Lafferty Stays Perfect

| June 25, 2001

Michael Lafferty (pictured) continued his unbeaten streak in the 2001 AMA FMF National Enduro Series, winning yesterday’s Rhody Rovers National in West Greenwich, Rhode Island. The Team KTM rider was followed in the overall results by Yamaha’s Randy Hawkins, and KTM rider Jim Price completed the podium. CRE rider Eric McEchern was fourth, and Husqvarna rider Fred Hoess rounded out the top five. Gas Gas’ Matt Stavish was sixth, followed by teammate Rich Lafferty, Yamaha rider Jerry Medore, and CRE riders Rick Claxton and Raffy Peterson.

Light, off-and-on rain kept the dust down and the traction high for the 300+ riders at the Rhody Rovers event. Short, tough sections first thing in the morning proved to be favorable for Lafferty, as he bettered every one by at least a minute in the first four sections. Hawkins and Washington’s David Lykke were battling for second until Lykke missed a reset and burned a check by six minutes and then called it a day. In the last two sections, all Lafferty had to do was ride Hawkins’ pace, knowing he had built up a lead in the morning, but as it sometimes goes when riding safe, you lose concentration and crash. And crash he did in the last section, knocking himself silly for a little while, letting Hawkins get a point back on him. But it was not enough for Hawkins, as Lafferty kept his streak alive.

With three rounds remaining in the series, Lafferty holds a perfect 180-point total, comfortably ahead of Hawkins’ 100. Lafferty could clinch the title at the next round on July 15 in Colorado.

By Chris Jonnum