Steward Baylor got off to a start at the Kenda AMA National Enduro opener. Can he keep the momentum rolling at round two?
MotoTech KTM-support rider Steward Baylor is the series point leader heading into round two of the 2015 Kenda AMA National Enduro Series, the Sandlapper National Endro, in Pelion, South Carolina, this weekend.
Baylor will have his work cut out for him, as no less then 720 riders have pre-entered the Sandlapper, proof that the Kenda AMA National Enduro series is more popular than ever. The Sandlapper pre-entry comes on the heels of a stunning, record-breaking 820-rider count at the series opener in Sumter, South Carolina.
Baylor holds a five-point lead in the series standings after winning the first round of the 10-round national series, and he is expected to be a threat again as he will have the advantage of racing in his home state of South Carolina for the second consecutive round.
Not that winning the event will be easy. Reigning AMSOIL GNCC Chmpion Kailub Russell posted a brilliant second-place finish in Sumter, will be looking for a win at the Sandlapper. Likewise, MotoSport.com Am Pro Yamaha’s Brad Bakken, who was third in Sumter, will also be looking for even better results on his Yamaha YZ250FX.
Defending Kenda AMA National Enduro Champion Andrew DeLong will be looking to recover from the slow start he got in round one where he eighth. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing-backed Pennsylvanian ran as high as second in Sumter, but struggled in the final two tests, which ruined his chance to take his first win as the defending series champion.
Multi-time Kenda AMA National Enduro Champion Russell Bobbitt finished fourth at the opener in his first national appearance back with the FMF/KTM factory team after stints with Husaberg and Husqvarna. The four-time champion is a previous winner at the Sandlapper Enduro.
Beta USA’s Jesse Groemm is expected to be recovered and ready for action at the Sandlapper. Groemm crashed out of the series opener and suffered a mild concussion. Greomm’s teammate, Cory Buttrick, will try to improve upon the fifth-place finish that Buttrick earned in round one.
New Jersey’s Ryder Lafferty will be the lone rider in the AirGroup Racing Husqvarna camp this weekend, now that Nick Fahringer is on the mend after having knee surgery. Lafferty, the son of recently retired AMA National Enduro legend Michael Lafferty, has solid history of top-10 finishes and could be a threat for the podium at the Sandlapper.
In the Rekluse Expert-AA class, which is designed as a stepping-stone for riders hoping to move into the highly competitive Pro division, Zack Hayes took the win at Sumter, followed by Drew Higgins and Ryan Belue. This class gives a good look at the future stars of the Pro class, and is always one of the most competitive classes. The Rekluse Expert-AA series will pay a year-end purse for the top finishers based on a riders overall final standings in the class.
Racing begins at 9 a.m on Sunday, but there will be plenty to do and see on Saturday, as well, with KTM hosting a demo ride during the day. There will also be plenty of opportunities to get rider autographs, including Michael Lafferty, who retired in 2014, but is working with KTM and the NEPG at all of the Kenda AMA National Enduro events.
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