Factory Husqvarna Andrew DeLong lands his first Kenda AMA National Enduro win of the year in Michigan.
As consistent as he has been in both in both the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series and the AMSOIL GNCC Series, it seemed only a matter of time before factory Husqvarna rider Andrew DeLong would land his first win of the 2014 season. It finally came yesterday at the Loose Moose National Enduro in Marquette, Michigan.
Although rain prior to the event made the rocks on the course extra slick, DeLong was brimming with confidence as he piloted his Husqvarna FE 350 to the overall win by nearly a minute over his closest competition. DeLong was on fire from the start, setting an aggressive pace that netted a 22-second lead by the end of the first special test. Although the second special test was thrown out after an arrow got knocked down at a trail split which caused the second half of the riders to go the incorrect way, he would go on to win all but two special tests on the day. The only real setback came cat Special Test #5 when DeLong lost 12-seconds due to a crash. He rebounded in Special Test #6, however, finishing just 2 seconds out of first place after getting hung-up on a rock.
It was DeLong’s first AMA National Enduro win since the Concho National Enduro in Blackwell, Texas, in March of 2013.
“I came here with a bit more confidence after my performance at Snow Shoe [GNCC],” DeLong said. “Today I was more in tune with the bike, more comfortable. It’s not a foreign object; like I know what it’ll do and I know what I want.”
One of the keys to DeLong’s victory may have been an adjustment to his training routine. After Husqvarna team manager Andy Jefferson suggested to DeLong that he may be a victim of over training, DeLong relaxed his workout schedule between races.
“I thought training harder was the way to go, but I had burned myself out,” DeLong said. “Over the past couple of weeks I’ve backed it down, and it is working for me. I cut back a bit on my riding, and I changed my diet, too. Normally, I don’t eat solid food during an enduro, just drink liquids, but today I ate between the tests, and I had a lot of energy throughout the enduro.”
Factory KTM rider Steward Baylor Jr. Baylor finished second overall, ahead of Air Group Husqvarna rider Nick Fahringer, who finished third and took over the series points lead by six points over the sidelined Charlie Mullins and seven points over DeLong. Baylor’s younger brother, Grant Baylor finished fourth overall. Previous round winner Brad Bakken was fifth overall, and eight-time AMA National Enduro Champion Michael Lafferty was sixth overall. Andrew DeLong’s brother, Craig DeLong, won the 250 AA Class win aboard a Husqvarna TC 250.
Loose Moose National Enduro
Marquette, Michigan
Results: June 30, 2014 (Round 6 of 10)
Overall
1. Andrew DeLong-Hus
2. Steward Baylor Jr.-KTM
3. Nick Fahringer-Hus
4. Grant Baylor-KTM
5. Brad Bakken-Yam
6. Mike Lafferty-KTM
7. Cory Buttrick-Bet
8. Jesse Groemm-KTM
9. Paddy Holloway-KTM
10. Ryder Lafferty-Hus
Kenda AMA National Enduro Series Points Standings (After 6 of 10 rounds)
1. Nick Fahringer-126
2. Charlie Mullins-120/4 wins
3. Andrew DeLong-119/1 win
4. Brad Bakken-115
5. Jesse Groemm-102
6. Grant Baylor-98
7. Michael Lafferty-87
8. Cory Buttrick-78
9. Steward Baylor Jr.-77
10. Ryder Lafferty-60
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