Factory Husqvarna Andrew DeLong is flirting with history after winning the Snowshoe National Enduro.
DeLong now has a 17-point lead over KTM rider Jesse Groemm in the championship standings with two rounds remaining, and he is poised to possibly give Husqvarna its first AMA National Enduro Championship title in 28 years. Terry Cunningham was the last Husqvarna rider to win the championship, in 1987. Husqvarna had a virtual stranglehold on AMA National Enduro competition back then, winning 16 National Championships in 17 years, including eight in a row by the legendary Dick Burleson.
DeLong started his day out strong, nearly sweeping the first four tests of the day. That momentum allowed him to be conservative in the final test of the day, as he had already built up a healthy time lead aboard his Husqvarna FE350. He would go on to claim the overall win by 20 seconds.
“I’m stoked on another win,” DeLong said. “I felt great all day. I didn’t have any issues aside from some arm pump early on, but overall I can’t complain. It was fast flowing single-track; I really liked it. It was actually one of the most fun enduros I’ve done in my career.”
Conditions were rocky, dry and dusty at the Snow Shoe. The altitude was another challenge for racers (8000 ft. above sea level). To get used to the lower oxygen content in the air, DeLong and his brother, Craig DeLong, came out for the event a week early.
“We did some training and riding at altitude to get us ready for this race,” DeLong said. “We came out here to be prepared and we were, so it turned out to be a great day.”
Factory FMF/KTM rider Steward Baylor earned second overall at the Snow Shoe National Enduro Baylor had a solid day, but he put himself behind the eight ball in the very first test, where he was only sixth fastest. He went on to win the next two test sections, and he also took a win in test five and was second fastest in the final test.
“This is my best-ever finish at a West Coast enduro,” Baylor said. “I am not used to this terrain, so I typically don’t do as well this direction, but I am happy with my result today.”
Jesse Groemm, finished third overall and is second overall in the series points standings. Husky support rider Craig DeLong placed twelfth overall in Colorado, taking second in the Expert-AA division.
AMA National Enduro Series
Snow Shoe National Enduro
Grand Junction, CO
Results: August 10, 2014
Overall
1. Andrew DeLong-Hus
2. Steward Baylor-KTM
3. Jesse Groemm-KTM
4. Grant Baylor-KTM
5. Ian Blythe-KTM
6. Nick Fahringer-Hus
7. Cody Webb-Bet
8. Brad Bakken-Yam
9. Ryder Lafferty-Hus
10. Max Gerston-Bet
2014 AMA National Enduro Series Points Standings (After 8 of 10 rounds)
1. Andrew DeLong-170/2 wins
2. Jesse Groemm-153/1 win
3. Nick Fahringer-152/1 win
4. Brad Bakken-142/1 win
5. Grant Baylor-132
6. Steward Baylor-127
7. Charlie Mullins-120/4 wins
8. Mike Lafferty-110
9. Ryder Lafferty-85
10. Cory Buttrick-78
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