Lafferty's Race, Bobbitt's Title

Shan Moore | October 5, 2009

Michael Lafferty rode one of his most impressive races of the year, taking a 25-second win over KTM teammate Russell Bobbitt at the final round of the AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Series in Upland, Indiana. However, it was Bobbitt who finished off this year’s super-competitive season with the national title – his third national championship in four years – after taking the runner-up finish.

Bobbitt came into the Upland race needing only to finish second should Lafferty take the win, and the two championship contenders took turns holding the advantage over the course of the 65-mile event – just as they had in the series point standings during this year’s 10-race schedule. Bobbitt won the first and last of the six tests while Lafferty was fastest in the other four. In the end, Lafferty took 33 minutes and three seconds to complete the six test sections, compared to the 33 minutes and 28 seconds logged by Bobbitt.

Taking his second podium in a row was Ohio Husaberg rider Nick Fahringer, after finishing the course in 34 minutes and 57 seconds. Meanwhile Virginia’s Brad Bakken finished fourth overall on a KTM at 37 minutes and 52 seconds.

Fahringer and Bakken swapped positions in the overall standings, with Bakken ending the year in third overall with Fahringer in fourth.

Fifth place in Indiana went to Yamaha’s Jeff Melik, while Josh Gaitten, Brooks Hamilton, Cole Kirkpatrick, Jake Fiola and Carsten Cagle rounded out the top 10.

Lafferty’s Race, Bobbitt’s Title