KTM rider Ivan Ramirez scored an emotional first career AMA National Hare and Hound win at the Desert MC Winter Classic in Johnson Valley, California, yesterday.
Factory FMF/KTM Team rider Ivan Ramirez couldn’t suppress the tears after crossing the finish line first overall at the 2014 AMA/SRT National Hare and Hound Championship-opening Desert MC Winter Classic in Johnson Valley, California, on January 26.
He had come to the event with the goal of winning to honor fallen teammate, mentor and friend Kurt Caselli. And win it he did, grinding through the two-lap, 80-mile race with Caselli-like precision to win with a total time of 2 hours, 38-minutes and 13 seconds. Ramirez averaged 30.38 mph on the tough and technical Desert MC course that was responsible for a high attrition rate–roughly half the field failed to make it to the finish. Ramirez’s win was a good shakedown for the factory KTM team’s new We switched 450 XC-F, which features a new SOHC motor that was tested last season. The team plans to run this same chassis and motor setup for the remainder of the rounds.
Ramirez may have been rock solid on the course, but his emotions got the best of him after the finish, an understandable situation in light of his close relationship with Caselli, the reigning AMA National Hare and Hound Champion who was killed during the 2013 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 last November. Ramirez couldn’t fight back the tears as he hugged and celebrated with his family and the Caselli family after the race.
“I have been working extremely hard and want to win as many races as I can for my teammate Kurt,” Ramirez said. “He helped me so much in my career and believed in me, and I am so proud to stand up here for him. I know he was with me today.”
Caselli’s legacy lives on in Ramirez for now, but at the same time it is clear that the popular Mexican rider’s first career National win may have started a new legacy all his own.
The Beta brand put in a strong showing at the Winter Classic, with Beta riders occupying the next three finishing positions in the race. Purvines Racing/Beta USA riders Justin Morrow and Nick Burson, finished second and third respectively. Morrow finished a mere 3 minutes and 15 seconds behind Ramirez, with Burson another 10 seconds adrift of Morrow. Beta rider Axel Pearson was fourth overall, followed by Kawasaki rider Ricky Brabec, who was fifth overall.
The next round of the 2014 AMA National Hare and Hound Championship is scheduled for February 8-9, 2014, in Red Mountain, California.
Desert MC Winter Classic
Johnson Valley, California
Results: January 26, 2014
Overall
1. Ivan Ramirez-KTM
2. Justin Morrow-Bet
3. Nick Burnson-Bet
4. Axel Pearson-Bet
5. Ricky Brabec-Kaw
6. Morgan Crawford-KTM
7. Skyler Howes-KTM
8. Ryan Smith-Yam
9. Brad Pace-Hon
10. Brandon Prieto-KTM
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