FMF KTM rider Gary Sutherlin sets the tone with a win at the 48th Annual Winter Classic National Hare & Hound.
FMF KTM support rider Gary Sutherlin kicked off the 2015 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series by winning the Desert Motorcycle Club’s 48th Annual Winter Classic National Hare & Hound in Lucerne Valley, California, yesterday.
The reigning Rocky Mountain MC WORCS Champion plans to add the desert series to his schedule this year, having ridden only the occasional National Hare & Hound in the past. The Winter Classic marked his first series win.
Ironically, Sutherlin’s stiffest competition came from his training partner, THR Motorsports/Precision Concepts/Bonanza Plumbing’s Ricky Brabec, the reigning series champ, but Brabec had to settle for second this time. Ivan Ramirez of the FMF KTM Factory Off-road Racing Team had a freak accident off the start that left him last to leave, but he somehow blew through the pack to claim third by the end of the two 40-mile loops at the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area’s Anderson Dry Lake.
“I actually ended up getting the holeshot today,” Sutherlin said. “It was the first time leading and winning a hare & hound, so I couldn’t be happier with the way everything worked out.”
Conversely, Brabec has enjoyed better starts.
“I’ve just got to start practicing my starts,” he said. “It’s been a while for the off-season, and I haven’t really been doing anything for hare & hounds other than ride my mountain bike.”
The two training buddies ended up battling back and forth for much of the race with Brabec making the final mistake and letting Sutherlin gap him to win by 50 seconds, 2:09:43 to 2:10:33.
Comeback of the race had to go to Ramirez. As he accelerated off the start, his line intersected with Dalton Shirey’s, and in their tangle, Ramirez ended up stopped, his foot trapped between the rear wheel in front of the swingarm. By the time KTM mechanic Robbie Goolsby reached him and extricated his foot, the pack was long gone. (Shirey wobbled a bit but managed to lose almost no time en route to winning the new FMF 250cc Pro class.)
“I was kind of angry at what happened,” Ramirez said. “[But] I knew it was going to be a long day so I just needed to stay focused and patient, and I made it all the way [back to] third!”
Purvines Racing Beta’s Nick Burson barely held off a weary PCI Race Radios’ David Kamo for fourth place with just one second separating them at the finish. Blais Racing Services KTM’s Skyler Howes, Purvines Racing Beta’s Axel Pearson, Shirey, Brandon Prieto and Colton Udall rounded out the top 10.
Judging solely by the results of this one, the 2015 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship season should be even more competitive than last year.
2015 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship
48th Annual Winter Classic National Hare & Hound
Johnson Valley OHV
Lucerne Valley, California
Results: January 25, 2015 (Round 1 of 10)
Overall
1. Gary Sutherlin-KTM (first Open Pro)
2. Ricky Brabec-Kaw
3. Ivan Ramirez-KTM
4. Nick Burson-Bet
5. David Kamo-KTM
6. Skyler Howes-KTM
7. Axel Pearson-BET
8. Dalton Shirey-Hus (first 250 Pro)
9. Brandon Prieto-KTM
10. Colton Udall-Hon
11. Morgan Crawford-KTM
12. Steve Kirk III-Yam
13. Justin Morgan-Kaw
14. Benjamin Meza-KTM (first 250 A)
15. Jordan Gamboa-KTM
16. Jordan Gamboa-KTM
17. Nick Stover-KTM
18. Taylor Stevens-KTM
19. Grant Stately-KTM (first Open A)
20. Jared Schlapia-KTM
2015 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series Point Standings (After 1 of 10 rounds)
1. Gary Sutherlin-30/1 win
2. Ricky Brabec-25
3. Ivan Ramirez-21
4. Nick Burson-18
5. David Kamo-16
6. Skyler Howes-15
7. Axel Pearson-14
8. Dalton Shirey-13
9. Brandon Prieto-12
10. Colton Udall-11
11. Morgan Crawford-10
12. Steve Kirk III-9
13. Justin Morgan-8
14. Benjamin Meza-7
15. Jordan Gamboa-6
16. Jordan Gamboa-5
17. Nick Stover-4
18. Taylor Stevens-3
19. Grant Stately-2
20. Jared Schlapia-1
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