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rhythm of the course and were able to card
another zero. The 27-mph average for the
next few miles made this short section the
biggest challenge of the day - so far.
The last section of the short course was
roughly 20 miles of difficult desert, with
speeds ranging from 18 to 21, then to 24, and
finally to 27 for the last few miles. There was
even some seriously rocky virgin singletrack.
This was tough on those worn out from the
steady beating they'd already taken. A known
control ended the short course at 64.70 miles,
and there was a lot of heavy breathing at the
25-minute gas stop. Some riders expressed
concern over the coming sections.
'" think I've had enough," said one rider,
and many agreed.
"I think I broke my toe," groaned another.
Few riders raced out of the gas stop with
the enthusiasm displayed earlier in the day.
The B loop began like the earlier sections
but became progressively more agonizing.
There was little familiar trail here. The soft,
loose dirt and rocks made traction marginal
on hillclimbs that were close to impossible for
those who lost momentum. Relentless miles of
soft, off·camber singletrack were tough on
everyone. The true unfortunates lost countless
points while trying to get their bikes back on
the trail after losing it on an off·camber. In
some places, the trails narrowed to the point
that several bikes were missing a shroud or
two by the finish. The rollchart said this section was only about 12 miles at 24 mph. but it
seemed like an eternity to many. The Bloop
ended with a known at 83.8 miles, where the
A loop immediately began. As they had
throughout the day, the demands of the
course continued to intensify for the final
dozen or so miles. By the time it was over,
almost all of the A riders had been thoroughly
tested.
Colorado AA rider Scott Bright of Throttiehead.com/KTM summed it up nicely: "That A
loop was national quality - the stuff legends
are made of." As promoter of the AMA
National Boot Hill Enduro on July 27, he
speaks with some experience. "Kelby [Pepper)
passed me around the 94 mile mark, that
YZ250 tapped, flat-tracking it through the cor·
ners like he was on his way to the 2.9·mile
marker," Bright said. "Oh, to be fastl"
This was a fantastic enduro. where the
challenge intensified with an electric smoothness, from the comfortable first mites to the
very difficult last ones. At Kachina 2003, all
the riders were winners.
New Mexico Trail Riders
Espanola. New Mexico
Results: April 27, 2003 (Rounds 5/4)
O/A: Kelby Pepper (Vam).
M: I. Kelby Pepper (Yam); 2. Mkhael Wilson (Yam); 3. Rick
Higgins (KTM): 4. Mark ~ens (Hon); 5. Dave Neumeislef (KTM).
OPEN A: I. Chad Carlisle (KTM); 2. Geoff Thorsen (Yam); J.
Jenemy Henley (KTM): 4. Bob Conner (Hon); 5. Kellh Hedendllhl
IKTM).
200 A: I. Gabrlel Reos; 2. Cole Kirkpatrick (KTMl; 3. Billy
(Kow), 4. Marl< H,..., IKTM): 5......""'" (Kow).
250 A:. I. Mark McDonough (KTM); 2. Chad Metcalf (Yam); 3.
Shane WUliams (Yam): 4. Jim Koch (KTM); 5. Clint Boswel (Yam).
VET A: 1. Wayne IntermUl (Yam); 2. Cmlg Huston (KTM); 3. Rex
McKimey (Yam); 4. Stuart Hamet (Hon).
4-S11lK A: I. Eric Croy: 2. lloson Raw Ilion): 3. Shannon Long
(KTM); 4......, Ra« (Yam): 5. C"", AdM (lion).
SR A: I. .Jotv'l Blythe (Yam); 2. Richard Knpatrick (KTM); 3.
Martin Haal!.; 4. Chester Walker (Yam); 5. David Dye (Hon).
CIA B: I. Ken. Foster (Yam); 2. Donald Peirick (KTM); 3. Scott
Ma, (Yom): 4. Bnod Ma, (lion): 5. K,~ _
(KTM).
OPEN B: I. Ned Suesle (KTM): 2. David Sduldle (KTM): 3.
S