At a time in his career when most riders are thinking about hanging it up or finding a job in the industry, Michael Lafferty is still all about the next race. The 34-year-old has plenty of laurels to retire on, including eight National Enduro titles and an amazing 68 National wins. And he just barely missed out on what would have been a record ninth championship in 2009, losing to KTM teammate Russell Bobbitt by a single point in the final AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Series standings. But the day after the final race of the series in Upland, Indiana, Lafferty was already making deals and planning for the upcoming season. After 15 successful years with KTM, Lafferty signed a contract with the Husaberg factory which will see him riding the new 390 FE for the 2010 season. For the likeable New Jersey native, life is simply about racing and winning. Not that a ninth title is something he couldn't live without, it's just not high on his list right now.

"I don't really think too much about a ninth title," admits Lafferty. "I'm sure that's something that will be more important to me after I retire. But right now, I just want to win races."

He's quick to add that he would like to win a title for Husaberg. "It wouldn't matter if it was my ninth or my first - I just want to win," says Lafferty.

Whether he'll just be going for "that next win", or for a ninth title, when Lafferty puts his blue and yellow 390 on the start at the series opener in South Carolina this coming January it will most likely be in front one of the largest audiences ever to watch a National Enduro. For 2010, the NEPG (National Enduro Promoters Group) has secured a television deal which will see the 10-race schedule aired on the MavTV cable network. The deal calls for two one-hour shows for each event, televised in high definition - one hour will be dedicated to the pro riders while the additional hour will feature the rest of the amateur classes.

The TV deal is just the latest in a series of changes and improvements implemented since the NEPG took over three years ago. The biggest upgrade, and the one that will do the most in bringing the National Enduro Series - the oldest and longest running of all AMA championships - back into prominence is the initiation of the start control/restart format, which virtually eliminates the need for time-keeping. Now, a rider with no experience in time-keeping at all can compete and not be at a disadvantage to a rider with years of experience on the circuit.

For sure, the National series is growing in attendance and in national recognition, due in part to the great racing the series has produced over the past few years - including some pretty good battles between Lafferty and Bobbitt. Rekluse is back as the series sponsor and manufacturer participation is growing, with Husqvarna announcing that it will field a two-man team in the series for 2010. Meanwhile, Lafferty's deal puts a factory Husaberg in the mix for the first time ever.

Recently, "Eight-time" took time to talk to Cycle News about this year, next year, and beyond.