Bobbitt Wins 2009 AMA National Enduro Opener In South Carolina

Press release by NEPG

Team Red Bull/KTM and reigning champion Russell Bobbitt started up where he left off last season on the top of the podium, by winning the first round of the 2009 AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Series presented by Moose Racing.

Bobbitt would have to fend off a star studded field of 618 riders including his team mate Mike Lafferty, Team FMF Suzuki’s Charlie Mullins, Geico Kawasaki rider Jimmy Jarrett, Am-Pro Yamaha’s Barry Hawk and Jason Raines, Husaberg riders Nick Fahringer / Robbie Jenks / Rory Sullivan and KTM riders Cory Buttrick / Kalub Russell , Cycle Shack’s  Cole Kirkpatrick  and Cycle Hutt’s Shane Watts.

The event would consist of six sandy single track test sections ranging from 7-13 miles in length through the South Carolina pine trees. Bobbitt was at the top of his game right from the start, leading the pack but being closely followed by Mullins and Buttrick. 8x champ Mike Lafferty got off to a slow start and would have to play catch up all day.

Bobbitt was on a rail, consistently setting fast time in most every section, but then in the final section a broken shock nearly ended his day, he was able to nurse it in to the finish losing a large portion of his lead on Mullins. It would be too little too late for Mullins, coming up a few seconds short but still a great ride for second on his RMZ450 while Ohio youngster Cory Buttrick filled out the podium. Shane Watts would bring it home in fourth and Lafferty fifth.

2009 AMA National Enduro Round 1 South Carolina

1. Russell Bobbitt

2. Charles Mullins

3. Cory Buttrick

4. Shane Watts

5. Michael Lafferty

6. Kalib Russell

7. Wallace Palmer

8. Brad Bakken

9. Cole Kirkpatrick

10. Jason Greer

For more info and complete results go to www.nationalenduro.com