AMA National Hare Scrambles Series
Round 4: Big K Ranch
BY JON "DEVO" DEVORAK
PHOTOS BY TYLER MADDOX
ELKTON, OR, MAY 24-25
fter two years of runner-up finishes at the Funky Chicken NatIonal
Hare Scrambles, Team Green
Kawasaki's Fred Andrews made the
third time a charm as he came on
strong late in the race to overtake fellow teammates Chuck Woodford and
David Pearson for the victory.
Kawasaki came to Oregon with a
heavy-hitting squad of six Pro riders:
Defending Hare Scrambles Champion
Fred Andrews, Chuck Woodford,
David Pearson, Brian Brown, Scott
Sheak and Heather Wilson left no
doubt that they were serious about a
good showing, as there was a sea of
green running up front all day long.
Chuck Woodford, who had bad
luck here two years ago, breaking his
leg, was definitely back with a
vengeance. The crowd was cheering
as he left the grasstrack unscathed
and with the early lead. Hare and
hound ace Pearson quickly passed
Woodford on the infamous 100 mph
downhjll to take the lead at the end of
the first lap. High-speed sections
favored the desert specialists, as fellow teammate Brian Brown took over
second for two laps, only to drop out
due to a twisted knee.
A
(Above) Chuck Woodford (2) jumps out
to the early lead ahead of his Team
Green teammates David Pearson (9).
Fred Andrews (1) and Brian Brown
(15)_ Brian Garrahan (3) sneaks in
there on the KTM.
Pearson pulled a huge lead for the
first four laps and looked to be the
sure victor - but never count out the
multitime hare scramble champion
Andrews. Andrews and Pearson
ended up having some contact on the
sixth lap.
"He went on the inside; I took the
outside," Pearson said. "We kind of
collided, and I ended up crashing. But
it's racing - he rode a good, clean
race."
As the white flag was waved and
with Andrews leading, a new race
developed for second. Woodford saw
his teammate Pearson leaving the
pits and gave it all he had, and he
caught and swapped positions With
Pearson, securing second place by
the checkered flag.
Last year's race winner, KTM rider
Brian Garrahan, finished the first lap
back in 10th. After some mjdrace battles with Team Yamaha's Jason
Raines, who ended up crashing out, he
then charged on to a fifth-place finish.
The Women's race was highly
competitive with four nationally
(Left) Andrews, the defending ch~mp.
came from behind to claim the wIn.
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