DeLong Gets Maiden Win at Dragon's
Back National Enduro
C
raig DeLong got off to a quick
start in the first three tests
and then maintained a steady
and consistent pace in the final
three to grab his maiden win in
the Magna1 Motorsports AMA
National Enduro Series present
-
ed by Moose Racing.
The Rockstar Energy Husqvar-
na rider won the first three tests,
building a substantial lead over
the competition before cruising
to victory in Virginia.
"I started off really well the
first three tests," said DeLong,
who posted the fastest time in all
three. "It was just really similar to
how it is back home in Pennsyl
-
vania. Just kind of slick, red clay,
a little rooty, which is the kind of
conditions I like. So, I just kind of
felt at home in the beginning of
the day. I built up a good lead in
the morning but in the afternoon, I
was just a little bit off."
DeLong still managed to win
the event by 25 seconds over
AmPro Yamaha's Ricky Russell,
although he almost threw it all
away in the final test.
"I about blew it," added De
-
Long. "I got stuck on a log and
had a couple tries at it. I was
kicking myself in the butt for that
one, but pulled it through. It feels
good to finally get a win."
Russell, who is quickly adapt-
ing to National Enduro compe-
tition, came out on top of a three-
way battle for the runner-up slot
ahead of Coastal Racing Gas-
Gas' Ryder Lafferty, who finished
third, and Enduro Engineering
GasGas' Josh Toth, who was
fourth. Russell went 1-2-3 in the
final three tests to top Lafferty
by just three seconds.
"I started off kind of slow,"
said Russell. "It was slick and
I was maybe a little bit overly
cautious because I just wasn't
WIND
IN THE
P48
Craig DeLong
captured his first
career National
Enduro overall
victory.
PHOTOS:
SHAN MOORE
