David Kamo held on to the end to take second place in the first round.
Round 1 of the AMA National Hare and Hound series kicked off this past weekend at the Johnson Valley OHV Area in Southern California, hosted by the Desert MC. It was KTM teams leading the way with Russ Pearson taking the win and factory rider, David Kamo landing in second. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Destry Abbott. The trio sped away from the five-row start and worked to the front by the end of two 40-mile loops. Defending champion, David Pearson finished sixth.
Results
AMA National Hare and Hound Series
Lucerne, Calif.
January 25, 2009
Pro Class Results:
1. Russ Pearson, KTM
2. David Kamo, KTM
3. Destry Abbott, Kaw
4. Gary Sutherlin, Husq
5. Ty Davis, Husq
KTM Factory Team Report
Courtesy of KTM Racing
Factory KTM rider David Kamo finished 2nd overall at the first round of the AMA National Hare and Hound Series. His teammate, David Pearson, in only his second race back since breaking his leg finished 6th overall. Taking home the first win of the season was KTM support rider Russ Pearson.
Next Event: Ridgecrest, CA - February 8, 2007
Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Report
Courtesy of Kawasaki
Destry Abbott preparing for the race.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Destry Abbott gave 100 percent during the opening round of the AMA National Hare and Hound Series, earning third overall in his quest to defend his 2008 championship.
First Race Jitters
Going into the opening round, Abbott was ready to bring home a win. He had been out in the area, testing and riding the terrain to make sure he was ready for the big day. Even with all the practice, Abbott was still feeling the butterflies.
“I’m a little nervous,” said Abbott before the race. “I think there is a lot of build up around the first race and even after all the first races I’ve done, I still get butterflies.”
Flat Tires
Practice can give a rider a head start, but no one can predict a flat tire and Abbott happened to have two during the estimated 80-mile race. Despite his unfortunate luck, Abbott pushed hard to finish a short distance back from the leaders and come across the finish line in third.
“I got into the lead about the 18-mile marker and about 100 yards later, I got a flat,” said Abbott. “I rode the next 23 miles with a rear flat, came in for my pit, changed it and went back out. I was about 2 minutes behind the leaders and I knew I could catch them. Right when I caught the leader and was about to pass, I got another flat. It was definitely frustrating.”
Flats plagued Abbott during this round but despite the tire issues he finished third.
This year the series has expanded from seven to eight races, giving Abbott plenty of time to go out and prove why he’s the reigning champion.
“I feel really confident still and I know that I can go back out there and win,” said Abbott. “There’s plenty of racing left and I know I have the speed to win.”
Destry’s Biggest Fan
Coming down for the big season opener was Kawasaki rider Josh Morros. Just five months after his serious crash in Nevada, Morros came down to support his favorite racer and even went out riding with Abbott on Saturday. Last year Morros earned an incredible third-place overall in the final series standings despite missing two rounds.
Zip-Ty Racing
Courtesy of Husqvarna
Husqvarna's desert racing renaissance continued in California at Round #1 of the AMA National Hare & Hound Series. Despite extremely cold and windy conditions, Ty Davis and two members of his Zip-Ty Racing Team, Gary Sutherlin and Nick Burson, were in contention all day at the 42nd Annual Desert MC-promoted event in the legendary Johnson Valley.
Davis was the first of his unit to advance his Husqvarna TC450 toward the front of the field over the very rocky, very rough 80-mile Hare & Hound course. He rounded the smoke-bomb 4th overall battling high wind gusts that made the going difficult to stay upright and on-track for every one of the 400 or so entrants. Conditions were especially sketchy over sections where the undulating landscape took racers over exposed ridges.
"The cold and high winds made it very challenging," said Davis, a local resident of the desert who is no stranger to the desert's extremes. "We were really being blown around but that made the dust a non-factor and made it possible for me to stay right on the tail of the rider I chased for most of the race, Destry Abbott. This race was a whole lot of fun for me."
As the race raged on "ZipTy" moved up and held 3rd for most of the second 40-mile loop. He was eventually overtaken by Abbott and moved back another slot by teammate/protege Sutherlin who passed Davis for 4th place overall on the final charge, just ahead of Bossman Davis in 5th. Sutherlin put in a journeyman's effort on his Husqvarna TC510 and fueled rumblings around the race paddock that "Husky is reclaiming the desert again... and doing it quickly!"
Still beaming from his 1st overall desert win in early January, Zip-Ty Racing teammate Nick Burson was hoping to carry his momentum into this AMA National. Unfortunately a stomach ailment and a less than glorious start found Burson working his Husqvarna TC510 up through the pack from 20th and capping his day in the desert with a respectable 11th overall.
