Wasson Wins Texas National Hare &
Hound
T
he season is young, but the
AMA Hare & Hound National
Championship Series, Presented
by FMF, saw a big shift in momen-
tum with Beta's Joe Wasson lead-
ing teammate Zane Roberts in a
Beta 1-2 at the popular Lubbock
Trail Riders' Lone Star National,
round two of the series. Five-time
AMA National Enduro Champion
Russell Bobbitt made his hare and
hound debut memorable with a
stellar third-place ride.
Round-one winner Dalton
Shirey, on the other hand, saw
his season take a turn for the
worse after reportedly getting
taken out in the dusty first turn.
The 3 Bros./Hatch Racing
Husqvarna star and defending
series champ had to visit the am-
bulance crew moments later.
Aside from that, the fourth
running of the Lone Star National
seemed to treat competitors well
with some of the twistiest trail of
the series linked by quick two-
track, much of it through thick
mesquite, sand washes and nar-
row canyons. That and the club's
hospitality led to more entries
than ever, much of that appear-
ing to be non-Texas residents.
But it was Texas native Cole
Kirkpatrick who got the holeshot
on his Gnarly Routes/Motorex/
Moose Racing KTM 300 XC
ahead of teammate Bobbitt who
was not only trying a hare &
hound for the first time but also
racing a 450 for the first time and
showing aptitude for dead-engine
starts.
However, Kirkpatrick gracious-
ly ceded the point to Champion
IN
THE
WIND
P36
Second at the opener,
Joe Wasson led much
of the way in Texas to
notch his first win of the
season despite not being
100 percent yet after off-
season shoulder surgery.
PHOTOS: MARK KARIYA
