A number of class titles went down to the wire during Sunday’s Dusty Buckaroo National Hare & Hound, hosted by the 100s Motorcycle Club, the seventh and final round of the Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series.
None, however, was more important than the Pro title, where Johnny Campbell Racing (JCR) Honda’s Ricky Brabec owned a fairly comfortable 17-point lead over Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Off-road Team’s Jacob Argubright.
Thus, it was do-or-die time for Argubright in the three-loop, 95-mile race at the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area, though he’d also need help. To overtake Brabec for the championship, Argubright’s most realistic option was simply to win while his rival could finish no better than eighth.
Off the start, it looked like that was a possibility as Argubright and his FC 450 found himself getting to the bomb chasing only FMF KTM Factory Off-road Racing Team’s Ivan Ramirez, who was riding for the final time this year with the number one plate.
And where was Brabec? Left behind the pack after botching the start on his Honda CRF450X.
But once he got rolling, he somehow found a way through the wall of dust and not far behind the leaders after the bomb.
“I still took my line on the bomb [run] and pushed [through] the dust, just kind of blind racing,” he said. “[I] got to the bomb in third or fourth so I was pretty happy when I saw Jake right there and I saw Ivan, [too]. I knew I was doing good—those bikes are so good at starts.”
Brabec didn’t stop there and let that momentum carry him past the early leaders by the time they reached the end of the fast 40-mile first loop.
“Once I got into the lead, I kind of pushed a little bit and then I decided to take it easy,” he revealed. “It’s easier to lead than to catch up and push.”
Argubright confided, “I just tried to keep [the points situation] out of my mind. I can only control how I do. I can’t control how Ricky’s going to do or anything else. It’s just another race.”
That being the case, Argubright added, “I just really wanted to win. I was a little slow off the start, and I picked it up and I really hammered down the second and third loops and made up a lot of time.”
He ended up just 17 seconds shy of Brabec’s two hours, 18 minutes and six seconds finish time and noted, “Last year I was a couple minutes off the pace and at the last round he killed it. Now, it’s a little better and I’m right on him.”
Coincidentally, this marked the second time Argubright has finished in the series, the first time, of course, being 2013. The final points read Brabec, 170, and Argubright, 148.
Bonanza Plumbing/FMF KTM support rider Gary Sutherlin gave up too much ground on the first loop, and though he eventually passed his way into third, Brabec and Argubright were gone.
“I put my head down and really charged that [40-mile] second loop and I actually pushed really hard the whole second and third loops,” round-two winner Sutherlin explained. “Unfortunately [for me], Ricky and Jake got out too far, too quick.” He finished in 2:22:53 while in year-end points, he finished in a three-way tie for fifth with Purvines Racing Beta’s Axel Pearson (13th on the day) and Justin Morgan.
Globe-trotter Ramirez had probably his best ride of this disappointing season. Having raced the rally in Morocco two weeks ago and the ISDE last week, he slipped back to fourth as the race wound down, but with a couple miles to go, his bike reportedly broke. It took a while to get it fixed and back underway, the 2015 series champ ending up 12th Pro and 59th overall. He claimed ninth in the final point standings with 60.
That opened the door for Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/Precision Concepts Yamaha’s Morgan to earn fourth place, matching his career and season best which he got at round three in Utah.
Having wrapped up the FMF Pro 250 championship at the previous round, Chidester Transport Racing Yamaha’s Joe Wasson made his Pro-class debut aboard his Cycle City of Mountain Home YZ450FX and finished a commendable fifth.
Purvines Racing Beta’s Nick Burson took sixth followed by Chidester Transport Racing Kawasaki’s Max Eddy, Jr., Pearson, Motoworld Yamaha’s Grant Statley (the Open A champ making his Pro-class debut) and 3 Brothers KTM’s Jeff Trulove (his first FMF Pro 250 win).
Afterward, Brabec said, “It feels good to get [another] championship and another win. Tonight, tomorrow—I don’t know. I’m going to wake up and probably do nothing. I’m going to relax for a little bit. The next race is Dakar so I’m done with the small bikes for the rest of the year.”
2016 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series
Dusty Buckaroo National Hare & Hound
Johnson Valley OHV Area
Johnson Valley, California
Results: October 23, 2016 (Round 7 of 7)
Overall
1. Ricky Brabec-Hon (first Pro)
2. Jacob Argubright-Hus
3. Gary Sutherlin-KTM
4. Justin Morgan-Yam
5. Joseph Wasson-Yam
6. Nick Burson-Bet
7. Max Eddy Jr.-Kaw
8. Axel Pearson-Bet
9. Grant Stately-Yam
10. Jeff Trulove-KTM (first Pro 250)
11. Ryam Smith-Yam
12. Tyler Lynn-Yam
13. Aaron Gwin-KTM (first A Open)
14. Andrew Puckett-Yam
15. Nick Stover-KTM
16. Nick Tolman-KTM
17. Maverick Shuey-Yam
18. Ryan Karell-KTM (first A 200)
19. James Sullivan-KTM (first A 250)
20. Kyle Erickson-KTM (first A Vet)
2016 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series Points Standings (afdter 7 of 7 rounds)
1. Ricky Brabec-170/4 wins*
2. Jacob Argubright-148/1 win
3. Ryan Smith-106
4. Joseph Wasson-101
5. Gary Sutherlin-92/1 win
6. Axel Pearson-92
7. Justin Morgan-92
8. Nick Burson-77
9. Ivan Ramirez-6
10. Nick Stover-59
*2016 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Champion
CAPTIONS
1 (image #747 Brabec)
2 (401 Argubright)
Down 17 points going into the finale, Jacob Argubright’s only play was to win and hope Brabec finished eighth or worse. With Brabec setting the pace, all the Husky racer could do was give it his all and try to chase him down. He came up 17 seconds short, though he pointed out that a year ago he was several minutes behind.
3 (707 Cody)
This wasn’t a dare. Quinn Cody entered Senior A on this 1190 adventure bike as a Kurt Caselli Foundation challenge fundraiser and KTM project. Though his pace slowed as the loops and terrain got more tight and technical, he was by no means last, finishing an eventual 10th in class and 78th overall.
4 (132 Olivas Sisters)
The most hotly contested race of the weekend may have been between sisters Taylor (N4G) and Laci (N6F) Olivas as they traded the lead multiple times during the Micro Mini/Girls/Junior Girls race on Saturday. Taylor ended up the overall race winner as well as the victor of the Girls class and the sister race, a fitting birthday present. Laci settled for second overall but first Junior Girl after several crashes.
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