Cycle News

INTERVIEW 2014 AMA ENDURO NATIONAL CHAMPION ANDREW DELONG P182 "It's pretty cool," says DeLong. "My win last year in Texas, I think, was the first win for a Husky in 10 years, and then to win the title for Husky is awesome. I'm grateful that Husqvarna gave me the op- portunity to do what I did, and I'm proud to be part of this history- making season. I can't wait to go out to California to see my bike in Husky's Hall of Fame." DeLong has come a long way in the four years he's been rac- ing the Pro division in the national enduro series. "I think I've improved my rid- ing style in the last four years," says DeLong. "I wouldn't say I'm smoother, because that's not true, I fall a lot. But I used to be reckless out of control; now I'm smooth out of control. I'm still try- ing to find the speed that Charlie Mullins is at. I've learned a lot. I've learned where I can go fast and where I can sort of go fast and where I can take it easy, not push it. I've definitely picked up little things like when to pass when I follow people, where before I just tried to pass as quick as I could." In 2013, the National Enduro Promotions Group passed a rule that puts the winner of a race on the front row at the next enduro. Something that DeLong feels benefits the "true" enduro com- petitor with trail-reading skills. "Reading trail is part of the en- duro series," says DeLong. "And I grew up where enduros used to be blind and tight, meaning you didn't know what was coming up. And being on that first row for DeLong. "I was expecting more, but the DNF in Georgia definitely hurt. Overall, I think it was a good year and I didn't get hurt, which is the first time I've finished a series and didn't get hurt, which was pretty good for me." DeLong has also been active in ISDE competition for the last two years, competing on the U.S. Junior Team in 2013 in Ger- many and on the highly regarded Wellard Team at this year's event in Argentina. DeLong and team- mates Gary Sutherlin and Chris the Pros takes me back to those days, where you are basically reading the trail as you go. The fastest guy wins, but you have to read the trail and know when to go fast and when to take it easy. The guys on the rows further back have it a bit easier because the trail is broken in, and instead of reading the arrows they are just following the trail." Like Mullins did last year and in 2010, DeLong was able to win a major title while juggling his schedule between two se- ries, GNCC and the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series. It was something that DeLong says wasn't as difficult as it sounds. "The week going into an enduro, I practice at a different place than on a week going into a GNCC," says DeLong. "I still do my 30-min- ute motos, and pretty much I run the same settings in both series, to make things easier. Not much changes between the two series, except before an enduro I practice more in the woods." DeLong actually thinks the two series compliment each other. "I think riding the GNCC series helps me with my speed in the enduro series," says DeLong. "Riding the enduro series helps me in the GNCC series, reading trail on the first lap." The 2014 season marked De- Long's first year in the XC1 class in GNCC competition, and he fin- ished the season in sixth overall in the final standings. "I think I had a good year for a rookie in the XC1 class," says "I'm grateful that Husqvarna gave me the opportunity to do what I did, and I'm proud to be part of this history- making season."

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