BAYLOR LEADS THE CHARGE TO SANDLAPPER

Steward Baylor looks to make it two wins on the bounce as the National Enduro Series heads to Sandlapper for round two

The 2015 Kenda AMA National Enduro Series makes a stop on March 1st in Pelion, South Carolina for the Sandlapper National Enduro. Round two of the 10-round off-road series will see Steward Baylor try to continue the momentum he generated by winning the series opener on February 1st in Sumter, South Carolina.

Baylor now holds a five-point lead in the series standings and will once again have the benefit of competing in a hometown race in South Carolina. In addition, since he won the previous round in Sumter, the MotoTech KTM rider will start from row 21.

Kailub Russell will be looking to improve on the runner-up finish he claimed in Sumter, where the FMF/KTM rider barely missed out on the victory after topping two of the six tests. MotoSport.com Am Pro Yamaha’s Brad Bakken, who was third in Sumter, will also be looking to unseat Baylor on his Yamaha YZ250FX.

Defending series champ Andrew DeLong is looking to make amends for his eight-place finish at the series opener. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing-backed Pennsylvania rider was running as high as second overall in Sumter but struggled in the final two tests and dropped out of contention for the win.

© Shan Moore

Meanwhile, FMF/KTM’s Russell Bobbitt was steady and consistent en route to fourth at the opener in his first national appearance back with KTM after stints with Husaberg and Husqvarna. The four-time champ is a previous winner at the Sandlapper Enduro and is certain to be in the hunt for a win next Sunday.

In the Beta USA camp, Jesse Groemm – last year’s number two rider – will be ready to go this weekend after dropping out of the Sumter race with a mild concussion. Meanwhile, Groemm’s teammate, Cory Buttrick, will be attempting to improve on his fifth-place finish at round one.

You can’t rule out up-and-comer Ryder Lafferty as a podium contender either. The New Jersey rider 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.

No less then 720 riders are pre-entered for the Sandlapper race, as the series enjoys record-breaking popularity in 2015. An eye-popping 820 riders competed in the Sumter race, which was a series record.