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BRIEFLY • • • Team Gas Gas is putting a huge effort into the AMA/FMF National Enduro Series, and a great show with their new tractor-trailer rig. Formerly the traveling home of Ricky Rudd. the NASCAR racer. the big white Gas-Gas transporter has room inside for six or more bikes as well as a chase vehicle. and all the comforts of home for at least a half-dozen riders. "We really like it." said Don Knight. president of Gas Gas North America. "It's really the best way to travel and have your racers prepared for the event. And, we're serious about our business and our commitment to the sport and want everybody to know it." There was no way to miss the Gas Gas rig, and most everyone was impressed to find it parked in the pits. Mike Lafferty won the South Jersey event on his trusty KTM 250MXC. but was a lot more excited about what may be happening on the upcoming weekend at the Loretta Lynn's combined GNCC/AMA National Hare Scrambles. We overheard that Lafferty's mechanic was taking delivery of a KTM 400SX Racing four-stroke and that they were planning to break it in the Friday before the Tennessee event in order race it on Sunday. ~I am itching to race one of the new four- strokes." Lafferty candidly admitted. "I rode the 400EXC test bike that Trail Rider has. and i couldn't believe how good that bike is. I can't wait to try out the SX." "Lafferty on a four-stroke?" Randy Hawkins said. "Good. Let's level the playihg field a little bit. I need to get all these guys riding a four-stroke, and then we'll have a race series. won't we?" (Yam); 3. Jeff Kirchner (Hus); 4. Ken Law (KTM); 5. Scot Chapkovich (Suz). A SR: 1. James Gunselman (Yam); 2. Stewart Crouch Jr. (Kaw); 3. James Kalleker (Hus); 4. John "Man, the bike knows where to go," said Smith about his Suzuki race bike. "I'm just sitting on it turning the throttle." A burned check in the first 15 miles put Randy Hawkins out of contention early on. Hawkins went on to finish third overall. feared by the locals, was his playground this time, and he flat ripped through it, coming out the other side five points down, compared to seven points set by Hawkins, Rich Lafferty, Washington's David Lykke, and local rider Mark Roll on a YZ125. Following that section was a start control and then two checks back to back, where Lafferty went 5-14, a full three points better than anyone else. Hawkins went 7 - 18 and Rich Lafferty went 7 -17 at the two checks, while Lykke went 7-19, Current ECEA Champion Bill Atkinson surprised the out-of-towners by raging through this section, posting a 6- 16, the secondfastest score. Atkinson was matching scores with Hawkins at the following checks, but then ripped loose his clutch hose later in the race, and lost Michael never let up from there to the finish. By 2:38 p.m. the sun was out, the snow was all gone, and shortly after that Mike Lafferty clocked out of the woods with a 39 total on his scorecard, 9 points better than his brother, and 11 points away from Hawkins, who accepted his loss philosophically. "I knew it was going to be tough racing in Michael's back yard, and I know all these local guys are tough. I came here hoping for a top three finish so I stayed in the points, and I accomplished that, so I'm happy," reasoned Hawkins, "Michael and Rich both rode well today, heck, a lot of guys rode well." With the win Lafferty moves into the series point lead. "It was cold this morning," Lafferty said, "I knew that first section was a ton of time. • going to be tough, it being all brand new and old firecuts, but man, my hands got cold, I got through that, warmed my hands up and knew that the 17 -mile section would be a little better, and it wasn't so bad. I thought the weather would get us all, but it didn't. I just rode as hard as I could, all day. I knew Rich was right back there, I knew Randy was riding really good, I couldn't afford to make any mistakes. So I just kept it pinned and it all "{orked out." Rich Lafferty finished up with a 48, to take second overall and High Point A, and Hawkins netted a 50. Following Lynnwood Yamaha's David Lykke spends a lot of his time riding near his home in Bellingham, Washington, which is why it's no surprise that he faired so well at the tough New Jersey event. Lykke had the fourth-lowest scorecard of the day. the top three was David Lykke, who put in a strong ride with a 52, and Craig Holasek, from Minnesota, who scored 58 points. Sixth went to GasGas' Matt Stavish, who dropped a 59 for the day. Chris Smith held on for seventh Farrar (Yam); 5. Wayne Fontanazza (Yam). A/B 5/SR: 1. Scott Wolfersberger (Hus); 2. Richard Trader (KTM). A 4-STRK: 1. Chris Smith (Suz); 2. Bob Bennett (Hon); 3. Marc Grossman (Yam); 4. Scott Devecchio (Yam); 5. Jamie Campbell (Yam). B 200: 1. William Hess (Kaw); 2. Jason Smith (KTM); 3. Mark Delong (Kaw); 4. Ja Beep Bopp (Hus); 5. Frank Wilson (KTM). B 250: 1. Derek Sererns (ATK); 2. Bob Heinzerling (KTM); 3. Phil! Cassot (Hon); 4. James Earley Jr. (Kaw); 5. Brian Burt (KTM). B OPEN: I. Timothy Rooney (Yam); 2. Giles Ryan (KTM); 3. Michael Barr (KTM); 4. Eric Aaroe (KTM); 5. WHJi~m Gilmore (Kaw). B VET: I. Todd Temple (KTM); 2. Jeff Brown (Kaw); 3. Todd Fenton (KTM); 4. David Mills (KTM); 5. William Gilmore (Kaw). B SR: 1. Joe Chambliss (KTM). B 4·STRK: 1. Joe Dickenson; 2. James Paul (Yam); 3. Mark Schleeweis (Han); 4. Mark Perry (Han); 5. Mark Quador (Yam). C 200: 1. Jeffery Weiss (Kaw). C 250: 1. Edward Hutchingson Jr. (KTM); 2. Jason Spayde (Han). COPEN: 1. Mike Kicinski. C VET: 1. Michael Kearns (KTM); 2. Richard Miller (Kaw). Eighth went to Nathan Knight, also of the Gas-Gas team. Filling out the top ten were two local riders, both riding out of B&B Cycle, both riding on minute five Craig Shenigo dropped a 68 for ninth, and Jim Gunselman scored a 72 for tenth overall. "Any club that has a question about what a national enduro should be," Randy Hawkins said, after the race, "they should give Mr. Lafferty a call. He and his crew did an excellent job. It was funny, though - 70 degree weather one day and snowing the next. It was a good, physical race, not Upcoming Rounds: Round 5 - May 27-28, McArthur, Ohio Round 6 - June 3-4, Idaho City, Idaho a lot of games played, you couldn't ask for a better race." With four rounds down in the series Lafferty and Hawkins are tied with two wins each, with Lafferty having the slight edge in points, 106 to 99, eN Greenbrier National Enduro Kelleplain, NJ Resuhs: April 9, (Round 4 of 141 Grand Champion: Michael Lafferty (KTM). High Point A: Rich Lafferty (KTM). High Point B: Joe Cartwright (Hon) . High Point C: Brian Glenn (Kaw). AA: 1. Michael Lafferty (KTM); 2. Randy Hawkins (Yam); 3. David Lykke (Yam); 4. Matt Stavish (G-G). A 200: 1. Jerry Madore (Yam); 2. Mark Roll (Yam); 3. Mike Slgety (Yam); 4. Robert Mohn (Kaw); 5. Daniel Stoppi Jr. (Yam). A 250: 1. Craig Holasek (Hus): 2. Nathan Knight (G-G); 3. Jeffy Moyer (KTM); 4. Brian Russell (Han): 5. Jamie Wright (Yam). A OPEN: I. Mike Beeler (KTM); 2. Steve Guers (KTM); 3. Scott Hofmann (KTM); 4. George English III (KTM); 5. Dean Spencer (KTM). A VET: 1. Craig Shenigo (KTM); 2. Steven Larkin One of America's 1991 Junior Trophy ISDE pride and joy showed up at round four aboard a new Suzuki DR-Z. Works Enduro Rider-backed Chris Smith won the Four-Stroke A class handily. You couldn't have asked for a more severe change of weather on race weekend. Saturday afternoon it was suntan lotion and umbrella drinks, as the temperature rose above 70 degrees with a warm breeze under a bluebird sky. Rain started falling late in the night, and by sunrise a stiff 30 mph wind was blowing a howling snowstorm perfectly sideways. "You mean they haven't canceled the race yet?" a reluctant West Coast rider declared as the clock ticked past 7:00 a,m" or so the rumor wen.t. Actually, severe weather is not that unusual in South Jersey, and twice before, in recent memory, the Greenbrier Enduro has had a covering of frosty white to greet the riders. "It's always better like this," said trail boss Jack Lafferty Sr. "We don't want it to be too easy. When the weather cooperates we get to have a lot more fun, and it makes it easier on the scorers." It made it a lot easier on the scorers - our unofficial counting shows that 88 A-class riders made it to the finish line within their hour, 45 B riders scored as finished, and only seven C riders got through the final check within their hour. overall and top A Four Stroke. cue I e n e _ S • APRIL 26. 2000 23