Trail Rider Magazine Behind the Scenes:

MStory andi Phoktos by Keevin N ovLello afferty

Laying down laps on the moto track. Mike rides moto often to increase his speed and work on technique. “It seems like it's been an eternity since I've been on top . I won one National last year and haven't won any this year. There's going to be a time when I'm not in the mix, but it's not now.” -Mike Lafferty ou would think that after eight National Enduro Championships, 69 National Enduro wins and 17 years as a factory off road racer that Mike Lafferty would be ready to idle in to retirement and Yperch himself atop his laurels. Well, that's just not the case. In fact resting on his laurels doesn't even appear to be on his radar screen. And given the frustrations of a fourth place finish last year and a DNF this year (while winning the overall in Texas) that knocked him out of championship contention, there is still plenty of fuel for the fire. Though it's still 2011, Mike already set his sights on the 2012 Na - tional Enduro season and finishing strong for the remainder of this year. In late May I took a trip down to South Jersey to hang out with the second year factory Husaberg rider and check out what his weekly program is like. When I arrived however he greeted me with a large bag of ice wrapped around his left elbow - which meant there wasn't going to be much going on except for a visit to the orthopedist (that he's on a first name basis with.) We gave it a go again a few weeks later and realized during our discussions that after 17 years, he's got a breadth of knowledge and a perspective many don't have. We also caught him in a pensive moment which ended up turning in to a question and answer ses - sion. We'll get in to his day to day program in a bit. Who would win a race, the Mike Lafferty from 1997 or the Mike Lafferty of today? The one from 97 for sure. Back then I was young, didn't care about much and just went out and pinned it. When I think about what I was like back then, I was more about just riding the bike and going fast on it. If I was having a bad day and fiddling with the bike, Alan Randt, my mechanic at the time would tell me to just go out and ride the bike - to basically just shut up, quit thinking and go ride. I could have had the worse set up in the world and as long as my attitude was good, so was I. If you have the right attitude, you can win a race. The guy in ‘97, just didn't know as much. Now at times it seems as though I over compli - cate things and make life harder than it has to be. I look back at times and wonder why I didn't have any issues before. I think it's because I had a much simpler approach. Sometimes I think I need to put it all aside and just pin it. Then again, given the speeds of today, I need to work harder and analyze things for potential advantages. It's a catch 22. What advice would give yourself in 1997? None. Back then it was a have fun and pin it approach that worked. Just keep it simple. In fact that's the advice the guy from 1997 should give the guy from 2011. Just don't over think it and pin it. I've been dealing with that lately more than I ever have. What was the fastest you have ever been and why? I really remember 1997 and 1998 as having flawless races on the two stroke. I would hit corners perfectly all day long and just be in the right place on the bike when I needed to be. My two strokes were so good and resulted in some great rides. I may not have been the fastest I've ever been on them but the flawless execution set the stage for 2004 and 2005 when I rode my 400 - one of my favorite bikes to ride. I felt like I couldn't go any faster on those. I felt like I was riding those bikes to their full potential. What were you better at then? Again, keeping it simple. I just went out and did it. The enduros were also very different back then with time keeping. I was better at strategizing for the traditional time keeping enduro. Alan and I would go over the route sheet, break things down the night before and review anything from the previous year's race that was relevant. I would wake up and have a plan beyond just sprinting through each section. It was a good team effort that way. What are you better at now? I am better with the fitness and nutritional aspects. Like I said, I need to work harder now. I also have the races down and am better at sprints throughout the day - that's really the only carry over from the tradi - tional enduro. I still run the computer and treat it like an old enduro where applicable. The enduros back then were a lot of thinking. Now they require a different kind of thinking. Why are you so fast/strong at the Alligator? I never was a big fan of it when it started, and actually hated it. It was the hardest race I've ever done and I struggled early on. And once I conquered it, it was a huge weight off my shoulders and I was like, man I finally did it, I can win this thing. It's sandy and tight and the more I ride it the more I get in tune with it. After that it was easy and has since snowballed into several wins. Once you win it it's fuel for the fire.

August 2011 32 round yourself with, like friends that keep you grounded. That's why I always like going back home, my friends and family, don't care whether I've won a race or got last, they always treat me the same. It really doesn't matter who you are or what you do, just treat everyone the same. What was difference between a first place effort in Texas and a 6th in Louisiana? I wish I knew. In Texas I had a rough first section and was only 15 seconds out of first place and something automatically clicked and I was like, I got these guys, I can do this. The next test I did really well in and then I did better in the third section. Then I smoked them by a long shot in the fourth. In Louisiana, I fell to pieces, I went back to square one. I tried so hard there, tried my butt off for a 6th. I tried so hard that I spun myself into the dirt. I pushed turns, I pushed my speed and I still wasn't up to pace. It's rough to go from one race to next like that, but, I don't have a good answer. And that's been the most frustrating thing this year, I don't have an answer for a finish like that. Even in Wyoming after a fifth I was like, I didn't have what it took, those guys were another gear faster than me. Sometimes it goes back to me over thinking, then I start trying to change the bike instead of just riding it. It's frustrating when I get done going my fastest through a section only to get beat by 30 sec - onds and think "man, I couldn't go any faster. " How have the GNCC's complimented your program? Early on in my career they were a big part of it, they helped with my speed and fitness. I would struggle with them at times but it always helped me with speed at the enduros. I knew I could last from a fitness perspective in an enduro. After skipping them for a few years I feel that my pace is down. They've never hurt me and always help compliment your program. It' great for in - Starting off the day with some figure 8 drills. creasing speed and fitness and helps with an MX style aggres - What was your favorite championship? sive approach. The first one by far. We finished fifth in 1995, third in 1996 and Is there a reason to compete at this level if you're not focused then won it 97 and I was like wow, I can win these things. Then on winning a national title? we gained momentum from there. Kind of like the alligator, it Not at all, there is no reason. As frustrating as it can be, I am was fuel for the fire and we just kept rolling. only doing this win races, win a 9th championship. My focus is Most hardest fought championship? still that way now and the decisions I've made since Texas (I 2001 for sure. I jumped out to a good points lead at the begin - knew I couldn't win the championship after that) are gearing me ning of the season and then broke my shoulder at the KTM up for winning a championship next year. It seems like it's been dealer meeting in Denver. I missed the next round in Rhode Is - an eternity since I've been on top. I won one national last year land but it turned out that Randy (Hawkins) had bad luck at that and haven't won any this year. There's going to be a time when race and DNF'd it. I recovered in record time and went to the I'm not going to be in the mix, but it's not now. I still love to next race in Delaware only to break down! So then I had two race, still feel like I can do it and more importantly want to do it. DNF's and was on a bit of a skid. From there it was me, Fred Other people tell me they think I can do it and I have all this fol - (Hoess) and Randy all stacked within a few points of each other. lowing that feels the same. Sure some may feel like I am taper - I had to win the final race and ended up getting an early lead ing off, but I still want it. over Randy and had him by a couple of points after a few sec - Are the last few years disappointments when you're used to tions. Then he came back and beat me late in the race. He was success? the faster rider that day but I had him by enough early on and Definitely. In the past when I didn't win a race I would bust my ended up beating him that day and winning the championship. butt in the mean time and then go to the next race and get it What is the most important lesson or skill you've learned off done. Whenever I've had a bad race or stretch of bad races I've of a bike, relative to the industry always picked it back up and got back to the top again. Now it's The biggest thing is to treat everyone the same, whether it's a C, a huge disappointment to not to. Early on when I got started B or A rider. It doesn't matter what you've accomplished, how with Husaberg I had it in my mind that I could win a champi - fast you ride a motorcycle, where you come from, just treat onship with them and it's been a huge disappointment not to. everyone the same, basically how you would like to be treated. However any disappointment is always turned in to motivation. From traveling around and being a racer early on you can get a Has there ever been a point when you've said "I've got 8 na - little cocky and even though people do look at you differently, tional titles, what the hell am I doing here?" you still need to stay grounded. It also matters who you sur - 33 Trail Rider Louisinan when I got 6th, pushing my bike out of the woods in The shop/work out room Texas this year when I was leading the race. Pushing the bike out of Texas I was like, "I am done!"..scratch the whole rest of the year because you can't beat these guys in the championship hunt by DNFing a race. Plus I am my own worst enemy after a race. Come Monday, Tues, or Wednesday I don't want to talk to anyone I am so bummed. But in the end it's motivation for the next race. Later in the week I still know that I can do this and I talk myself back in to it. I remember talking myself back into my last three titles. Time keeping or not? If I want to win another championship, then heck yeah. BUT, I wouldn't have a job if we went back to it. The series was taking a such a hit in attendance that not only were riders not showing or debunk what I may be thinking. With me, if it feels good, up but neither were the sponsors. The national enduros were then I want to run it. If the stop watch shows an improvement, dying. So it's a love hate thing. I'm more proud of the races then we know we've got something. He happened to get a two- now being 500 riders than winning another championship. We've stroke bike a few weeks back and we've kind of already moved got semi's coming to the races now and more sponsors. The fu - on to next year by testing the 300 Husaberg two stroke. From ture looks great for the series. here were' going to try and finish out the season strong and set How (do?) you strategize for each race? the tone for next year. I will change my set up a bit for each individual venue, more so Most memorable battle? than ever now. For instance before Texas I rode terrain that was With Randy Hawkins for sure. It often seemed like I would going to be similar to what the event was like and then set up the jump on him early and he would just roll at the end and beat me. bike accordingly. And that's where Rich helps out a lot. A lot of times with Randy I would jump out to a lead and if he We'll get together and ride in an area that's somewhat like the terrain we expect to encounter and go over the ways to best handle it. Is today's pace the fastest it's ever been? Yes, without a doubt. I think the tracks are similar too. Some people think the tracks are faster but they're really not. We've been racing the same course in Georgia for a while and it's the same as it's always been. The bikes are also much better and that allows for more speed. Why did you pull Russell Bobbitt out of a mud hole in Arkansas this year? It just goes back to treating people the way you would want to be. Now, that's not to say I'll pull everyone I see out of a mud hole. We were in a transfer section when I saw him and I knew he was struggling with a as busted up wrist. I saw him pulling the bike out with one hand and didn't think twice about it, didn't think about being late. When we got it out we just pinned it. It had to have been very disheartening for him to race like that and lose championship points when he's been riding as well as he has been lately. He had been doing so well before his injury and must have been feeling just as bad as I have lately, so I didn't want to ditch him like that. What role does Rich (Mike's brother) play? He knows me really well. Rich is great at analyzing and breaking things down in a good way. We'll look at lap or sec - tion times, and any pictures that are out there. Pictures are good because you can look at your competitors and see what they're doing . I can look and see where someone may have been on the gas. For instance in Louisiana, I could see who was on the gas or where someone would save a second or a fraction of a second. It all adds up. The lost seconds pile up quickly throughout a section. Rich is also great about breaking out the stop watch. He's a firm believer in that the stop watch doesn't lie. If we're test - Some more moto ing something Rich will pull out the stop watch and confirm to cap off the day.

August 2011 34 stayed close early on, I would be focused than we’ve ever seen him. While a bunch of us went like whoa..hang on, here he out at night in Tampa to work the ham and bean dinner at the comes again. I've lost a lot of local church (ok, that might not be 100% accurate) Mike stayed races to Randy in the last test. in. And when he wasn't out doing triple session moto's he was My biggest advantage was jump - on the stationary bike for an hour at a time. After that he would ing out to a lead early. Now it's head out in to the park and churn out laps on one of the most not and I am playing catch up at clapped out tracks he could string together. Apparently he the end. prefers whooped out, rutted tracks that are absolutely no fun for Safe to say that this is the most the casual rider. It was however a great work out. challenging time of your ca - The second time I arrived in South Jersey (the first being when reer? he hurt his elbow) for this piece he was heading in to his garage Definitely. It' s hard on me men - for a workout, which admittedly I was hoping to hear about tally and physically. I am work - rather than be guilted into joining him. "It's a training day son, ing the hardest I ever have. gotta get your knee back into shape he quipped. " It was tough Everyone wants to go out a win - to argue with that kind of logic, so I jumped in. The work out on ner and I still think I can. Now this day was pretty basic, 30 minutes on the bike, rowing and el - it's about channeling frustration liptical machines, respectively, coupled with some weights. into motivation. Other times he will head to his local gym or log miles on his What's the best way to bounce road bike with Rich. He then rides between 3 and four times a back from a rough outing? week with a daily emphasis on a certain skill or aspect. There is a fine line between doing The following morning we geared up for some practice motos too much and not doing enough. I with Rich. Mike and I drove to a practice loop while Rich ar - always put it aside after beating rived on his bike. To my surprise, the first exercise of the day myself up for a day or two. After consisted of figure 8 drills. Without speaking a word, Rich ar - a race it's always rough but then rived, gave a thumbs up and both took off to separate figure 8 everyone goes their separate ways tracks. In total they each hit three different figure 8 tracks for an for a few days and we meet back approximate 35 minutes . up and we're like, alright, let's get From there we headed to a hard pack moto track that best resem - back after it. We look at section bled the terrain in Wyoming, as that's where the next National times, we look at where at where Enduro was located. Rich and Mike spent a few minutes laying I may have struggled, analyze out a course that included a motocross track with a full comple - the race a bit, talk about what I ment of whoops, natural jumps sandy berms and no shortage of liked about the bike, how it may chop. The woods section consisted of some tight pines, a few have caused me to struggle, and hills and a few faster single track sections. we make the adjustments. The plan today was for Rich to start a minute ahead of Mike and What can we expect from go until Mike caught him. "Some days we will work on just 2012? technique, some days it will be speed or something particular Hopefully a different Mike Laf - that I need to prepare for. Other days we'll just ride for fun. I ferty. I am going to work on being need a fun trail ride every now and then. " Once Rich took off stronger from start to finish. I want Mike gave him an honest minute head start and headed out. The to get up to pace and be strong from chase was on. He skipped over the whoops, cleaned some sandy the first race all the way through, corners and launched the Big 570 Husaberg over a few jumps whether it's on a two stroke or a four before disappearing in to the woods. About 25 minutes later stroke, I just need to be stronger. Mike had Rich reeled in and they took a short break. Discus - Hopefully a faster one, too. I want to sions during the break centered around the handling of the bike strike the right balance between ana - Mike and Rich taking a break between lyzing and strategizing and recoup practice motos. that retro feeling of just pinning it and having fun. I want to not be so grumpy and maintain a good attitude. I don't want to regret the last few years of racing. I want to keep it fun and get back on top. A Day in the Life Earlier in the year we hung out with Mike at Croom Motorcycle park in Brooksville, Florida as he prepared for the Alligator Enduro. He was all business. He was leaner and more

35 Trail Rider brakes and beginning to wonder about the symptoms of whiplash. And why Mikes gives Rich a one minute head wasn't his kart squealing and breaking loose on the corners? Heading into the start then chases him down. first major straightaway I could see him inching up along of side of me. "Great, he's got a faster kart, too" I thought to myself. This could get ugly. I considered parking him in the grass but didn't want to be the guy best remembered for clean - ing out Mike Lafferty in meaningless a go kart race. So I let him go and was happy that he passed me without incident. All this drama and we were less a than a half lap into it. Anyway, when he went by I figured I'd park myself on his bumper and see if I could hang with him. A few seconds later I was spinning out of the first of sev - eral humiliating 180s. Apparently my four wheeled toilet couldn't handle my mojo. When I got rolling again Mike was now several seconds in front but still close enough where I could see his lines. I've got him now I thought. I thought and a tire Mike was trying out . After wrong. It didn't work out like that, not even close. He dropped me in his wake three intense motos we packed up and and even took the time to wave to me from half way across the track. And a little be - went to another moto track that was a bit fore the end of our 30 mini kart moto, he'd lap me. Yep, lapped on a go kart track. It faster. "When I stopped doing GNCC's I was humiliating. The more he'd gap me the harder I'd push. I'd spin out recklessly felt like my speed dropped. Now I ride several more times. the faster stuff on a regular basis as part After stepping out of the kart I was hoping for a little of that "treat everyone the same" of my program" he said. stuff he was talking about earlier. Fortunately, he's a very gracious winner and must After finishing up the moto sessions we have noticed the look of shock on my face having had my ass handed to me. “It's all switched gears completely and checked in the kart" he would later say. And that was just what I wanted to hear - It was all out the New Jersey Motorsports Park as a about his faster kart. I also realized that he was just being humble. It wasn't the kart. possible venue for a late fall Trail Rider Not at all. I would have been black flagged for being a danger to myself if I had his Torture Test. As luck would have it there faster kart. was a Go Kart track at the facility. I love Later on, during the long ride home, I would replay the events in my head. I could re - go karts as I'm sure most of you do to. I call him braking at different entrance points into the corner and accelerating out of the am also sure that most of you can hold corner sooner and faster than I would. His lines were cleaner, more precise and effi - your own on the track without too much cient. He simply out raced me that day, like he was a professional racer and I was a effort. After all, it's only go karts. It's not moto-journalist. like it takes any respectable race skills to smoke the local squid population. Typically I take a bury-the-pedal-into-the- floor-and-leave-the brake-alone approach for kart motos. I've never really had a need for the brake, but these karts looked a bit faster than your average four wheeled squid magnet. "Is there any rea - son to use the brakes" I asked the atten - dant? "Only if you want to avoid spinning out and going off the track" he said. "Whatever, Nancy" I thought to my - self. "Brakes on a go kart, how ridicu - lous." At this point I was so ripe with arrogance that I didn't notice Mike had hopped in to the kart in back of me. Ac - tually, it didn't matter. It was time lay the smack down on 8-Time and acquaint him with a feeling I know well: mediocrity. So when the green flag dropped on the main event I pushed the pedal into floor and held it there through most of the first corner until the squealing sound of rubber losing contact with concrete forced my foot off the pedal. Almost immediately it felt like Mike had parked his bumper on my engine. I gotta admit, I wasn't ex - pecting that. At least not this soon. Sec - ond corner - same deal, I was on the August 2011 36