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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1313701
following the previous NGPC pre- running and racing in the SCORE Baja 1000 where his team finished second after flirting with the lead in the early going. "I got myself on the podium this weekend and I'm super-stoked OFF-ROAD FMF AMA NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ROUND 8 / NOVEMBER 28-29, 2020 29 PALMS MOTORSPORT COMPLEX / 29 PALMS, CALIFORNIA P58 Though unable to keep up, he knew that those closest to him in points were behind and he needed to keep it that way in order to get closer to the ulti- mate goal of the championship. "Dalton Shirey ended up coming close to me at the end so that was some good racing," Oliveira said. "I had no clue [about the points situation during the race], but at the end, [KTM mechanic] Robbie [Goolsby] told me. It was good. I'm excited with how the year went and I can't thank every- body enough." At the end of the 90-minute $8000 feature race, a scant five seconds separated Oliveira and Shirey. The recently crowned AMA Hare & Hound National Champion had spent the time get back racing, but I was like, 'Why should I wait longer when I'm feeling okay now? Just get back into race mode, get laps in and then when the new season starts, you'll be ready to go.' I'm excited for the future. It's a bum- mer that we're going to miss out on the championship three years in a row, but that's part of it—it's part of racing and that's what I live for." What Bell will have to live with- out for another year is the NGPC number-one plate which now belongs to Oliveira and his AEO Powersports/Motorex/Klim 450 XC-F. Third off the start behind Bell and Martinez, he quickly moved into second but was not able to reel in Bell who, per his usual, sprinted the opening laps. Zach Bell warmed up for Sunday's feature race by dominating the 45-minute Heavyweight/ Lightweight AA/ Expert race on Saturday afternoon. It proved to be a preview of his performance on Sunday as he led from start to finish, stretching the lead each lap. (Top right) A new feature of the Hilltoppers course was an uncharacteristically rocky, technical canyon used only in Sunday's feature race. Though he couldn't match the winner's pace overall, Dante Oliveira went fast enough to earn second on the day, clinching the championship. (Right) Newly crowned AMA Hare & Hound National Champion Dalton Shirey felt right at home in the technical canyon. After recovering from arm pump in the early going, he rallied back to finish third—his first NGPC podium.