After a five-month season hiatus, the 2020 KENDA SRT AMA National Hare and Hound Championship, presented by FMF returned with high spirits this weekend in Panaca, Nevada. Hosted by Silver State Trailblazers of MRAN, the 9th annual “Muley Run” saw hot, dry conditions for a 70+ mile course that would ultimately set the stage for an epic, ongoing championship battle.
Saturday morning started the race weekend with Youth classes. Riders of all ages, from 4 to 12 lined up on the FMF Start Line to race on a course made especially for each class. Following a riders meeting and the National anthem, the littlest of riders, the Pee Wee’s, lined up for the banner drop.
In Race one, a stacked Pee Week class with riders from various states came together to compete on a 3-mile race course, complete with flowing trails. Local rider Finn Ruby would give the competitive field a run for their money as he quickly moved into the lead position. Finn charged ahead of Darrell Swolensky Jr. on lap one, before Swolensky was challenged by Walker Segale-Van Dover. Van Dover made the pass on Swolensky Jr. on lap two, and the top three kept each other honest straight to the checkered flag.
A combined Race 2 with all remaining youth classes would see a longer, 10 mile course in which they would compete for one hour. Starting on the eventual big bike FMF Start Line, the wide field of contenders quickly lit their engines as the banner dropped. Up and coming Big Wheel rider Ruffin Dodson moved into the overall lead off the start, and found MIkey Wayne and Seth Sadorra hot on his tail. Wayne suffered a set back, allowing Jason Harris to captialize and move into third by the fourth and final lap. Dodson, Sadorra and Harris completed the overall Youth podium. Meanwhile, Caleb Tate (Junior Mini), Jett Lessing (Mini), Malcom Pearson (Micro Mini), ZIna Price (Junior Girls) and Rhianna Bingham (Girls) charged their way to the top of their respective podium.
After 5 months without hare and hound desert racing, round four would put a spotlight on who’s been training and utilizing the time off to maintain their fitness and endurance. To add to the pressure of returning to racing, hot, dry conditions would test the country’s top talent as they lined for the 70+ mile course that sprawled across the southern Nevada region.
At the drop of the banner, the Pro line (alongside the Pro 250 and Pro Women) quickly lit their engines and sprinted across the valley towards an immediate uphill that would quickly space out the front runners. 3 Bro’s racer Dalton Shirey, who’s last performance was a victory at The Mint 400, led the way by snagging the holeshot. Shirey led Factory Beta’s Joe Wasson, Even Kelly, David Kamo and Jacob Argubright into the racecourse and began to set the pace.
With little breeze, the dust challenged all but Shirey as he led the way, until a previous health issue from the week prior caught up to him forcing him to end his race. This opened the door for Wasson to grab clean air and build the gap. Meanwhile, David Kamo chased Wasson’s dust while Kelly and Argubright set their sights on claiming third overall. Coming into the pits from Loop 1, Wasson held a healthy gap on the pack, with Kamo comfortably in second. Kelly and Argubright were moments away from a battle for third that would come to life after they left the pits. Coming into the pits in 5th, Axel Pearson looked strong ahead of JCR Honda’s Preston Campbell, Ryan Smith and Zane Roberts.
Over the second and final loop, Wasson continued to assert his dominance ahead of Kamo and now Argubright who made the pass on Kelly after the two battled over the next 15 miles. As Kelly tried to recover from his battle with Argubright, Pearson, Smith and Roberts made their passes towards the front. Wasson ultimately sprinted his way to the finish line, leading Kamo and Argubright to the podium.
After now four rounds with almost a different winner every time, David Kamo’s consistent performances place him in the overall points lead, just two points ahead of Joe Wasson. Wasson sits ahead of teammate Zane Roberts by four points, followed by Dalton Shirey, Axel Pearson, Preston Campbell, Jacob Argubright and Ryan Smith.
In the Pro 250 class, Corbin McPherson returned to the top step of the podium after a commanding performance alongside the competition.
Off the start, McPherson positioned himself into the lead through the thick dust with Beta rider Cole Conatser and Hagen Boyce hunting the target on his back. As the trio navigated across Loop 1, McPherson held his lead.
In the final 37-miles, McPherson continued kept his sights on a class win while moving himself to top 10 overall. Conatser and Boyce charged their way to close the gap and crossed the checkers in their respective positions.
The Elegant Cabinetry Pro Women’s class continues to see top talent compete for the podium, and ultimately the year-end championship bonus of $4000. The ladies, who come from various locations including California, Colorado and Utah, lined up on Saturday morning ready to keep the chase for the championship a close one.
On loop one, JCR Honda backed Tarah Gieger came through in the lead and 23rd overall; an impressive feat against the men. Just two minutes behind, Colorado native Britney Gallegos put herself in a favorable position through the silt and dust to catch Geiger. Factory Beta’s very own Morgan Tanke sat in third, but with plenty of pressure from Utah’s Rachel Stout and first-time racer Lauren Woods. The stacked Pro Women’s class was just getting started.
A more technical Loop 2, in addition to hot conditions, made the sprint for the podium a challenge. Geiger maintained her composure, but lost time to Gallegos who was looking to close the gap. Meanwhile, Tanke and Stout fell slightly off the pace, but close enough together that they had to give every bit of energy to the finish. As the checkers flew, Geiger claimed victory with Gallegos just one minute behind, and Tanke in third.
Round four welcomed the first-ever Hooligan Open class, presented by Scrambler Ducati. The Hooligan Open class is intended for 750cc and above stock production motorcycles, with its creation led by Ducati athlete Jordan Graham following the cancellation of racing for the Hooligan community. The return of off-road-capable street motorcycles to the desert drew plenty of positive attention and anticipation.
Six brave riders lined up for the first of four rounds, with a National title and major bragging rights on the line. With the drop of the banner, the massive motorcycles were quickly lit by their racers and the group charged off of row four. Racing aboard the scrambler Ducati Desert Sled, Mint 400 winner Jordan Graham sprinted for the end of the bomb. KTM rider Quinn Cody immediately challenged Graham on his KTM 790 Adventure R Rally Edition, and the two ensued in a close race from the start. Harley racer Nick Wojnarowicz trailed behind the front runners.
With just one Loop to make their moves, the Hooligans charged across the 38-mile racecourse and over terrain that would pose its own special challenges to the 500lb motorcycles. Cody managed to maneuver his KTM across the challenging conditions to take the checkers just one minute and thirty nine seconds over Graham. The two came together at the finish line all smiles after their impressive accomplishment. Rounding out the podium, Wojnarowicz crossed the finish line in third.
