But blowing the start ensured that Caselli had to work extra hard if he wanted the 30 maximum points possible. Caught out by the banner drop, Caselli found himself mired in the dust while Blais Racing Services KTM’s Skyler Howes enjoyed the perfect start to lead the 42-mile first loop outside of Murphy, Idaho, followed closely by Off-Road Support Kawasaki’s Jacob Argubright and the rest of the pack.
 
Caselli didn’t panic, however. He’s experienced enough to know that hare & hounds are long races and it’s possible to rebound from poor starts.

“I just took my time and was able to get around quite a few guys the first loop, and I knew the [63-mile-long] second loop was going to be a bit longer and tighter so I waited ‘til then,” he said.

By the time he worked his way into second place, Argubright had the lead, though he forfeited his chance to stay there when he missed a turn.

Previous 2013 Hare & Hounds
Round 2

Round 1
 
Kamo would also get around Argubright on that second loop, matching his runner-up finish from last year aboard his Johnny Campbell Racing-supplied Honda and moving into the series points lead, unofficially. Argubright stayed close to claim the final podium spot and climb a little farther up the points table.
 

The local favorite, Kamo dismissed the notion he had an advantage, insisting, “I live here so I’m supposed to know where I’m at, but all the stuff that we raced, about 80 percent of it I’ve never ridden before! It was tough for me.
 
“Kurt was on a whole other level today—X-ray goggles or something!”
 
After missing the turn and going an estimated quarter mile out of his way, Argubright found himself demoted from first to third—and unwilling to lose even more. “I had to use all my energy because I didn’t want to lose any more spots. It didn’t wreck my race—I just hit a wall after that. David got me and I ended up third.”

Caselli noted, “Obviously there’s still a lot of racing to do [and we’ll] just keep plugging away. It’s going to be another long year.”
 

Western Design Racing TM’s Tuffy Pearson shook off a lackluster first loop to claim fourth overall and first Open A followed by Purvines Racing Beta’s Justin Morrow and Nick Burson (who’d been in fourth for a while but couldn’t maintain that pace after having the flu earlier in the week). Irving Powers took seventh overall and second Open A on his KTM followed by Howes, Brady Elton and first-time 250cc A winner Joshua Knight.

Results
1. Kurt Caselli (KTM 450 XC-F)
2. David Kamo (Honda CRF450X)
3. Jacob Argubright (Kawasaki KX450F)
4. Tuffy Pearson (TM 300 MX)
5. Justin Morrow (Beta 498 RR)
6. Nicholas Burson (Beta 498 RR)
7. Irving Powers (KTM 450 SX-F)
8. Skyler Howes (KTM 300 XC)
9. Brady Elton (KTM)
10. Joshua Knight (KTM 250 XC)