SERIES
VOL. 56 ISSUE 4 JANUARY 29, 2019 P65
S - T H A N - S T E L L A R S TA R T, J A C O B
H I N D T O W I N T H E O P E N I N G R O U N D
U N D C H A M P I O N S H I P
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARK KARIYA
O
ff-road Support/TBT Racing
Kawasaki privateer Jacob
Argubright battled back from a
so-so start to capture the Desert Mo-
torcycle Club's 52nd Winter Classic,
the opening round in the Kenda/SRT
AMA Hare & Hound National Champi-
onship Series, Presented by FMF.
"Towards the middle of the first
loop, I felt like I was so far back—I was
top 10 and I had to get around peo-
ple—and I didn't pass into fourth until
this valley [near the end of the 40-mile
first loop]," he admitted. "I was like,
'There's no way.' "
But Argubright never gave up hope
and eventually capitalized on a few
others having problems of their own
to start the season off in the best way
possible, passing his way into the lead
on the more technical 40-mile second
loop to lead the pack to the finish line
off Bessemer Mine Road in the John-
son Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area.
Two-time series champ Ricky
Brabec said he felt a bit rusty, having
skipped all of last year to concentrate
on rallies, but the Johnny Campbell
Racing (JCR) Honda rider managed
to take second, two minutes and 17
seconds behind Argubright, who fin-
ished in two hours, five minutes and 23
seconds.
Beta's Joe Wasson led much of the
first loop and rounded out the podium,
finishing in a strong 2:08:08.
