On The Pegs May 2020 - Volume 5 - Issue 5 | Page 63

On The Pegs
VOL. 5 ISSUE 5 - MAY 2020
63
tion. So I started the test and I came to that OB check, and then I assumed the test
was over. I was just really trail riding in the middle of the test because I thought
it was over. The pro on the row behind me caught up and he said, “What are you
doing?” By that time it was kind of late. I think I lost four or five minutes. I won five
of the six tests other than that. I knew that was Bobbitt’s home enduro too and I
really wanted to beat him there. It was just kind of an amateur mistake on my part,
mistaking an OB check for the final out check. I think after that, winning the five of
the six tests and still ended up fourth, I was still in a good position.”
Then it was on to Florida for the Allgator, round three.
“That was pretty tough because we had the GNCC on Tuesday at the time and
then the enduro on Thursday, and then another GNCC on Sunday. I ended up
DNF’ing the enduro first test a few miles in. Something in the clutch internally
broke. It was kind of a real freak mechanical issue. I know at the time Cory Buttrick
was the biggest competition and he actually didn’t even race the enduro either
just because he raced the GNCC on Tuesday. So that’s kind of what saved me in
the points was him not racing as well. From there, it was not a long shot but I was
still pretty decent in points.”
Hawkins felt like Charlie counld win the chamoionship, even with the DNF, and
that’s when Charlie got to pit under the big tent, even though he was still a priva-
teer.
“I think I won five in a row after that,” said Charlie. “Kind of went on a big win-
ning streak and kind of got back up to the championship. I do remember my
worst race that year was in Maine. I couldn’t have ridden any worse. I’m not really
sure what the reason was, but I just really struggled with riding that terrain up in
Maine. It was really tough.”
That Summer was a pretty good one for Charlie.
“It was just a really good year for me,” said Charlie. “I know in the GNCC I think
I won three or four in a row as well. So I was kind of on a hot streak between the
GNCC’s and enduros. I was just confident. It was kind of funny on the enduros. I
was always confident going into them and just kind of knew where I stood with
everybody. I knew if I did ride the tests to my ability nobody really could beat me.
That’s kind of what I tried to just use that mentality when I raced them.”
It finally worked out well for Charlie, because he got race bonuses and Randy
covered his expenses, which was a huge help. On top of that, he got race bonuses
for top three, the enduros and GNCC’s. Then I got a championship bonus as well.
So it was a nice, good chunk, the bonus from Yamaha.”
Charlie most likley changed the way the factory teams handled their riders that
season, since Charlie was one of the first to ride two major series with so many
races.