Arizona National Enduro

The FMF National Enduro series started out in Arizona instead of California this year.  The race in Arizona is very technical with many off camber rocky trails that require lots of skill.  There are also about five varieties of Cactus lining the course.  It looked as if Arizona has had a bit of rain this year because there was a bit of grass and there was some moisture in the ground in places.  There is a permanent numbering system this year for the Enduros where defending champ Mike Lafferty is 21, Randy Hawkins is 22, David Lyke is 23, Brian is 24, and I am 25.  The first loop of the enduro was really easy.  We didn't drop any points and didn't ever get late or even have to ride hard.   On the second loop we started easy for the first half.  After a reset I was pretty sure we were going to have to have a test since the C-loop was ending and they needed a  good test.  We got into a section where we were having to go fast and I crashed.  My front end washed out on me and hit a shrub stump and I fell in rocks on my elbow.  It hurt and I didn't know how bad but I got on the bike and started riding but I couldn't put any pressure on my arm and could barely turn the throttle so I got smoked in that section.  Brian got to the first check which was a tie breaker and just missed a zero but went through with a 1:04.  He charged through the next section only to get a two barely missing a one.  Lafferty and Pearson both went 0 and 1 to take the lead in the race.  The third loop usually really beats us up and we were hoping so with the other loops being so easy.  In the first test Brian and I both got two points and in the next section we were a minute down but there was no check out.  After a reset we raced to the finish.  Brian had a good ride and ended with a seven in the section which was tied for the best in the section.  I ended with an eight with most of the top riders dropping from seven to nine points.  Now for the bad part.  Scoring in an Enduro is difficult and there are often problems.  This time there was a problem with a check not being there in time and the first fifteen rows didn't get checked.  This presents many problems in that the last three checks have to be thrown out but the rules say that two max can be thrown out.  Anyways the club is doing something to come up with results.  Brian should finish top five but with my problems on the second loop and most of the third loop not being counted I won't end up doing well.

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