Russ Pearson captures second National Hare &
Hound title.
ontclair Yamaha's Russell Pearson closed out the AMNFMF Racing
National Hare & Hound Series the sarne way he started it - winning.
With four wins and two runner-up finishes over the course of the year,
his results were more than good enough for Pearson to wrap up his
second title.
Defending series champ, Destry Abbott, had only a mathematical chance of stealing
away the title coming into the final round, but the Team Green star was slowed by a flat
rear tire, ending any chance he had of perhaps taking the series gold. He did, however,
finish out the year in second place.
Going into the finale - the 38th annual Johnson Valley Championships, hosted by the
IDOs Motorcycle Club and presented by Kawasaki, and Kawasaki of Simi Valley - a number of championships were still up for grabs, but for Pearson, he was practically assured
of the overall number-one plate. All he had to do was to simply finish the race and the
championship would be his.
"I came here to get a finish, for sure," the Pro Circuit/Zip-Ty Raci"lifMoose YZ4S0F
rider said. "That's what I came to do. But you know, I was like, 'Well, I'll try to win but
not take any chances.' When I'd get into the tight stuff, I'd take it easy.
"I got out front early and just put on a race pace, but it was comfonable. No chancB.
When I'd get into the rocks, I'd take my time. I didn't want to bang tIvough them 1M I
usually do."
Even taking it relatively easy netted him a ~ comfonabIe IJlII'lPn fMW eM
the field after the three-loop affair in the johnson Valley OHV Iw&
100 miles.
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