IN
THE
WIND
P32
Lafferty Scores At East Hare Scramble
M
ore than 500 racers came through the
gate for Round 5 of the SRT-AMA East
Hare Scramble Series. Hosted by Green
Marble Enduro Riders (GMER), this was a
triple-sanctioned event which paid points in
ECEA and AMA Dist 6, drawing the best rac-
ers in the area.
The location, Rocket Raceway, is a local fa-
vorite for hare scramblers. A mix of MX, grass
track, carting roads and tight single-track trails
made for an exciting 7.5-mile course.
In the feature race of the weekend, 155
racers lined up in ideal conditions, thanks
largely to some rain the day before, and temps
in the high 80s. When the flag dropped it was
Ryder Lafferty moving into the early lead with
Mike Beeler in tow. The duo battled along the
descending start straight and the subsequent
uphill, and then kept each other in sight as
they headed into the novice MX track, leaving
the rest of the AA's behind by the time they
headed out into the single-track. Beeler made
a mistake on the second lap which allowed
Lafferty to pull away.
Making a third-lap charge toward the
front was Kyle McDonal, last year's number-one-
plate holder and this year's current points leader.
McDonal held down the fort in third for the first
few laps, keeping the pressure on Beeler for the
runner-up position. Beeler was just coming back
from a collarbone break, and had just changed
bikes from a 125 two-stroke to a four-stroke.
At the white flag, Lafferty held a two-minute lead
over Beeler. McDonal, meanwhile, came under
pressure from local favorite Hunter Bush for the
final podium position. Unfortunately for Bush, he
ran out of time to make the pass, having to settle
for fourth a mere four seconds behind McDonal.
In the Morning C event, 200 up-and-coming rac-
ers prepared to hit a 6.5-mile course for 90 min-
utes. SB 2 racer William Holmes hammered down
and established an early lead, finishing ahead of
top SB 1 racer Griere Moir.
In Saturday's Youth Main, 14-16 Supermini racer
Brayden Nolette took a break from his GNCC tour
and came out to wow the crowd aboard his Trail
Jesters-prepped KTM 105. Nolette finished the
race with six minutes to spare. Second overall went
to 12-13 Supermini racer Griere Moir ahead of 12-13
Supermini racer Caleb Baltimore.
Kenny Held
Results
1. Ryder Lafferty (KTM)
2. Mike Beeler (KTM)
3. Kyle McDonal (Bet)
