Round 6 of the AMA National Enduro Series took place on Sunday with the Rattlesnake National in Cross Fork, Pennsylvania. It was a rough ending to the day for FMF KTM Factory Racing Team’s Russell Bobbitt after a pair of crashes on the final test resulted in a 6th place finish in the Pro Class. Despite finishing outside the top three for the first time all season, Bobbitt still maintains the lead in the Overall National Championship points with three rounds remaining in the series.  

Following two consecutive overall wins, Bobbitt came into Round 6 with high confidence as he set out for three-in-a-row aboard his KTM 250 XC-F. The Rattlesnake National Enduro showcased dry and rocky terrain, grass track sections and very dusty conditions that made for low visibility and scarce passing opportunities. The first test of the day presented a grass track section, where Bobbitt finished in 4th amongst a tight-knit group of front-runners. From there, the top riders continued to post close times through the first five tests and Bobbitt maintained a consistent position throughout the day.

Heading into the sixth and final test, Bobbitt sat only four seconds behind Josh Strang in the 2nd place position. Bobbitt was well on his way to extending his five-race podium streak when he succumbed to the rocky conditions, crashing twice in the final test.

“I was feeling good all day,” Bobbitt said. “I knew the final test was going to be the rockiest of the day and I ended up crashing twice. My front wheel was out of alignment so I had to stop and hit it on a tree to straighten it out, which lost important time.”

After six rounds, Bobbitt now holds a nine-point advantage over Grant Baylor in the Overall National Championship Standings.

After winning the final test of the day, SRT/KTM rider Steward Baylor Jr. put his KTM 450 XC-F atop the Pro Class podium with a 3rd place finish for the day. Baylor now holds 3rd place in the Overall National Championship Standings after six rounds of racing.

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Kacy Martinez was forced to sit out of Round 6 due to a fractured radius and ulna in her left arm, which was sustained during the last round of GNCC in June. Martinez is expected to return back to racing at Round 7 of the National Enduro Series, where she will continue to vie for the Women’s Class Championship.

Next Event: August 28, 2016 – Chandlersville, Ohio

Overall Results –

1.     Grant Baylor

2.     Josh Strang

3.     Thorn Devlin – KTM

4.     Steward Baylor – KTM

5.     Ryder Lafferty

6.     Nick Fahringer

7.     Russell Bobbitt – KTM

8.     Jesse Groemm – KTM

9.     Cory Buttrick – KTM

10.  Craig DeLong

Overall Results Women’s Class –

1.     Shawn Davidson – KTM

2.     Jamie Wells – KTM

3.     Kiersten McDonal – KTM

4.     Valerie Crews – KTM

5.     Kristin Zmuda – KTM

6.     Ashlee Applewhite – KTM

Overall Point Standings Pro Class –

1.     Russell Bobbitt – 149

2.     Grant Baylor –  140

3.     Steward Baylor – 137

4.     Josh Strang – 97

5.     Jesse Groemm – 91

Overall Point Standings Women’s Pro Class –

1.     Shawn Davidson – 156

2.     Kacy Martinez – 145

3.     Ashlee Applewhite – 103