Gary Sutherlin becomes the first two-time Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound of the year at the Vikings M.C. 28th Annual Virgin Voyage H&H.
FMF/KTM support rider Gary Sutherlin got the 2015 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series off to a great start by winning the opening round back in January, but then he broke his arm at round two, forcing him to sit out a few weeks.
After making his return to racing by winning round five of the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) last week, Sutherlin proved that his return to form is complete as he won the 28th Annual Virgin Voyage hosted by the Vikings Motorcycle Club at the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area near Lucerne Valley, California. The even was round four of the series.
It wasn’t easy, though, as Sutherlin had several stubborn opponents to pass in order to land the victory.
Sutherlin enjoyed a decent enough start, following only Blais Racing Services KTM’s rabbit-quick Skyler Howes past the bomb, with FMF KTM Factory Off-road Racing Team’s Ivan Ramirez and defending series champ and current points leader Ricky Brabec close behind them. Brabec wasn’t content to sit and follow for too long, and he led the way as they completed the first loop of 40 technical miles, the THR Motorsports/Precision Concepts/Bonanza Plumbing KX450F rider leaving the pits 1 minute and 5 seconds ahead of Sutherlin.
“Unfortunately, on the [28-mile-long] second loop I made a few mistakes, got lost and Gary got around me,” Brabec said.
After that, Sutherlin had 10 seconds on Brabec as they hit the pits the second time, with Ramirez another 31 seconds in arrears. However, Brabec had clipped a rock and put a small hole in his engine cases. Ramirez was able to take over second place while Brabec’s team dealt with the hole and added some oil in the pits. Brabec was able to salvage third. By beating Brabec for second, Ramirez earned enough points to move into a tie for first in the points chase, both men finding themselves with 101 points, unofficially.
“I was kind of tight that whole first loop and tried to pace myself,” Ramirez said “I went by Skyler and told myself, ‘Be consistent. It’s going to be a long race. Keep it on two wheels and just ride.’ Then Ricky got lost and I caught up to him a little bit there and ended up passing him here in the pits when he was putting oil in his bike.”
Sutherlin put the race away on the fast 32-mile final loop, finishing in 2 hours, 41 minutes and 2 seconds, with Ramirez 1:24 behind and Brabec 1:42 back of Ramirez. Perhaps more unnerving for his competitors was Sutherlin’s claim.
“I’m probably 90 percent right now; my wrist is still pretty sore,” he said. “I don’t mean that in a bad way–I’m definitely hurting!–but I just rode a smart race today. What it all came down to was I really paid attention to the markings. I was riding really tentative the first half, and Ricky rode great. The first 40 miles I think he put a minute on me. He left me. He was pinning it and Ivan was keeping me honest. It was good racing the first loop [and] I knew it was going to go [like that] all three loops.”
In becoming the first two-time winner of the season, Sutherlin now has 60 points, which vaults him into a tie for fifth in the series standings with PCI Race Radios KTM-mounted David Kamo, who was ninth on the day.
Purvines Racing Beta’s Nick Burson rode in for fourth followed by Zip-Ty Racing Husqvarna’s Dalton Shirey, the FMF 250cc Pro winner for the fourth time in the four rounds so far. Howes took sixth followed by Purvines Racing Beta’s Axel Pearson, Precision Concepts Yamaha’s Justin Morgan, Kamo and LG Electric Yamaha’s Ryan Smith.
The second half of the eight-round season begins next weekend in Utah.
2015 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series
Vikings M.C. 28th Annual Virgin Voyage H&H
Johnson Valley OHV Area
Johnson Valley, California
Results: April 26, 2015 (Round 4 of 10)
Overall
1. Gary Sutherlin-KTM (first Pro)
2. Ivan Ramirez-KTM
3. Ricky Brabec-Kaw
4. Nick Burson-Bet
5. Dalton Shirey-Hus (first 250)
6. Skyler Howes-KTM
7. Axel Pearson-Bet
8. Justin Morgan-Yam
9. David Kamo-KTM
10. Ryan Smith-Yam
2015 Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series Point Standings (After 4 of 10 rounds)
1. Ivan Ramirez-101/1 win
2. Ricky Bravbec-101/1 win
3. Axel Pearson-67
4. Skyler Howes-61
5. Gary Sutherlin-60/1 win
6. David Kam0-60
7. Dalton Shirey-57
8. Nick Burson-52
9. Justin Mrogan-49
10. Colton Udall-44
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