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Bobbbit now holds a 31-point lead over Edmondson, 204-171, with three enduros to go. Bobbitt, on his Maxxis/Scott/SIDI/ Cycle Specialty-backed KTM, drew first blood when he won the first test of the day, an emergency check, with a score of 5:14. Finishing just off of Bobbitt's pace were Jenks and Edmondson, who had times of 5:51 and 5:55. Hawk, on the Am Pro Yamaha, gave up a point to the three KTM riders when he went 6:05. "I was riding with Fred Andrews and he was leading, and we were making good time," Hawk said. "Then we rolled into an observation check and Fred just backed off. I tried to pass him and he wouldn't let me by. I started yelling at him, but he thought I was just kidding around. It was- n't until we came to the final out check that he realized the test wasn't over." Over the next four special tests, Bobbitt continued to establish himself as the rider to beat, accumulating a net score of 20, compared to Hawk's and J e n k s ' 2 1 s , E d m o n d s o n' s 2 2 a n d Bersano's 23. "Even with the shorter tests, things really started to come together," Bobbitt said. "I wasn't having any problems to speak of, other then getting hung up a couple of times. It helped having a later minute [row 25], especially in the mud where, when I got there, I could see ruts starting to develop, and I could just pick another line to stay out of trouble." Special test six was the defining test for Bobbitt, as he was the only rider to card a five while Hawk, Jenks, Edmondson and Bersano scored sixes. Test seven ultimately set up the final finishing order, where Jenks dropped from third to fourth, switching places with Edmondson when he lost his rear brakes. "I was having a little bit of [brake] problems thoughout the day, and they eventually compounded to the point that I had a complete failure," the KTM rider, Jenks, said. "It was kind of a freak deal. Earlier in the day, my brakes were fading a little here and there, and we kept bleeding them. We though we had it fixed and then the pad material separated from the pad, and all I had left was metal to metal." "I really had a better day than my score shows," said Edmondson, who ended up third. "I just missed the flip a couple of times and that kills. The course was actual- ly a lot easier than most National enduros, because the tests were shorter and you had longer transfer sections. Here, we had eight tests that added up to about 40 miles compared to last week [at the Marquette, Michigan, National Enduro], where two of the longer tests where 40-miles long all by themselves." CN BUZZARD M.C. HARRISON, MICHIGAN RESULTS: AUGUST 6, 2006 (ROUND 8) OVERALL: 1. Russell Bobbitt (KTM); 2. Barry Hawk (Yam); 3. Stephen Edmondson (KTM); 4. Robbie Jenks (KTM); 5. Blair Bersano (Yam); 6. John Barber (GG); 7. Fred Andrews (Kaw); 8. Jeff Melik (Yam); 9. Chris Gallt (Kaw); 10. Rich Lafferty (KTM). AMA FMF RACING NATIONAL ENDURO SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Round 8 of 11): 1. Russell Bobbitt (204/4 wins); 2. Stephen Edmondson (173); 3. Mike Lafferty (136/3 wins); 4. Fred Hoess (119); 5. Rich Lafferty (114); 6. Blair Bersano (80); 7. Andrew Kendrick (73); 8. Nick Fahringer (69); 9. John Barber (66); 10. Jeff Melik (64). The Mosquito Classic National Enduro, which was hosted by the Buzzard's Motor- cycle Club, had 94 actual ground miles, 174 miles with re-sets. The enduro was run as a closed-course event, which allowed non- licensed off-road motorcycles with spark arrestors, and used land owned by 38 pri- vate-property owners. Special-use permits were obtained from two counties, the town of Harrison and the Michigan Depart- ment of Transportation that allowed com- petitors to use public roads. Approximately 230 riders participated in the enduro with about 15 percent of those entries riding non-street-licensed bikes. One of them was Arenacross specialist Jimmy Wilson who rode his Honda CRF450. Wilson, who lives in Saline, Michi- gan, said, "We heard there was going to be a National enduro here and all we needed to do was show up with a spark arrestor. I had no idea what I was in for. I mean, I've banged bars with some of the top (motocross and Supercross) riders in the world, but nothing measures up to the degree of difficulty of riding a National enduro. I have so much respect for these guys. I knew coming here, I was going to be out of my element. I was ready to call it quits so many times - all I would have need- ed was for somebody to point me the way home and I would have been gone. I'm glad I finished, though, and who knows, I might try it again. Next time, I guarantee you it won't be on a 450." Seven-time and National Enduro Champion Mike Lafferty, who sat out the last two rounds with a torn ACL in his left knee, underwent knee surgery on August 8. According to Lafferty's manager, Al Randt, the surgery went well and Lafferty is expected to be back to try and tie eight- time National Enduro Champion Dick Burleson's record next year. Before the enduro, Russell Bobbitt said of Lafferty's absence: "It's a bummer not hav- ing Mike here to defend his title. Everybody wants to see him tie [Burleson's] record. Hopefully, he can do that and go on to break it as well." Dick Burleson, who was the enduro's course marshal, said, "Hey, records are meant to be broken, and I'm the first guy that wants to see Mike keep winning championships. It's great for the sport and I'm all for it." GasGas's John Barber finished a respectable sixth, losing out on the tiebreakers to Blair Bersano. Barber said, "I'm actually pretty happy with my results, considering I only have time to ride on Sundays anymore. I took a new job earlier this year, and I just haven't had any time to practice. For me, the only time I've had on a bike this year is on race day. My results have suffered for it, but I'm looking forward to next year. I'm starting a new job next month, and this one is going to allow me to ride more." Briefly... C Y C L E N E W S • AUGUST 23, 2006 49 Stephen Edmondson fin- ished right behind Hawk in third. (Below) Arenacross racer Jimmy Wilson discovered that enduros aren't just a walk in the park. (Left to right) Hawk, Bobbitt and Edmondson celebrate on the podium.