5 replies to this topic

[tomktm]

I'm thinking Charlie has a good shot at pulling in both the National Enduro and GNCC titles this year. I don't believe that has ever been done? He came pretty close last year and I have to think that with more time on KTM's (2 and 4 stroke) that this year he should be prime to do it. I know it's a tall order and a lot of racing but I think he has the best shot at it.

[Bolt-On]

Never been done before but I think he has a shot.

He's actually going back to the 450 for both series too.

[hoop]

I really think Charlie will be hard to stop in both championships this year. With Bobbitt coming off of an injury (as well as Fahringer) IMHO the National Enduro title will be Charlie's. The way he rode at the end of the GNCC season was pretty awe-inspiring and with the only guy that is able to match his speed (Strang) not racing the entire series I think the GNCC boys will have their hands full.

Mullins has been on the new "Dungey" KTM 450 SXF for about a week and absolutely loves it. He wasn't a fan of their old 450 in the tight stuff which is why he switched to the 2-stroke, but he feels with the new frame design he'll be better off on the 450. I also think it's a benefit that he won't be switching back and forth between two different bikes.

The only downside to this whole deal that I can see, is the EFI problems that both Cory Buttrick and Kailub Russell ran into throughout the GNCC season. Mullins was on the carbureted 450, so hopefully whatever EFI gremlins plagued the team in 2011 have been sorted out for 2012.

[tomktm]

It's interesting to me that he will be on the new EFI 450 in both series. I figured with the success the 2 strokes had in Enduros last year it would be a no brainer to race them again. The other thing about that new 450 is that it's a single cam motor which I would have to think is better for off road - both for power delivery and reliability. I'm not saying it's a slouch but it definitely must have a different feel than the old 2 cam motor.

[AlexMcRee]

tomktm, on 19 January 2012 - 04:27 PM, said:

It's interesting to me that he will be on the new EFI 450 in both series. I figured with the success the 2 strokes had in Enduros last year it would be a no brainer to race them again. The other thing about that new 450 is that it's a single cam motor which I would have to think is better for off road - both for power delivery and reliability. I'm not saying it's a slouch but it definitely must have a different feel than the old 2 cam motor.

The two strokes had success yes. But look at Buttrick and Mullin's results after the switch to a two stroke. They didn't improve any. The only ones to improve were the husaberg riders coming from a very heavy 4 stroke.

[Jdouglas]

I think if you rode one of the new 2012 ktm 4 strokes you would be amazed. After riding my sons 2011 450 back to back with new 450 it's night and day. What they did by losing 8 lbs in the motor makes it feel 20 lbs lighter. Not trying to bleed orange here or start a new thread regarding the 2 v/s 4 stroke argument. But I think the bikes improvement will give him a must better shot at both titles.