AMA Hare & Hound Round 8: Caselli Wins, Pearson Retains Lead

Oct. 15, 2012 By Mark Kariya

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By winning for the sixth time this season, Kurt Caselli chopped another five points out of David Pearson’s points lead. Basically, Caselli must win the finale in two weeks if he wants to repeat as champion.

Kurt Caselli of the FMF/KTM Factory Off-road Racing Team continued his quest to successfully defend his title in the AMA Racing/Kenda National Hare & Hound Championship Series by winning round eight, the So Cal Motorcycle Club’s Johnson Valley Hare & Hound National at the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area outside of Lucerne Valley, California.

He’s in a do-or-die situation after missing two rounds due to injury earlier this season, and he’s responded by performing like a champion.

Previous Hare & Hound Races:
Round 7

Round 6

Round 5

After flirting with the lead in the first 80 miles, David Pearson lost contact with Caselli when he dropped his bike in the final 40 and settled for second. He must win or finish second if Caselli wins the finale in order to take the championship he first won in ’07.

“I’ve kind of been in this position with a couple WORCS championships and it’s come down to the last few rounds, and it’s cool--that’s racing and that’s why we get paid to do this,” he shared after winning by more than six minutes over former champ and current points leader David Pearson.

“[Winning] today was a must, for sure, and so is the next race. I’ve just got to go win--there’s no two ways about it. I think Dave is the one [with the pressure]; he could lose the championship, is the way I look at it.”

Nick Burson got back on course quickest after getting lost and edged teammate Justin Morrow for third place, his first podium of the season.

As has been his normal practice, Caselli got the holeshot and controlled the race from the front, though Pearson stayed close and led several times during the first two 40-mile loops. But the THR Motorsports/Monster Energy/Precision Concepts pilot lost ground when he fell and had a hard time restarting his bike on the final 40-mile loop, settling for second but maintaining his points lead which is now cut to eight, 188-180.

Third went down to the wire, though not in the expected way. Reportedly missing course arrows meant several racers missed a turn and went the wrong way almost within sight of the finish. Among them were Purvines Racing Kawasaki teammates Justin Morrow and Nick Burson, who were dicing closely for the last podium spot.

When rival Axel Pearson fell and broke his collarbone for the third time this year, Skyler Howes rode almost uncontested to the 250cc A win and eighth overall, wrapping up that 250cc championship with only the finale to go.

When they ended up on the north side of Bessemer Mine Road, they realized they were way off-course, so they stopped to quickly discuss the situation. They then saw KTM’s Ivan Ramirez, who had also gone the wrong way, and then they spotted the finish with Burson edging a frustrated Morrow for third, Ramirez claiming a season-best fifth.

Fresh off his gold medal in E1 at the ISDE, Mike Brown rode his first hare & hound. After running as high as third (he estimated), he would get lost then call it a day early when he began having suspected fuel-injection problems. Johnny Campbell Racing Honda’s David Kamo rebounded from a bad start to finish sixth followed by Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green/Purvines Racing’s Jacob Argubright, Skyler Howes (who clinched the 250cc A championship), Open A winner Tuffy Pearson and Open A runner-up Ryan Kudla.

Results
1. Kurt Caselli (KTM 450 SX-F)

2. David Pearson (Kawasaki KX450F)

3. Nicholas Burson (Kawasaski KX450F)

4. Justin Morrow (Kawasaki KX450F)

5. Ivan Ramirez (KTM 450 SX-F)

6. David Kamo (Honda CRF450X)

7. Jacob Argubright (Kawasaki KX450F)

8. Skyler Howes (Yamaha YZ250)

9. Tuffy Pearson (Husaberg TE 300)

10. Ryan Kudla (KTM 300 XC)

Previous Hare & Hound Races:
Round 7

Round 6

Round 5