August 2020 -- Vol 4 -- Issue 8 August 2020 | Page 85

On The Pegs VOL. 4 ISSUE 8 - August 2020 85
an enduro in over a year.
“The first test I had a good test going and I stalled it. I probably lost five, ten seconds
there,” said Andrew. “I probably would have won that test. Then the second
test I was all over the place. I don’t know what I was doing. I think I won three or
four, one of them was test two, by a pretty good amount. But I felt really good. I
changed tires and the rest of the tests were pretty good. Six was a struggle, but
overall it was a good day. I wish I would have put it more together for the win, but
I fell apart at the end.”
Although he had suffered all week with a stomach bug, FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s
Ben Kelley still managed a fourth-place finish, after leading at one point.
“Test one and two were good and I was leading the day and then just kind of fell
apart in test three,” said Kelley. “I had three crashes, just stupid things like back
to back to back. That took some time out of my lead. Then again in test four. I felt
pretty good but had a crash. The rest of the day I just kind of rode it in. I haven’t
been able to eat or drink since Monday. So, I just had no energy at the end of
the day. Can’t eat, can’t drink, was just exhausted. It was all I could just to ride
through. Frustrating, because I know I have the speed and this is a good track for
me, but just didn’t end the day well.”
After parting ways a few months ago with Sherco, Steward Baylor, rounded out
the top five on a privateer Husqvarna. It seems Steward is testing different bikes
in order to make a decision on a team for next year, when he plans on making a
comeback. The South Carolina rider won the opening test of the day, but having
been of the bike a few months showed in the end
XC Gear/Enduro/Engineering/Husqvarna’s Ryder Lafferty had high expectations
coming into the race, but left Cross Fork with a disappointing sixth-place finish.
“My day was not very good, to be honest,” said Lafferty. “Out of all the years
here at Cross Fork, this is usually a good one for me. I just didn’t feel comfortable
today. Really tight. I got lost in test three like a lot of people. Just frustrated and
struggled with the bike. I’m not pumped at all. Not happy with it, at all.”
Beta USA’s Thorn Devlin was seventh overall after struggling at the start of the
day.
“Every year this is always a tricky race,” said Devlin. “We struggled a good bit in
the beginning of the day. Then we started clicking, getting the bike setup a little
better. By the time I started feeling good, I was already too deep in the hole. It’s
points, though, which is good.”
First in the Pro 2 class and eighth overall was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Craig
DeLong.