2011 AMA National Hare & Hound Round 09.

Kendall Norman goes wire to wire for the win at round 9 of the 2011 AMA National Hare and Hound series!

2011 AMA National Hare & Hound Series Round 2.

Kurt Caselli.

FMF/KTM Factory Team rider Kurt Caselli dominated the second round of the AMA Hare & Hound Series held in Ridgecrest, CA when he crossed the checkered flag 8 minutes ahead of the next closest competitor.

The weather was perfect for the second round of the series with temperatures in the high sixties. In typical Hare & Hound style the track was incredibly dusty as it had not rained at the race location in quite some time. The course was made up of three loops. The longest loop was the first at 48 miles with a second loop of 31 miles and the final loop a short 17 miles.

Caselli initially had a bad start, unable to fire his bike right away. He eventually got off the line about 5 seconds behind the group. The dust was so thick at that point, that he had to veer from the original line he had picked down the bomb run. As they neared the final stretch of the bomb he was able to move back into his original line. Feeling more comfortable in his chosen line, he worked his way up into 3rd place before they headed to the narrow single-track.

Shortly into the first loop Caselli caught and passed the 2nd place ride of David Pearson. A few miles later the leader was within his sight. As the race continued Caselli closed the gap on current leader Kendall Norman to about 10 seconds. As Caselli closed in, Norman took a spill and handed the lead to Caselli before the halfway mark of the first lap. Once in the lead, Caselli charged forward at an incredible pace. At the 48-mile mark, and the team’s first gas stop, Caselli had already laid down a 4 minute lead.

Caselli continued his pace on the second loop and doubled his lead before the next gas stop. Now 79 miles into the race, Caselli had an 8 minute lead on the competition. For the remainder of the race, Caselli maintained his pace and went on to safely cross the line and take the win by over 8 minutes on the rest of the field.

“It feels really good to get a win here after an unlucky result at the first round. My bike ran flawless today. Factory Connection made some suspension improvements between the last race and this round that helped a ton and overall it was a great ride today,” commented Caselli.

Caselli Round 2 - 2011

Caselli earned the lead before the halfway mark on the first lap and never looked back.

With two rounds down, Caselli currently sits 2nd in overall points just 9 points away from the lead spot in the title chase. The next round of the AMA National Hare & Hound Series will be held in El Centro, CA on March 6, 2011.

2011 Round 2 Overall Results:

1. Kurt Caselli

2. David Pearson

3. Destry Abbott

4. Kendall Norman

5. Jacob Argubright

6. Carl Maassberg

7. Colton Udall

8. Justin Morrow

9. Quinn Cody

10. Robert Underwood

2011 Hare and Hound Championship Points:

1. David Pearson, 55

2. Kurt Caselli, 46

3. Destry Abbott, 46

* Round 3 - March 6
El Centro, Calif.

2011 Hare & Hound - Round 1

David Pearson wins an epic battle in Round #1 of the AMA/Kenda National Hare and Hound Series. Destry Abbott takes 2nd, Jacob Argubright 3rd

OA Nat Finish National Class Local Class Local Finish AMA Number Rider # Last First Bike City State

1 1 Overall (Pro) 327648 NAT3 PEARSON DAVID HON PANAUA NV PURVINES RACING, BERKELY HONDA, GPR, ONEIL, ARAI 

2 2 Overall (Pro) 383473 NAT14 ABBOTT DESTRY KAW PEORIA AZ MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, TRAXXIS
3 3 Overall (Pro) HWT EXPERT 1 546947 NAT5 ARGUBRIGHT JACOB KAW NORTHRIDGE CA KSV, TEAM GREEN, FMF, IMS, BRP, OFF ROAD SUPPORT
4 4 Overall (Pro) HWT EXPERT 2 551391 NAT15 MORROW JUSTIN KAW PINION HILLS CA
DESERT MC JOHN BURR, ZEMAN, IMS, MOOSE RACING
5 5 Overall (Pro) HWT EXPERT 3 675862 NAT66 CASELLI KURT KTM PALMDALE CA PROSPECTORS KTM,FMF
6 1 251cc-open - "A" HWT EXPERT 4 554970 NAT9 KUDLA RYAN KAW OXNARD CA VCMC TO POWERSPORTS, TEAM GREEN, DIRT DIGITS,
7 2 251cc-open - "A" HWT EXPERT 5 479022 457 PACE BRAD HON BARSTOW CA
RUTS PDI RACING, BAILEY MORSE, BARSTOW MC, TEAM IMHOF
8 3 251cc-open - "A" HWT EXPERT 6 324914 N5 UDALL COLTON HON SAN CLEMENTE CA JCRHONDA
9 4 251cc-open - "A" HWT EXPERT 7 1103521 N308 MAASSBERG CARL KAW HENDERSON NV PURVINES RACING, GPR, BERKLEY HONDA
10 5 251cc-open - "A" HWT EXPERT 8 2001816 N359 RAMIREZ IVAN HON ENSENADA CA KTM REDBULL PC AME
16 905503 N351 PRIRTO BRANDON KAW ENSENADA CA TCE AME SNS

Tackling a a course with a a true National caliber 3rd loop, David Pearson found himself locked in a battle with KTM's Kurt Caselli. Unfortunately, motor problems sidelined Caselli less than a mile from the finish. David Pearson rode to the win, with Kawasaki desert aces Destry Abbott second, and Jacob Argubright third. Amazingly, Caselli was able to push his bike the rest of the way, and log an incredible 5th place for the day. The course claimed some riders, as top guns David Kamo, Kendall Norman and Nick Burson were DNF's for the first round. The Desert MC course had something for everyone, and finishing was truly an accomplishment! 

* Round 2 - Feb. 13 Ridgecrest, Calif.