Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127174
Yamaha rider John Braasch negotiates a tricky rock section at the Jackrabbits M.C. event. He topped the 125cc class over Bob Reiger. Team Green's Larry Roeseler captured the overall victory at the 0-37 Jackrabbits Hare & Hound in Red M ountain, California. Roeseler tops Jackrabbits H&H By Donetta and Bob Murray RED MOUNTAIN, CA, JAN. 8 The opening round of the District 37 racing season saw perennial off-road favorite Larry Roeseler cross the finish line first in the Jackrabbit M.C. Hare & Hound sta~ed at Teagle Wash near Red Mountain, . Kawasaki 's Roeseler was not to gain his final position until halfway through the second loop. " I had a really bad start," said me Kawasaki/Malcolm Smith/Scott/ Dunlop/ Arai Helmets/Pro-Circuit/ Renthal lTsubaki Chains/ Acerbis/ Bel-Ray/Troy Lee Designs-sponso red rider. "It took me five kicks to get started. I was way back in th e pack, probably in the 30s." A bad start was not a problem for Roeseler's Kawasaki teammate Paul Krause, who claimed his start was " perfect." H e was first at the end of the short but rough bomb and through th e camelback onto th e marked trail. Hot on his tail through the course were Tom Kelly, aboard a new Yamaha YZ250WR, and Vet rider Jim Eveland and Ron Jennings, both piloting 250cc Yamahas. . Krause's lead on his KX500 was temporarily lost when he was passed by Yamaha-pilot Eric Hallgath on a 125cc machine. Hallgath's charge for the lead came from a 20th place position at the end of the bomb. Shortly into the first set of rolling hills, he took command of the race, but a nat tire was to end his reign. Hallgath's flat tire started spinning and came off me rim causing his bike to seize. Meanwhile, back in the pack, Roeseler was picking off riders one.b -one. "It was a pretty good mix on the fir st loop of the course," noted Roeseler. "T here were a lot of old trails that were whooped out and rough, so it was good for me. It definitely gave you a good workout. " Kell y held onto third place through the 40-mile first loop in spite of not wanting to push his new bike. "I just kept thinking about ' changes I wanted to make befor e the next race, " said the Malcolm Smith/ Montclair Yamaha/Maxima-backed rider. Jennings caught hiS foot in a piece of barbed wire which caused him to fall midway through the first loop. Thinking he was way out of contention, he slowed his pace until he was passed by John Braasch on a 125cc Yamaha 15 miles before the pits. . " I finally realized everybod y was passing me as I was taking my tim e," quoted me White Brothers/O 'Neal/ Yamaha Motors/Riverside MC Center/Mom and Dad-sponsored young rid er. " When I came into th e pits and found out I was 10th , I picked up the pace. " First into the pits was Krause, but only 28 seconds ahead of Roeseler who had inched his way through the pack. Barely another 28 seconds had passed before Kelly appeared at home check and pit row. Not far behind was Kenji Gauthier on his brand new Suzuki. He had ran out of gas just before the pits (the first of two times that day). Luckily, he was carrying a small container of extra gas on his fanny pack. . First .125cc and fifth overall , through the pits was Bob Reiger. Eveland had dropped back to the 12th slot by the start of me second loop and was only two positions ahead of fellow Vet rider Ken Parry aboard a Kawasaki. Both Krause and Roeseler turned u the heat in the second loop, me tighter and more technical section of the race. By five miles into me second pan of me course, j USI before the rock y downhill, Roeseler had narrowed Krause's lead 10 15 seconds. As the course became tighter, Roeseler became tougher 10 shake. and event ua lly passed the other Team Green riders. Roeseler men became the hunted as Krause breathed down his neck for the rest of the race. " H e almost put me pass on me , but I gassed it and kept my lead through the little zig-zaggy spots," said Roeseler. "He was going straight and I had to go around the rocks, but I just hammered through," said the Kawasaki/ Answer Products/Smith/Metzeler Tires-backed Krause. "I thought Larry and I were going to kill .each other. We were really hauhng butts. When we got"on the road, I looked back and couldn 't catch sight of anyone. " Roeseler hung on to the lead to reach the checkered nag a bare six seconds ahead of Krause. " I' m really pleased," he told Cycle News. " Espe cially after me bad day I had at the Gold Strike race yesterday. A rock went through my radiator and we had 10 replace it. I had a nat. And . a rock new up and hit me in the nose . I figured today couldn't be nearly as bad as yesterday." Gauthier overtook Kelly halfway through the second loop. He ran out of gas, again, right before the finish but had his trusty extra bit of gas strapped to his side to see him 10 a third place finish. He thanked his sponsors: Suzuki Country Racing/ O'Neal USA/Pro Circuit and his wife. Kelly cruised into the finish chute fourth overall. . Jennin~s was riding "his own race" dunng me final loop through the desert. He passed Braasch in a sandwash 20 miles before the finish and, although he tangled with a bush at one point, held his own to a fifth place finish. Braasch did his fair share of passing during the race and was passed himself only once - by Jennings. . A 20-kick start made it a long day for Steve Kirk Jr. aboard a Yamaha 490, but he was to have his best finish ever - seventh overall and second Open bike. He had passed Abe Baumann's Kawasaki in the dust towards the end, leaving Baumann to settle for ninth place and third Open bik e finisher. Vet rider Parry played " catch him" all day. He was with Roeseler in the bad stan department, but noted that " Larry recovered a lot better than I did. " Parry was not that pleased with his ride, wishing he had done better. He admitted he had sore hands from the Gold Strike race on Saturday. He did have enough left in him to pass Eveland 10 miles out into the second loop and maintain his position for a first place Vet finish added to his ninth overall. Darren Schmidt, racing his KTM for the first time in nine months, rounded OUI the top 10 finisher list. Top amateur finisher was Robert Baehr in the 250cc class. "My lips are frozen, " said Baehr at me finish, making note of the cool weather, which had dropped to the teens during the night. " It was a fun race, my kind of course, tight with wide open sandwashes." He was 17th overall. Results 1. Larry Roeseler (Kawt 2. Paul Krause (Kaw); 3. Kenji Gauthier (Suzt 4. Tom Kelly (Yamt 5. Ronnie Jennings (Yamt 5. John Braasch (Yamt 6. Steve Kirk Jr. (Yam); 7. Abe Baumann IKawt 8. Ken Parry (Kaw); 9. Darren Schmidt (KTM); 10. Brian Nevestich (Yam) . . 250 EX: 1. Larry Roeseler (Kaw); 2. Kenji Gauthier ISuz); 3. Tom Kelly (Yamt 4 . Ronnie Jennings (Yam); 5. Ed Pierce. OPEN EX: 1. Paul Krause (Kawt 2. Steve Kirk Jr. (Yam); 3. Abe Baumann (Kaw); 4. Darren Schmidt (KTM); 5. Brian Nevestich (Yam). 125 EX: 1. John Braasch (Yam); 2. Bob Reiger; 3. Keith Meter . VET EX 250: 1. Ken Parry (Kaw); 2. Jim Eveland (Yam); 3. John Tobin; 4. Scan Anderson. VET OPEN EX: 1. Ken Oviatt; 2. Ken Ehlers; 3. Don Chiapuzio IKaw). SR 250 EX: 1. AI Hull (Yam). S / SR : 1. Dennis Davidge (KTMt 2. AI Guzman (Kaw). 250 AM: 1. Robert ·Baehr; 2. Justin Lundin; 3. Rick Lundin; 4. Tony Modica . OPEN AM : 1. Jim Clark (KTM). OPEN BEG: 1. Wayne Brown; 2. Mike Blackman. 250 BEG: 1. Todd Hoy; 2. Steve Mom..; 3. Mike Ragan. 125 BEG: 1. Brem Camping . VET BEG: 1. Bud Pecoy; 2. Peter Herrera; 3. David Gameros. S/SR BEG: 1. Randy Decker.