Photos: Mark Kariya
October 26th, 2020– The Kenda SRT AMA National Hare and Hound Championship, presented by FMF concluded this weekend at Soggy Dry Lakebed in Lucerne Valley, California, where new champions were crowned. Hosted by 100’s MC, a creative 80-mile course in the southern California desert welcomed riders of all ages and skill levels as the perfect end to an interesting race season.
Cool weather and clear skies set the stage for the first race of the weekend on Saturday morning, starting with the Pee Wees. At the drop of the banner, the littlest of champions charged across the FMF Power Bomb Run and onto the course. Taking the holeshot, Walker Segale Van Dover took control of the lead position on lap one, but it wasn’t long until Finn Ruby made his moves to the front. Van Dover stayed steady in 2nd place to fight off Ian Passno, and the three raced their way over 30-minutes in their respective positions straight to the podium. Ruby’s season-long fight for the championship paid off as he celebrated victory earning the 2020 Pee Wee Championship.
Race 2 welcomed a longer more technical course for the next wave of youth riders, including Girls, Jr. Girls and Micro Mini. A more technical course would challenge the growing racers with natural terrain and fun trails. At the drop of the banner, the large line of racers sprinted to the start of the course, and at the end of lap two Waylon Honnold came through as overall leader ahead of Peyton Maas and Jeremiah Conway. However, Ben Alex Davis made the pass on Conway by the time the checkers flew for the final podium position. Malcom Pearson (Micro Mini), Rhianna Bingham (Girls) and Sara Conaway (Jr. Girls) claimed their 2020 championship along with the checkered flag.
Saturday’s third and final race included the Big Wheel, Mini and Jr. Mini classes with championships on the line and perfect racing conditions ahead. The banner dropped and the racers charged onto the longer 8-mile course consisting of various, authentic off-road terrain; sharing portions of what would be included on Sunday’s premiere race course. On Lap 1, Tallon Smith held onto the lead with championship chasing Ruffin Dodson in tow, while Ethan Stockwell looked to catch the leaders. However, Dodson wasn’t going to let the victory slip away, and on the penultimate lap moved into the lead to take the win ahead of Smith. Smith finished in 2nd place followed by KTM mounted Jett Lessing who raced his way towards the front from an 11th place start. Dodson, Lessing (Mini) and Caleb Tate (Jr. Mini) all earned the championship with this final race.
On Sunday morning, the riders of the premiere race lined up on the FMF Power Bomb Run Start Line. The morning breeze turned into gusty wind, and the banner raised for the next minute. All went silent, and with the drop of the banner, the Pro row quickly lit their engines and charged ahead. At the end of the bomb it was a dual between 3BROS Husqvarna rider Dalton Shirey and Offroad Support’s Jacob Argubright. While Shirey continued straight, Argubright picked up on the slight right turn and onto the course. Within two miles Shirey regained the lead position on Argubright and Factory Beta’s Chance Fullerton behind.
Coming through the pits, Shirey held a sizeable 2+ minute lead on Fullerton, Argubright, Factory Beta’s Joe Wasson and championship contender David Kamo. The four riders behind Shirey left the Mika Metal Pits with fury and onto the second and final loop. Meanwhile, JCR Honda’s Preston Campbell came through in sixth followed by Factory Beta’s Zane Roberts, Ryan Smith, Factory Beta’s Cole Conatser, Arturo Salas and Corbin Eatherton.
On Loop 2, Argubright quickly made the pass on Fullerton before Kamo moved ahead two positions into third. With a first ever championship on the line, Kamo laid the hammer down and knocked down the gap between Argubright to make the pass into second. With just miles to go, Kamo closed up the gap between he and Shirey to just 14 seconds before the checkers flew. Kamo’s blistering pace was faster than any other rider on Loop 2, completing the loop in just 1-hour and 8-seconds. With Shirey and Kamo coming into the finish 1-2, the points were at a complete tie, and could only be broken by season accumulation of wins. Shirey’s break through performance this season gave him the most wins and ultimately the 2020 championship.
In the Pro 250 class, Factory Beta rider 2020 Champion Cole Conatser led class coming into the pits ahead of Arturo Salas, Corbin Eatherton, Bradley East and Ethan Jackson. However, over the next 35 miles, Eatherton found another gear to overtake Salas while East maintained his 4th position. Conatser, Eatherton and Salas came through the finish line first through third to fill the podium. Having earned the championship one round early in Lovelock, Conatser celebrated his achievement on the podium.
With a $4000 championship bonus on the line, the Elegant Cabinetry Pro Women’s class came down to the final round between Colorado’s Britney Gallegos and Utah rider Rachel Stout. On Loop 1, Stout made her way through the terrain and into the lead position as the class came through the Mika Metal Pits, followed by Factory Beta’s Morgan Tanke and Gallegos just two minutes behind.
With another 35-miles to go, Tanke (who had just competed at the first two round of Endurocross in the days before), dropped the hammer and forged ahead. Meanwhile, Stout who was in second place found herself with a compromising challenge after having gotten stuck just slightly off trail. Coming across her peer, Gallegos stopped to help Stout, a commendable move and admirable display of pure sportsmanship. The two continued racing, with Stout taking second and Gallegos third. Gallegos’ finish was all that was needed to capture her first-ever Pro Women’s championship title; a long time dream now turned reality.
The growing Hooligan Open class presented by Scrambler Ducati attracted new talent to the final round of the four round series. Off the start, Quinn Cody grabbed the jump as he and Scrambler Ducati’s Jordan Graham raced to the end of the bomb. Cody grabbed the lead with Graham just behind and the field of Hooligans raced onto Loop 1. Over the next 40-miles, Cody maintained his lead position just ahead of Graham, until Graham encountered an issue that would end his day. This left the door open for Wes Van Nieuwenhuise to advance with Scott Myers, Mikey Hill, Ken Durr, Jake Pope and Andris Lagzdins in tow. As the checkers flew for the Hooligans, Cody too the win and 2020 championship, ahead of VanNieuwenhuise and Myers for a full KTM podium sweep
