Palmer Wins The Alligator
Kit Palmer | March 7, 2008
New Jersey’s Wally Palmer took a somewhat surprising win at the 58th annual SE&TRA Alligator Enduro, hosted by the Daytona Dirt Riders, held yesterday at Tomoka Farms near the Daytona International Speedway. About 400 riders competed.
In relatively dry conditions, Palmer, riding a KX250F, edged out National Enduro Series points leader, Red Bull KTM’s Russell Bobbitt on the tie-breakers. Both riders dropped 13 points.
“I really didn’t expect to win,” Palmer said. “I was surprised.”
Bobbitt later said that he had no real problems in the enduro, but admitted that he probably didn’t charge as hard as he should have, perhaps knowing that multi-time Alligator Champion Mike Lafferty wasn’t riding. Lafferty watched this one from the side of the trail, as he is still nursing a sore wrist.
Unofficially (and we stress unofficially), KTM rider Hamilton Brooks finished third and Kawasaki-mounted Fred Hoess fourth.
Kit Palmer | Off-Road Editor
Kit Palmer started his career at Cycle News in 1984 and he’s been testing dirt and streetbikes every since – plus covering any event that uses some form of a knobby tire. He’s also our resident motorcycle mileage man with a commute of 120 miles a day.
