Lafferty Tops Michigan National Enduro
| July 18, 2005
Six-time National Enduro Champion Mike Lafferty continued his dominance of the 2005 AMA National Enduro Series by winning the Loose Moose National Enduro in Marquette, Michigan, yesterday. The factory-backed KTM rider dropped 43 points, topping Kawasaki’s Steve Hatch by two points.
Lafferty out-paced the competition by winning four of the enduro’s six special tests sections, while tying Hatch for the quickest times in the other two.
Rounding out the top five overall was KTM rider David Lykke (53), Yamaha pilot Blair Bersano (54), and Gas Gas rider John Barber (55).
The 85-mile enduro was run in temperatures near 100 degrees in extremely dusty conditions.
“Winning here wasn’t so much about going fast as it was about saving energy for the end of the day,” Lafferty said. “I got off to a good start [winning the first test section]. I and had to stop and replace a broken shift lever, which slowed me up a little over the next two sections [where Lafferty and Hatch posted identical scores.] After replacing the shifter I was able to pick another three points on the last three sections. Steve was always there, and, if it wasn’t for my good start, I might’ve had to take a few more chances, and, with the dust, it could have gone either way.”
Hatch said, “Recently Mikes just been riding a winning pace and the rest of us our trying to hang in there. I feel pretty good about still being in the hunt, considering Mike has won the last four rounds.” After six of eight rounds, Lafferty has the points lead with 166, followed by Hatch with 129, and Matt Stavish with 100.
