to cheer on their riders or to get a glimpse of some of the best off·road racers in the country. Recovering from a crash in the Las Vegas' 50, Brian Brown rode in the" A" class, mostly to get some seat time before the upcoming Nationai Hare & Hound in Jackpot, Nevada. Nevertheless, he easily won his class both days with times good enough to put him fifth overall on Saturday and eighth on Sunday. "My knee's still sore, but stable," Brown said. "I'm going to skip Washougal [a WORCS race the follOWing weekend] and just concentrate on the desert. " Last year's overall winner, Destry Abbott, was absent having suffered a knee injury while rid· ing near his home the week before and reqUiring surgery. The 2002 International Six Days Enduro will be held September 24·29 in Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic. Information is available on-line at www.isde2002.net. Information on the upcoming third round of the Reliability Enduro Series can be found at www.trh·cycle.org.