Picture by Ryan Sanders
Nick Burson, 2016 AMA WHS Round 6
Round six from the AMA/NHHA West Hare Scrambles Tournament took place September 3rd in Lucerne Valley, California and Pruvines/Beta’s wilderness ace Nick Burson couldn’t have already been happier to be home. “I have got raced so many times out here that it was just great to know it was for the schedule again. It’s like a safety net to know that I will have this round in order to hopefully make up some points to assist with the championship chase. ” And make up points he did, taking win by over two mins and gapping the next two contenders for the 2016 championship by over 30 points at the end of the day.
Photo by Ryan Sanders
Ryan Smith, 2016 AMA WHS Round 6
The race victory wasn’t easy, however , as Rick’s Custom Shutters and Blinds backed Ryan Cruz piloted his YZ450F to a second overall, nearly catching Burson in the two lap mark. “I rode just out of his dust for that first lap, and knew that when I could stay close that I would certainly eventually find a place to try a move, ” Smith explained. “It feels so good to know that I can run in front, and following Nick showed myself the pace I need to keep if I want to win one of these NHHA events. ” Smith would ultimately fall back by a minute-thirty come the finishline, but gap third general by over 2 minutes.
The 17-mile loop proved to be tough for many of the fastest desert racers, claiming FMF/KTM’s Gary Sutherlin and Precision Concept’s Justin Morgan who both withdrew from the event early. Sutherlin experienced a broken rear break and opted not to fix it in the pits, while Morgan pulled out after using the top 5 for two loops with signs of heat exhaustion. Purvine’s 2nd podium threat, Axel Pearson looked to be a strong contender for 3rd overall until a 3rd cycle crash knocked him well back of the field. Barely holding on at the finish, and visually frustrated, Pearson finished ninth on the day after operating as far back as 12th.
Photo by Ryan Sanders
Nic Garvin, 2016 AMA WHS Round 6
To not be overshadowed by the early withdrawals of Sutherlin and Morgan, Ox Motorsports backed Nic Garvin put in the ride of his lifetime to claim his first expert podium and third overall when needed. Collapsing at the finishline, Garvin was aided by course officials before gaining the strength to climb up on to the podium. A highlight of the day occurred when Garvin was joined up with on the podium by his Grandma of whom he explained, “I am just so happy to get this podium with my grandma simply by my side. She has been running after me all around the desert for years, and it also just means so much to me to finish up here at an event that she has been here to see! ”
Photo by Thomas Sanders
2016 AMA WHS Circular 6 Podium (left to right): Ryan Smith, Nick Burson, Nic Garvin
Taking a remarkable win in the FMF 250 pro class, RPM/KTM racer Dante Oliveira bounced back from a second location start to gap the field by more than 10 minutes come the finishline. Adopting the KTM up front was SRT Offroad’s JT Baker who physically entered the line at 11th overall plus narrowly held onto the number 2 spot by just 25 seconds. 3rd to cross the line in the FMF 250 pro class, and initial 250F on the day, was JCR Honda’s Jarett Megla who recorded his first AMA Pro Podium associated with his career. “It felt good on the 250F, ” Megla explained. “I only felt underpowered on a couple of the valley crossings, but in the tight stuff the bike worked great. ”
Photo by Thomas Sanders
250 Pro Start, 2016 AMA WHS Round 6
In the early race, the girl and 60-year-old classes raced on a shortened course and Northern California racer Sophia Oliveira followed within her brother’s footsteps. Physically finishing second to C class racer Jacob Dechellis, Oliveira finished a full three minutes ahead of second within her class Sharon Mowell. Finishing third in the woman’s A department was Stephanie Giroux who finished the three lap race a 12th overall. Equally dominating his course was long time desert racer Cordis Brooks who bested second place Larry Engwall by over six minutes while Scott Anderson curved out the 60 plus podium.
Picture by Ryan Sanders
Sophia Oliveria, 2016 AMA WHS Round 6
Picture by Ryan Sanders
Cordis Brooks, 2016 AMA WHS Round six
Picture by Ryan Sanders
Mason Mathies, 2016 AMA WHS Round six
The NHHA Youth program is alive and well at the West Hare Scrambles Tournament and one rider who has enjoyed the benefits of the program is Southern California local Mason Mathies. Mason took the overall victory at round six, his second overall win of the time of year riding in the newly reclassified “Big Wheel” class on his YZ85. Mathies was one of only three cyclists to complete the full 7 laps for the abbreviated 7-mile loop. Rounding out the podium in the Big Steering wheel class was Clayton Roberts plus Bradley East. Wyatt Kulikov got home the win in the mini class at sixth overall within the same race and Laci Olivas won the girls class completing 5 laps in the hour and thirty-minute event.
The AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship continues its run within the Southern California desert as the next round takes riders south in order to Plaster City as the Roadrunners Rough-road club host the penultimate circular of the 2016 championship.
Overall Results:
- Nick Burson (Beta)
- Ryan Jones (Yam)
- Nic Garvin (Hon)
- Steven Goodman (KTM)
- Austin Sherpa (KTM)
- Dante Oliveira (KTM)
- Grant Statley (Yam)
- Sage Vincent (Suz)
- Axel Pearson (Beta)
- Troy Vanscourt (Kaw)