Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Jacob Argubright gets away with the Sage Riders National Hare & Hound victory in Utah.
Story and Photos by Mark Kariya
Johnny Campbell Racing Honda’s Ricky Brabec and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Off-road Team’s Jacob Argubright took advantage of a little overnight rain at the Little Sahara Recreation Area to engage in a nearly race-long back-and-forth battle for the lead during round three of the Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series, and it ended in Argubright’s favor by 22 seconds.
After the disappointment of leading the previous round in Idaho last month before drowning his bike in a creek a couple miles from the finish, the 30 points Argubright picked up vaulted him to second in points behind Brabec, 80-56.
Normally as warm and dusty as its name implies, the Little Sahara near Jericho, Utah, is like most desert areas in that when it gets some moisture, the result is much closer racing. That was the case at the Sage Riders National Hare & Hound. The Sage Riders Motorcycle Club laid out three separate loops totaling 86 miles for this one, starting in the sand dunes as usual then spending most of the time in the hills threading through the cedars.
Argubright got to the bomb just ahead of Brabec with Chidester Transportation Racing Yamaha’s Joe Wasson, Purvines Racing Beta’s Nick Burson, Carson Giles, Skyler Howes and the rest of the field tucked in behind him. A tumble a short time later dropped Argubright to around sixth, allowing Brabec to assume the lead, one he felt was relatively safe as he led through loop one then loop two.
“I was riding good,” Brabec said. “I thought for sure I had it wrapped up. All I had to do was get to the end.”
But as he headed out on the third and final loop—a common course with loop one for a short while, he noted—Brabec chose the wrong path. The time he lost before getting on the correct route allowed Argubright to close right up on him.
“It kind of gave me a new [lease on] life, seeing him [right in front of me],” Argubright said. “After that, we just battled, like back and forth. It was easier to follow. We had some good passes, but it was all clean—it was awesome!”
Argubright managed to make one pass stick and led the remaining miles to the finish for his first win of the season despite intense pain in his hand from a pulled tendon suffered at last weekend’s Virginia City Grand Prix plus a big crash while practicing the bomb run.
Though not pleased with the outcome, Brabec accepted it, knowing that he still remains the series points leader when he boards his flight to northern Africa on Wednesday for his next stint as a Team HRC rally racer.
After possibly the worst start of his life, Purvines Racing Beta’s Axel Pearson turned it around and rode well to rally back and finish third, his first podium of the season.
“I was just charging hard,” he said. “I was looking ahead good and I passed guys really easy, I thought.”
Pearson’s third place moved him into a tie for third in points with Ryan Smith, who was sixth on his Rick’s Custom Shutters & Blinds Yamaha, a season-best for the young man who went into the race second in points.
Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/Precision Concepts Yamaha-mounted Justin Morgan enjoyed an excellent start, maintained a good pace and avoided the bad luck that’s haunted him for the past few races to finish a season-best fourth overall. That put him just eight seconds ahead of Wasson, who won the FMF Pro 250 class for the second straight time. After Smith, FMF Pro 250 riders Nick Tolman and Cooper Ashton took the checkered flag next followed by Max Eddy, Jr., and Taran Taylor.
The FMF KTM Factory Off-road Team was conspicuous in its absence, both Ivan Ramirez and Gary Sutherlin—the winner of round two last month—not making the trip as both are recovering from recent surgeries.
2016 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series
Sage Riders National Hare & Hound
Little Sahara Recreation Area
Jericho, Utah
Results: May 15, 2016 (Round 3 of 8)
Overall
1. Jacob Argubright-Hus
2. Ricky Brabec-Hon
3. Axel Pearson-Bet
4. Justin Morgan-Yam
5. Joseph Wasson-Yam (first 250 Pro)
6. Ryan Smith-Yam
7. Nick Tolman-KTM
8. Cooper Ashton-Yam
9. Max Eddy Jr.-Kaw
10. Taran Taylor-Kaw
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