ECEA RORR Enduro: 1st and top 15 Overall!

Race Report: ECEA Enduro Series Round 7: RORR Enduro

Rider: Zack Huberty

Bike: MotoFIT KTM 200 XC

Result: A-200 1^st, 15^th Overall

Report:

            It’s been a long four weeks as we have had four enduros back to back since I finished my sophomore year at Penn State. The terrain has been totally different each weekend so tire selection and suspension settings have been a big key.  Prior to the RORR enduro, I got a Vee Rubber Trials Tire and a Tech Tube from Drew Smith.  On Thursday, I rode with Jamie (AA) and Pete Wright (Asr) to try it out.  This was my first time using a trials tire and I liked it a lot in the rocks.  My trouble in the rocks has always been the rock gardens where I usually get hung up.  With the trials tire, I just pick a line and go through it without any difficulties.

            I arrived at the race on Sunday morning to the surprise of a track that had been rained on all night.  I got ready for a long day with high temperatures and humidity.  The first section of the day was about 6 miles of slimy, rocky, and tight trails.  I got some of my first arm-pump of the year here, stalled a few times, and had a tip-over so I wasn’t flawless.  I still dropped a respectable score.  In the next section, I had my best section of the day in a 10-mile piece where I was able to pass a competitor (also in A-200) who was two minutes ahead of me.  I rode flawless in this section and rode smooth.  For the rest of the day, I continued to ride smooth and not ride out of control.   My consistency was rewarded at the end of the day when I won my first A-200 race and finished 15^th overall.  The trials tire gave me added confidence in areas where I usually struggle.

            As always, there is always room for improvement and my hunger for success only grows.  I need to get better in my first sections in the rocks and I also need to push myself a little harder in order to set faster section times.  I plan to rest up this week and make some more bike set-up changes for the upcoming enduro.  I then plan to ride two times before the RRMC enduro in two weeks.  I’d like to take the time to say that I am excited about a new sponsor that came on board, Unabiker.  They make awesome radiator guards and are in the works on some different skid plates.  Check them out at Unabiker.com.

I would like to thank the support of my family and friends, especially my dad for his race support, as well as my sponsors which are Johnny Limp at Torc1Racing, Drew Smith at WER Suspension, Mike at MotoFIT, PowerSeal USA, Unabiker, FMF, Jerod Stoner at JS Designs for the jersey lettering, EKS Brand Goggles, P3, All Balls Racing, Sixsixone, Mika Metals, N-Style, Vertex Pistons, Fly Racing, DT-1 Filters, Motorex, Hinson Clutch Components, Acerbis, and Clockwork KTM.

A-200 Class Results

1) Zack Huberty (MotoFIT KTM) 39-802

2) Timothy Mettinger (KTM) 40-865

3) Ron Decaro (KTM) 55-1190

4) Joseph Ferraro (KTM) 78-1757

5) Dennis Mann (GG) 104-2058

For more information:
Check WER Suspension out on Facebook “Works Enduro Rider (WER)”
Check MotoFIT Motorsports out on Facebook “MotoFIT”

Check Zack Huberty out on Facebook “Zack Huberty”
Check Zack Huberty’s Blog http://zackhuberty323racing.blogspot.com/

ECEA PBER Clock Run Enduro

Race Report: ECEA Enduro Series Round 6: PBER Clock Run Enduro
Rider: Zack Huberty
Bike: MotoFIT KTM 200 XC
Result: A-200 3rd, 16th Overall

Report:
As the season progresses, my expectations of myself are getting set higher as I want to be a consistent top 20 rider.  Unfortunately, I had a lot of bike work to do before the Clock Run enduro.  I had to change some seals and put a whole new clutch in along with regular maintenance.  I tried to change some of my suspension settings as well in order to get them working correctly for some high speed, bumpy fire cuts.  After reviewing the rider confirmation for the race, I got mentally prepared for a very fast paced day that would require my full concentration.
Once our line took off at the race, we quickly realized that the dust would be a factor throughout the day.  The first timed section of the day featured some very fast fire cuts and sand roads that were hard to keep pace at a 36mph speed average.  I did my best to stay on time but I didn’t feel safe at those high speeds in the whoops.  I decided to back it down a notch because my rear was bucking side to side (my error on the settings).  I just missed the flip for this section by 6 seconds which was disappointing.  We then went to gas and we started the longest section of the day.  This section was about 16 miles and was broken into two sections.  I rode pretty well through here and was mistake free, but I had a lot of trouble with lappers.  In the fire cuts, lappers would not pull out of the way which made it dangerous.  I ended up dropping a respectable score, but I think I could have done better with a little more fine tuning of my rear shock.
Unfortunately, those were the only points dropping sections of the day, but I was able to come out in 3rd place and 16th overall.  I am trying to ride consistently and in the top 20 every weekend.  I am still learning every ride and learning how to ride conservatively and smart.  This coming weekend we will head to the RORR enduro for some rock racing!
I would like to thank the support of my family and friends, especially my dad for his race support, as well as my sponsors which are Johnny Limp at Torc1Racing, Drew Smith at WER Suspension, Mike at MotoFIT, PowerSeal USA, FMF, Jerod Stoner at JS Designs for the jersey lettering, EKS Brand Goggles, P3, All Balls Racing, Sixsixone, Mika Metals, N-Style, Vertex Pistons, Fly Racing, DT-1 Filters, Motorex, Hinson Clutch Components, Acerbis, and Clockwork KTM.

A-200 Class Results
1) Timothy Mettinger (KTM) 10-587
2) Steve Aretz (KTM) 14-824
3) Zack Huberty (MotoFIT KTM) 15-884
4) Matt Pratola (KTM) 15-935
5) Ron Decaro 18-1087

For more information:
Check WER Suspension out on Facebook “Works Enduro Rider (WER)”
Check MotoFIT Motorsports out on Facebook “MotoFIT”
Check Zack Huberty out on Facebook “Zack Huberty”
Check Zack Huberty’s Blog http://zackhuberty323racing.blogspot.com/

ECEA Delaware Enduro

Photo by Russ Brown

Race Report: ECEA Enduro Series Round 5: Delaware Enduro

Rider: Zack Huberty

Bike: MotoFIT KTM 200 XC

Result: A-200 2^nd

Report:

            Coming off a 15^th overall finish the weekend before, I was feeling more confident for the Delaware Enduro which featured an all start-control format.  The terrain fit my style of riding better and featured a lot of single track, grass track, and loamy woods.  In previous years, I have never been able to put in a solid ride at Delaware, mostly due to my lack of fitness for the long sections.  This year I came in stronger and more conditioned as I have been training hard.  I was a little worried about the long 12 mile section during the day but it gave me no trouble.  Coming into the first gas of the day, I was still tied for first place which I have never been able to do at the races.  I was riding flawlessly, smooth, and calm.  A ¼ mile before the first gas, a large root snagged my brake lever and bent it back to my foot peg.  This was unfortunate as I could barely put my foot on the foot peg as it was in the way.  At the gas, I straightened out the pedal and fueled up. 

            For the rest of the day, I rode solid and followed a 250A rider on my row.  I made 3 mistakes the rest of the day which lost me time.  After the 4^th test, I noticed that the wet spot in my skid plate wasn’t mud, but oil leaking out of my shift shaft.  This worried me throughout the rest of the day as it kept pooling up in my skid plate, but Dean Kulp had some oil that I added after each test.  I finished the day strong in the last section and passed the 250A rider on my row as I was tired of following him.  At the end of the day, I finished 2^nd in my class and 30^th overall.  I finished 2 points behind first which is the closest I have come all year to winning.  I am looking forward to the upcoming enduro this weekend at the Clock Run enduro where we will hammer sand whoops all day!

I would like to thank the support of my family and friends, especially my dad for his race support, as well as my sponsors which are Johnny Limp at Torc1Racing, Drew Smith at WER Suspension, Mike at MotoFIT, PowerSeal USA, FMF, Jerod Stoner at JS Designs for the jersey lettering, EKS Brand Goggles, P3, All Balls Racing, Sixsixone, Mika Metals, N-Style, Vertex Pistons, Fly Racing, DT-1 Filters, Motorex, Hinson Clutch Components, Acerbis, and Clockwork KTM. Also, thanks to the Kulp family for all of their help at the races.

A-200 Class Results

1) Timothy Mettinger (KTM) 31-1199

2) Zack Huberty (MotoFIT KTM) 33-1297

3) Ron Decaro (KTM) 41-1540

4) Angelo Rispoli (KTM) 41-1553

5) Brian Donovan 54-1938

For more information:
Check WER Suspension out on Facebook “Works Enduro Rider (WER)”
Check MotoFIT Motorsports out on Facebook “MotoFIT”

Check Zack Huberty out on Facebook “Zack Huberty”
Check Zack Huberty’s Blog http://zackhuberty323racing.blogspot.com/

Pine Hill Enduro

Photo by Becky Taylor

Race Report: ECEA Enduro Series Round 4: Pine Hill Enduro

Rider: Zack Huberty

Bike: MotoFIT KTM 200 XC

Result: A-200 3^rd

Report:

It took a little longer than usual to get results for this enduro, but it was definitely an enduro to remember.  Since school just finished, I was looking forward to the Pine Hill Enduro.  Historically, it has always been known as a time-keeper.  I got there Sunday morning, and felt prepared for a good day.  Unfortunately, the day was uneventful and featured no points taking sections.  It did give me some good seat time though and allowed me to get used to sand whoops again.  Even though the enduro was kind of boring, I took the time to practice some techniques while out on the trail.  Any time on the bike is better than no time on the bike.

At the end of the day, I was able to drop a 0 for the day; however, a lot of others did the same.  The final placing all came down to seconds which I knew weren’t the best for the day since we ran into some computer problems.  The race was won by the best time keeper for the day.  After a week, the final results came out and I was surprised to see that I was 15^th overall which is my best finish yet.  It is good to see that some of my hard work is paying off and that things are starting to click.  I am looking forward to the National enduro style enduro coming up next week which is the Delaware Enduro.

I would like to thank the support of my family and friends, especially my dad for his race support, as well as my sponsors which are Johnny Limp at Torc1Racing, Drew Smith at WER Suspension, Mike at MotoFIT, PowerSeal USA, FMF, Jerod Stoner at JS Designs for the jersey lettering, EKS Brand Goggles, P3, All Balls Racing, Sixsixone, Mika Metals, N-Style, Vertex Pistons, Fly Racing, DT-1 Filters, Motorex, Hinson Clutch Components, Acerbis, and Clockwork KTM. Also, thanks to the Kulp family for all of their help at the races.

A-200 Class Results

1) Steve Aretz (KTM) 0-35

2) Ron Decaro (KTM) 0-37

3) Zack Huberty (MotoFIT KTM) 0-49

4) John Castaldi (Kawi) 1-137

5) Matt Pratola (KTM) 4-175


For more information:
Check WER Suspension out on Facebook “Works Enduro Rider (WER)”
Check MotoFIT Motorsports out on Facebook “MotoFIT”

Check Zack Huberty out on Facebook “Zack Huberty”
Check Zack Huberty’s Blog http://zackhuberty323racing.blogspot.com/