AMAlFMF Racing National Enduro Series
Final Round: Turkey
By GEORGE VILLANY AND ANDY HILL
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL DEMAREE
NEW PARIS, IN, NOV. 3
t doesn't get much closer than
this. Going into the final round of
the AMA/FMF Racing National
Enduro Series, just one point separated series leader and defending champ
Mike Lafferty and Husqvarna's Fred
Hoess in the race for this year's title,
and to make things even more interesting, multi-time National Enduro
champ Randy Hawkins had an outside chance at the title, going in just
eight points behind Hoess and nine
behind Lafferty. So, you might say
that tensions were at an all-time high
heading into the Riders M. C. -hosted
title decider.
ere
National
KTM rider Lafferty was aiming for
his fifth title and Hoess his first, while
Hawkins was gunning for his eighth
championship. Hoess may have been
the sentimental favorite going into the
enduro, but the veteran off-road racer
did not have things go his way in
Indiana, though he did give it a
valiant effort.
Multi·time ISDE gold medallist
Hoess was very much in the hunt late
in the event when the all-too-usual
enduro "stuff' started happening - to
him. Things first starting going wrong
for Hoess when he crashed, and then
his 250cc Husky ran out of gas,
which caused to him to run late. And
then, while trying to make up time,
Hoess was so focused on the trail
ahead of him that he did not see a
hidden check and rode right past it
without stopping (though he was not
the only one), leaving the organizers
no choice but to disqualify him from
the competition, thus ending his
hopes of winning his first title and
leaving him bitterly disappointed.
Meanwhile, Lafferty and Hawkins two extremely talented and crafty
enduro specialists - were locked in
struggle for the overall win. The two
(Above) Randy Hawkins' second-place finish was good enough to place him second
overall in the championship for the )'ear.
(Rightl Fred Hoess came Into the finale just one point behind Lafferty, but a couple
problems led to a disqualification and dropped him to third In the championship.
12 NOVEMBER 20, 2002' D U D I •
ne"".
enduro vets battled down to the finish, with Lafferty coming out on top
of their duel, edging out Hawkins by
just one point, officially, but in reality
by just seconds. When all was said
and done, Lafferty carded a 38 to
Hawkins' 39 and officially wrapped up
his fifth National Enduro title. Third
place on the day went to Yamaha rider
Robbie Jenks, who is better known for
tearing it up in the GNCC series.
Jenks carded an impressive 41.
