N-Fab/AmPro/Yamaha bLU cRU’s Grant Baylor draws first blood at the Sumter National Enduro in South Carolina.
N-Fab/AmPro/Yamaha bLU cRU’s Grant Baylor became the first round winner in the 2016 Kenda AMA National Enduro Series by besting a tough field at the 47th running of the Sumter National Enduro in Wedgefield, South Carolina, Sunday.
Baylor relied on consistency to claim victory on the tight and sandy South Carolina course. He only won one of the six special tests, test three, but that ultimately swung the battle in his favor, and he was able to pull off the win by by 18 seconds over FMF/KTM’s Russell Bobbitt.
It was just the second win of Baylor’s AMA National Enduro career, but it was also the second consecutive win, as he closed out the 2015 Kenda AMA National Enduro Series with a win at the final round in Indiana.
“I’m pretty happy to come away from here with the win because I usually don’t do well in Sumter,” Baylor said. “I only won one test, but I was right there all day. That win in the third test moved me up from fifth to first and I just rode a consistent race for the rest of the day.”
Bobbitt, who contested the Sumter race aboard a 250cc four-stroke, edged Beta USA’s Jesse Groemm by 2 seconds to land the runner-up spot.
“Overall, the day went just as I planned,” Bobbitt said. “We didn’t make a single change all day,” said Bobbitt. “I had a few problems with lappers, but other than that all was good.”
Groemm scored the win in test two, and that win gave him the event lead. However, a couple of mistakes in the final test dropped the New Jersey rider to third in the final tally.
“It was a tight race all day,” Groemm said. “This is a good way to start off the season, and I’m hoping to be a podium finisher all year, that’s how you win championships.”
SRT KTM rider Steward Baylor, Grant’s brother, finished fourth and was the only rider to win more than one test, claiming the fourth and sixth tests. Even so, Steward suffered mechanical issues in the opening test, keeping him from the podium.
Former AMA National Enduro Champion Andrew DeLong finished fifth aboard his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna. DeLong posted the second fastest time in test one but fell off the pace in tests three and five, finishing 16 seconds behind Steward Baylor. JCR Honda’s Chris Bach made a rare enduro appearance and finished sixth, ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Josh Strang.
Two-time National Enduro Champ Charlie Mullins proved he still has the speed to win despite breaking his foot just three weeks before the Sumter round. Battling through the pain, Mullins was quick early but ultimately backed off the pace through the final two tests and settled for eighth place, just ahead of SRT KTM’s Cory Buttrick. FMF/RPM KTM Racing Team Maxxis rookie Pro Drew Higgins completed the top 10.
Local rider Zach Hayes won the Rekluse Expert-AA class by over 2 minutes. The KTM rider won the first four tests despite suffering a bad nasty crash in test one.
“Test one started pretty good, but then about halfway me and a lapper were going for the same line and I wound up hitting one of the biggest trees on the property head on,” Hayes said. “I was able to rebound after that, and I ended up turning pretty good times for the rest of the day.”
N-Fab/Am Pro Yamaha’s Ryan Belue finished second in Expert-AA clas, winning the final two tests of the day. Nathan Ferderer of Minnesota was third.
The Kenda AMA National Enduro Series resumes action on March 20, in Maplesville, Alabama.
2016 Kenda AMA National Enduro Championship Series
Wedgefield, South Carolina
Results: February 7, 2016 (Round 1 of 9)
Pro
1. Grant Baylor-Yam
2. Russell Bobbitt-KTM
3. Jesse Groemm-Bet
4. Steward Baylor Jr.-KTM
5. Andrew DeLong-Hus
6. Chris Bach-Hon
7. Josh Strang-Hus
8. Charlie Mullins-KTM
9. Cory Buttrick-KTM
10. Drew Higgins-KTM
2016 Kenda AMA National Enduro Championship Series Points Standings (After 1 of 9 rounds)
1. Grant Baylor-30/1 win
2. Russell Bobbitt-25
3. Jesse Groemm-18
4. Steward Baylor Jr.-16
5. Andrew DeLong-15
6. Chris Bach-14
7. Josh Strang-13
8. Charlie Mullins-12
9. Cory Buttrick-11
10. Drew Higgins-10
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