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/128141
BRIERY••• Destry Abbott's KXSOO suffered a p.rti.1 _lEU.. on Saturday while he was practICing the bomb run. leaving mechanic John Braasch scrambling to put on a new cylinder. Abbott then used his time in the moming to break in the new top end. KTM has revitalized its d••_ .Hort. and the boss of the orange team, Scot Harden. was on hand to help out his new desert ace. Kurt Caselli, as well as Female National Champion Kelley Yancey (pictured). As always, the Kawasaki Team Green camp is a atep above everyone else when It comes to support in the desert. To make sure that didn't change, off-road boss Reid Nordin had the factory semi parked right in the middle of pit row, with a full crew and amplified music. The opening round featured a few unfalftlllar fecea, or at least faces that are unfamiliar at desert races. National Hare Scrambles Champion Fred Andrews was cheering on his Kawasaki teammates, though he himself opted to sit out the high-speed competition. Also present were woods aces Patrick and Brian Garrahan. both of whom actually competed. Andrews and the Garrahan brothers were on their way to take part in the Dirt Rider 24-Hour test at Glen Helen Raceway. A notable absence at 1..JJceme was likeable Italian Luca Tru...rdl. who is now working back home as a rep for Braking. The race was, however. graced with the presence of Trussar· di's better half, Italian joumallst Camilla Consonni, who was in the States working on a few aSSignments. The first round of the National Hare & Hound series boasted an impressive 500 d_.rt nota on its entry list. and with friends and family, the pits resembled a small city. On his way to the race. former National champ Brian Brown stopped in Victorville for gas. and when he retumed to his vehicle after paying. he discovered that a gearbag fuM of his new Ay ridl,.. .ppa.... _ ..I....... WORCS promoter Dave Hamel was on hand in Lucerne. spreading the word about the .......ing round of his popular series. It kicks off on February 16 and t 7 at Arizona's Speedworld: check www.worcsracing.com for details. with my new sponsors, FMF and Race Tech. Rich Watchhorn really helped me out with testing before the race, which helps my confidence level quite a bit. I can't wait until the next round." Davis was right next to me, and we were drag-racing in these nasty rocks. He ended up getting in front of me, eN Desert M.C. Results: January 27, 2002 Lucerne, California O/A: 1. Destry Abbott (Kow): 2. Ty Dovis (Yom): 3. Brian Brown (Kaw); 4. David Pearson (Kaw»; 5. Russell Pearson (Yam); 6. Shane Esposito (Kaw); 7. Kurt Caselli (KTM); 8. Steve Hengeveld (Hon); 9. Dave Ondas (Kaw); 10. Rob Zimmerman (Vern). AMA NATIONAL C'SHIP HARE & HOUND SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After I of 8 rounds): 1. Destry Abbott (30/1 win): 2. Ty Davis (25): 3. Brian Brown (21); 4. Devid Pearson (18); 5. Russell Pearson (16); 6. Shane Esposito (15); 7. Kurt Ceselli (14): 8. Steve Hengeveld (13); 9. Dave Ondas (12); 10. Rob Zimmerman (11). and I had to slow down because of the dust. I went down two more times trying to stay with him. After the last crash, I was pretty upset at myself, and figured I better not crash again." The last 15 miles were basically a drag race to the finish, with the racers going as fast as their race machines would let them across the desert Upcoming Rounds: Round 2 - Murphy, Idaho, March 23 Round 3 - Springville, Utah, April 13 floor. The running order for the final five miles through a huge valley was Davis, Abbott, Brown, Russ Pearson and David Pearson, and it looked as though Davis would shake the string I still couldn't believe what had just happened." of bad luck and take home a win. Davis was able to get his bike Amazingly, however, bad luck bit across in second, followed by Brown. Davis once again. "With five miles left, and only a long valley to the finish, I was think- Lady Luck had another Yamaha surprise, as Russ Pearson also had his fuel cell run dry close to the finish, ing second place was what I was going to end up with," Abbott said. to take fourth. Russ splashed in some and David Pearson got by his cousin "But with maybe a mile left, Davis' fuel from an emergency container, dust that I was in suddenly started to and took fifth over Esposito. Caselli go away. Then I saw Davis trying to charged hard through the dust all day start his bike. The first thing I thought was that there must be a bad, dangerous spot that he had hit and crashed, so I slowed down. But the closer I got to him I realized he hadn't crashed. He had actually ran out of gas and was leaning the bike over so to take seventh, the last 250 to make it inside the top 10 overall. Steve Hengeveld, Dave Ondas and District 36 cross-country champ Rob Zimmerman rounded out the top 10. "I wasn't real happy with the way I rode," Abbott said. "Ty was definitely he could get the remaining gas on the right side of his tank. Just as he got it the better rider today .. I just tried to started and was taking off, I was able to pass him for the win. At. the finish, nitely take the win. I'm real happy stay in there, and it paid off. I'll defi-