Brad Bakken becomes the first winner other than Charlie Mullins at a Kenda AMA National Enduro round this season with a win at the Jester National Enduro.
With defending Kenda AMA National Enduro Champion Charlie Mullins sidelined for most of the rest of the season with a wrist injury, the way was cleared for the first different winner other than Mullins when the series went to Oakridge Estates in Arrington, Virginia, for the Jester National Enduro. N-Fab/AmPro Yamaha’s Brad Bakken became that first different winner of the year while also taking his first career Kenda AMA National Enduro win.
Bakken set the pace in the Jester by winning the first special test of the day. That win gave him a time cushion that would help him as he failed to win another special test throughout the day. Bakken was able to land the event win by just 15 seconds over AirGroup Husqvarna rider Nick Fahringer.
“I’m just really excited to get my first overall win, and especially to get it here in Virginia,” Bakken said. “I knew going in it was going to be a fun event because it’s kinda like a home race for me, since I live in Virginia.”
Bakken’s win was the first for the Yamaha brand since Mullins win the championship on one in 2010. Bakken was also rode a 250F to the win—another first.
Fahringer made things difficult on himself when he posted the eighth fastest time in the 6.5-mile opening test, but he bounced back to win tests two, four and five, giving himself a shot at the win if Bakken should falter, which didn’t happen.
“I dug down deep, and I think I beat Brad in all the rest of the tests, but I just put myself in too deep of a hole in that first test,” Fahringer said. “But honestly, this was a home race for Brad, and he made me work for it, and I just came up a little short.”
“This was my second time on the podium and it was a really good day for me,” said Baylor. “I started out a little bit slow, I was sixth at the beginning of the day, but I finally loosened up and the trail started flowing a lot better for me and I started twisting the throttle a little bit more and making up positions.”
The Kenda AMA National Enduro Series’ next stop is in Marquette, Michigan, June 29, for round six of the series. For more information on the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series, visit www.nationalenduro.com.
Kenda AMA National Enduro Series
Oakridge Estates
Arrington, Virginia
Results: June 1, 2014 (Round 5 of 10)
Overall
1. Brad Bakken-Yam
2. Nick Fahringer-Hus
3. Grant Baylor-KTM
4. Andrew Delong-Hus
5. Jesse Groemm-KTM
6. Michael Lafferty-KTM
7. Cory Buttrick-Bet
8. Ryder Lafferty-Hus
9. Craig Delong-Hus (first AA Expert)
10. Paddy Holloway-KTM
Kenda AMA National Enduro Series Points Standings (After 5 of 10 rounds)
1. Charlie Mullins-120/4 wins
2. Nick Fahringer-105
3. Brad Bakken-99/1 win
4. Jesse Groemm-89
5. Andrew Delong-89
6. Grant Baylor-80
7. Michael Lafferty-72
8. Cory Buttrick-64
9. Steward Baylor Jr.-52
10. Ryder Lafferty-49
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