Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

there, Lafferty, the 29-year-old rider from New jersey, went on to dominate the rest of the enduro's eight special tests. Bobbitt, the 19-year-old from Fayetteville, Georgia, aboard the Cycle Specialties/Scott/Enduro Engineering/Max xis KTM, said, "For me the first couple of sections went just about as good as they could have. I just didn't make any mistakes and was able to keep my momentum up." The 23-year-old Edmondson from Hardy, Virginia, said, "The first couple of checks went well. I was just beating the flip, and I knew that would make a difference." Things went well for Lafferty early on, too. "I knew I had a good ride going when I just missed zeroing the first emergency check by one second," he said. "From there, I just concentrated on riding each test as best as I could." Lafferty started to break away from the pack when he picked up one point on each at the next two "out" checks, where he carded a 3-2, and Bobbitt and Edmondson a 4-5. Lafferty and Bobbitt both carded fives at the end of the fifth test, while Edmondson dropped back another minute when he scored a six after he started to experience clutch problems. "Once we got into the longer sections, my clutch started to slip a little," Augusta KTMlEnduro Engineering/Scott/KP Racing KTM's Edmondson said. "I thought we had it fIXed when I changed the oil at a reset, but it eventually started slipping again." Edmondson's clutch problems separated him even further when he carded an eight, and Lafferty tallied a six and Bobbitt a seven. Of the sixth test, Lafferty said, "That test made the difference. It was the last long test section, and I knew that I had David Lykke rounded out the top five and is currently fourth in points. My OWN RACE Billy Russell DNF After winning the first round and finishing fourth at the second round, Billy Russell failed to finish when his rear brakes faded. "It happened right away," he said. "The brake would fade and I'd have to pump it up to get something back. I hung in there for the first eight checks, but by the ninth one, they were gone entirely. I just rode through the reset trying to get home, bum- ing the next check by something like 21 minutes, which automatically DNFed me." Leonard Keen 9th "I actually had a pretty good time here," said Keen, who halls from Michigan. "We still have a lot of snow back on the ground back in Michigan, and I just haven't had any time to ride this year. 50 coming here, I was just looking forward to getting some time on the bike. I had a pretty good morning, but I just got way too tired in the afternoon." Matt Stavish I Ith Matt Stavish led the points race going into round three, having posted two second-place finishes. He didn't have such luck in Georgia "I really struggled here," he said. "I've been fighting the flu for the last 10 days or so, and it wasn't until Wednesday that I even decided that I might be able to ride. We got here a couple days early, and I spent most of my time getting caught up on some sleep, hoping that by Sunday I'd be ready to go. I'm glad I came though, and hopefully I can make up some points at the next round in New jersey." nailed it. All that was left was a couple of short tests, and all I had to do was stay out of trouble." And that he did. Lafferty went 3-2, while Bobbitt and most of the other top I 0 finishers went 3-3. Riding in fourth place all day was AmPro Yamaha's Randy Hawkins, who scored a one at the first check, setting him just off the top three finishers' pace. '" was just off the pace a little today," Hawkins said. "I've always been a slow starter, and when you give up a point to the three riders at the first check, you know you have your work cut out for you. "This is only my second enduro I've ridden all year, and I'm just not up to speed," Hawkins added. "Later in the day I missed three other checks by .0 I, .03 and .OS. With a little luck, I probably could've gone 26 or 27. That might have been good enough for second, but it wouldn't have been enough to catch Mike. Right know, he's the man to beat." Fifth-place finisher David Lykke, on a KTM, scored 30 points and took himself out of a possible podium finish when he got lost during the first test section. '" must have missed a turn somewhere," Lykke said. "It took me awhile to get back, but it was too late and I dropped one point. Then later I just missed a couple of card turns and before you now it, I had a 30." eN CHEROKEE NAnONAL GREENSBORO, GEORGIA Rfsuus: MARcH 20, 2005 (ROUND 3 Of 8) O/A: I. Mike lafferty (KTM) 22; 2. Russell Bobbin (KTM) 26; 3. Stephen Edmondson (KTM) 28; 4. Randy Hawkins (Yam) 29; 5. David Lykke (KTM) 30: 6. Steve Hatch (Kaw) J I: 7. John Barber (GG) 32; 8. jason Chancey (KTM) 33; 9. LeonMd Keen (KTM) 33; 10. Jan H'..... (Yam)JJ. AMA FMF RACING NATIONAL ENDURO SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 3 of 8 rounds): I. Mike ~((erty (67/1 win); 2. Steve Hatch (63/1 win); 3. Man S13vM (60); 4. OavKJ Lyl

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