Monday Hot Press

Oct. 15, 2012 Staff Blog

As champions were crowned at both WEBE and the National Enduro, a battle unfolded at the National Hare & Hound.

Caselli Fights Off Pearson for the NHHA Round 9 Win

Held in Lucerne Valley, California the SoCal Motorcycle Club hosted one of the longest races of the year; a 120-mile, 3-loop course awaited the hundreds of racers looking to challenge themselves and their bike in the California desert. Despite the KTM West coast fleet jumping in the mix, Dave Pearson had Kurt Caselli to himself at round nine of the AMA National Hare & Hound series. From start to finish the current points leader Pearson kept Caselli in sight, but couldn't get ahead in time for the checkers. Purvines Racing's Justin Morrow had an impressive ride in 3rd for nearly the entire race, until the technical loop three through him off his Kawasaki near the end. Morrow's teammate Jacob Argubright capitalized on his mistake and moved into third, only to be halted with a broken bead on his rear tire. Luckily Argubright was able to limp the bike in at 7th overall.

After some serious confusion on the course, Nick Burson (also of Purvines Racing), Morrow and KTM's Ivan Ramirez got lost and hurried to find their way to the checkers. Burson's quick bike skills awarded him third place overall and his first podium of the season.

Mike Brown experienced his first-ever National Hare & Hound this weekend and kept within the top 10, until he was forced to DNF due to a minor mechanical issue on loop two. Ivan Ramirez was looking to have a promising ride when he moved into fourth early on behind Morrow. After a long race of battling with Argubright, Burson and Morrow, Ramirez was able to pull through to the finish in 5th overall.

Currently Pearson remains in the lead by just 8 points over Caselli. If Caselli wins the final round, Pearson must place third in order for Caselli to take the championship; beating him by just one point.

Full Results Here

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Rusk Earns Another WEBE Win

The final round of the 2012 WEBERacing.com calendar kicked off with a double points Saturday and Sunday event in Espanola, New Mexico. Riders from as far as Montana showed up to get in on the action in hopes of taking home a portion of the $2,000 FLY Racing Pro Purse and to confirm final points for the Championship hunt. Killy Rusk went 1-1 this weekend holding off the charge of Travis Porter and Eric Bailey on Saturday. On Sunday the Pro Class beefed up with the addition of FLY Racing's Cody and Kyle Schafer and 2011 Espanola winner Gary Sutherlin. Rusk put his Honda out front early and would create enough of gap to nurse a flat tire all the way to the checkers. The championship was being decided by second and third place riders Cody Schafer and Travis Porter, in a battle that saw both riders go down in corner on the last lap after tangling with lappers. Cody Schafer managed to get his Kawasaki up and across the finish line before Porter confirming the 2012 WEBERacing Championship. Porter and Schafer celebrated the good fight and congratulated one another in front of a huge crowd of fans; it was racing at its best. Gary Sutherlin broke his hand on the first lap after hitting a tree, but was riding to honor his fallen friend PJ Marquez. Sutherlin managed to finish with an impressive fourth overall.

Full Results Here

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Baylor Wraps Up 2012 NEPG Championship

Perhaps one of the most impressive racers this season has been KTM rider Steward Baylor, who just captured his first ever National Enduro Championship at Muddobbers this weekend. After wining three of the special tests and keeping in the top three of the remaining tests, Baylor took the round win by 39-seconds and the 2012 championship.