Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

i Edmondson was all smiles. too. "This was a good race," said Edmondson, who recently moved to Virginia and no longer follows the SETRA series full time, though he does plan on making a run for the National title. "Some of the sections were so tight lrhat] passinS was tough. You had to make a way around. I had some trouble. but I'm sure ever),one else did, too." For Lafferty, getting a third wasn't what he had hoped for going into the Cherokee National, where he, like Bobbitt now won his very first National Enduro in 1997. Lafferty was disappoint- ed in himself for his slow start. ''l'm still mad ar myself for not thinking early in the race," Lafferty said, "but I feel good for Russell for winning his first National. Now l've just got tg make sure he doesn't win any more,'' Riders were apprehensive Soing into the Cherokee National. for weather fore- casters had predicted rain for Sunday, which, when it pours, usually causes havoc because of the red Georgia clay. Although some rain did fall throughout the course of the day, it wasn't enough to really make a difference. The hard stuff did, however, fall after the last rider had checked through the final checkpoint. Throughout the Cherokee Enduro's 40-year history l5 times held as a National. a few times the run was consid- ered "easy" by National standards, but not this time. The Cherokee Enduro Riders pulled out all the stops this year, sefting up 17 checks through nine sec- tions. covering over 100 ground miles, so there was plenty of opportunity to accu- mulate unwanted points. The club tested the riders in the tight stuff right off the start. The eventual top- three riders tied with a two-point loss at the flrst points-taker. Bobbitt, however, came close of dropping two extra points, having almost had burned a check. "l came into one section about 40 sec- onds hot," Bobbitt said. "l had to creep in. I had about 30 feet to go, and I was watch- ing my front tire just barley move- Riders were flying past me to make the check." The next section was the turning point of the race for Lafferty. He dropped a point to Bobbitt and Edmondson, and lit- tle did he know at the time, it would be a point that he would never make up. "One of the early sections had a 8oin8- in check deep in the woods. it was pretty tight, and I had a hard time getting around slower riders," Lafferty said. ''l came in a minute late. lcarried that to the check- out and that was that. l'm mad at myself forgoing in late. That one section cost me the race." Once again, Bobbitt dodSed a bullet. "ln the first section, my rear-axle nut came loose," he said. "The nut was held on by about three threads. lt cocked the rear wheel and the chain was banging. I didn't think I could make it to the next section." The next section had all three drop- ping five points, so going into the first gas Bobbitt and Edmondson still shared the lead. "Yeah, up to the gas stop, me and Russell were tied, even to the second," Edmondson said. "l knew we had a poinr on Mike, but there was a lot of racing left," After the gas, the riders headed into what the club dubbed, "the granddaddy section." lt was a section that was long and very tight, but none ofthem, Bobbitt, Edmondson nor LafIerty, could gain signif- icanr ground on each other, all emerging with "8s" on their scorecards, so Lafferty was still down a point with two five-mile sections left. Edmondson had a big scare in the final run to the finish. "My riSht footpeg came off before those last two tight sections," Edmondson said. "The whole thing came off the frame. I had to put my foot on the frame tube to 8et it out of rhe way. Using the brake was tou8h," Still, Edmondson managed to keep pace. Bobbitt reponed having difficulty get- ting around slower riders. "There was one tight section toward the end of the race that lhad trouble getting around slower riders," Bobbitt said. "There was just nowhere they could 80 - it was that tight. I missed the check by six seconds. Other than that, I don't think I could have shaved any time off anywhere else.'' Once again, all three riders tied through the last two sections, each drop- ping twg points. Now the race came down to the mathematicians, and when the minutes and seconds were tallied, Bobbitt squeaked out the win over Edmondson. Lafferty never could get that one point back and had to settle for third. "You can't make a mistake with them [Edmondson and Bobbitt]," Lafferty said. "Especially down here in Geor8ia." Fourth place went to another SETRA regular Jason Chancey, and Rich Lafferty, who finished fifth, made it a KTI''I sweep of the top five overall. As far as the SETRA series goes, Bobbitt has all but wrapped up the enduro and hare scrambles series. To say he dominated this year would be an understatement. Cl{ CHExoxEr CYCE CLUB G*E:NsroRo. GEoRGra Rrsuus: MARCH lZ 2006 (RotnD 2 or I I) OVERALL l. Rlserl Bobbtt (KIM)i 2. Stephen Edmond@n (fi1'1); L l.1,ke Lafieny (KrM)i a. l6on Chan.ey (KrM); 5. &.h Lafterry (KTl'4)i 6. Ni.k Fahrinser (GG); 7. l'1ike Griale (KTH)I 8. Fred H@$ (cc)i 9. Andrew Kendrick (Yam)r l0 R!$erl Eply fram). AMA FHF RACING NATIONAI ENDURO SERIES PolNTs STANDINGS (Atter 2 ol I I @nds): l. l',1'ke Lafierry (a6li 2. (IE) Rustell Bobbift (l win)/SteFhen Edflondson (al): a. Fred Hess (14): 5. Palrick GarEnan (30/l win)i 6. Rkh LafiErty 130)i 7. Nkk Fahrin8* (10)i 8.laon Chancey (18)i 9. Bilty Ru$erl (16)i (Clockwise lrom ropl ,ttike Lofferty {2lA) is srill looking lor his first win of lhe yeor ond is on the brink of his 3(hh-

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