Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Texas State Championship Enduro Circuit, Championship Division Texas State Championship Enduro Circuit, High Plains Division Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit Rounds 4/3/3: Lone Star Enduro _ _-.. ___ Wilson Lassoes the Lone Star .utfW -.T ns.-s EI --- . . . .u By BILL KAMIN AND DAVID KLEIN KALGARY,TX, APR. 6 The 100 members of the Lubbock Trail Riders did it again. They took the beautiful, 14,000acre Glass Ranch in Kalgary and turned it into one outstanding enduro course. The weather cooperated, and it was a very pleasant (albeit very dry and dusty) day. TSCEC's own Michael Wilson managed to straighten out enough of the winding sand washes and single-track to beat the number-one RMEC rider, Ron Schmelzle, by two points. "LTR did a great job, considering the dry conditions," said Wilson. "They tested us thoroughly and fairly. with great checkpoint locations. Actually. Ron and I tied on tie-break seconds. but 1 happened to come in on the right side of the minute on a few checks. Schmelzle is a great rider. I really enjoy the RMEC riders competing with us. They have a tremendous amount of talent in that circuit. I would like to thank MSR, Tucker Rocky, and Sharp's Motorsports for their support." Multitime ISDE competitor Schmelzle added thanks to Offroadchampions.com, Eurosport. Shift, Silkolene, FMF, Durelle Racing, Bridgestone. Smith, E-Une, Steahly, Renthai and Emig Racing, and for the reliable performance of his Colorado Powersports Yamaha. A steady breeze minimized dust on the trails while 355 riders ripped through the mesquite. Most of the riders appeared to know the course well, as few backed off even a little at the 2.9·mile marker. Though it appeared not one rider waited for his minute until long past the 5-mile marker. it seemed that most riders zeroed the first check. Band Criders had a 6.7-mile reset at 7.3 miles, while the A riders got to tangle with "Rambo." This section makes your average "tight and twisty" seem like a walk in the park. Riders often had their toes touching their handlebars to keep from losing them in the deep ruts. More than a few lost enough time in this relatively short stretch that they were unable to get back on their minute for the rest of the day. The trails merged at 14.1 miles, with a 10minute reset to help the lost souls get back on time. The well· rested B riders and Criders could now compete more equally with the abused A riders. A short transfer section took everyone to the next check-in. where another 10 miles of trail awaited. As the day wore on, the sections tended to get longer, while the trails became tighter and the hills steeper. the speed averages increased, and more and more rocks appeared· standard Texas fare for sure, though arranged in such a way to make it interesting, challenging and fun. At 55.2 miles, riders checked out of the short course and into a known-control start for a motocross section with a 90·mph speed average. One could tell that even the best were expected to be behind, with an O.8-mile reset in the middle of a sandy 3-mile section. After the motocross section, there was a 10-minute pause to help riders take a breath before starting the long course. This was basically one 16.8-mile section that stepped up from 18 mph at the start to a 24-mph speed average for the last 12.5 miles. Ignoring the abuse of the "Rambo" section, the course just got more challenging little by little all day. This last section had more ruts and steeper hills than before, with fewer straightaways to offset the twists and turns. And it sure seemed as if someone had planted more and more cactus as the course wore on. Surely some riders are still picking out the needles. The final check-out was located at the top of a long, challenging piece of rocky singletrack guaranteed to frustrate riders in their attempt to reclaim a few precious seconds from the clock. SOMETIMES WHAT PROTECTS YOU THE MOST IS MADE OF PAPER. "HONDA PlAY IT SAFE, READ YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL AND NEVER UJX ALCOHOl OR DRUGS WITH MOTORCYCliNG SCupicI hUt181s 8 ~ tradltfMrk 01 Honde Motor Co.. lid. 02001 Amencan HondI Mellor Co Inc. fM)1) Motorcycle news will never be the same! You can access Cycle News Online anytime, day or night, on the World Wide Web at... 1M'WW'.cyclene""s.com What's at the leading edge of motorcycle news? Cycle News Online! Now you can access instant race results and the latest breaking stories in the world of motorcycling, with Cycle News' home page on the World Wide Web. Updated daily, Cycle News Online provides: II H1vmo lm! about l .t.'? As America's only weekly motorcycle publication. we"re the only lhing you gellhat you even realize IS late! (When was the lasllimc you knew your montfily magazine was a week later than usual?) Most Cycle News subscriptions are delivered via 2nd Class mail. The bulk of what you pay for on your annunl subscription is postage. 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Here are your ahemalive~ for beller sef'llice: If you are able to pay for faster service. first-class mail delivery within the United States for Cycle New~. annual subscription price: S130.00. (Outside the U.S.. firMclass delivery is available for $150.00: Canada & Mexico are $145.00). Cycle News' toll-free subscription hOlline is 1-800-831-2220. - orRegister your delivery complaints with the U.S. Postal Service on-line at: www.usps.eomlfeedbackffeedbaek.htm or, call the U.S. POSlal Service loll-free consumer hOlline - 24 hours a day. seven days a week· at [·800·ASK·USPS (1·800·275·8777), Please keep your message brief. to the point. descriptive of your delivery problems. and as polite as possible. If the USPS hears from enough customers. they can only pay anemion and improve their service. eye I e nevvs APRtL 30,2003 61