Serpa Wins Bark Buster Hare Scrambles
F
or much of the inaugural Bark
Buster Hare Scramble hosted
by the National Hare & Hound
Association (NHHA), it appeared
that JT Baker might make his
return from a broken hand and
neck injury a winning one as he
led most of the way in the race
serving as round four of the AMA
West Hare Scrambles Regional
Championship Series, Presented
by MojoMotoSports.
It was not to be, however. The
final lap saw him overshoot a
turn—just the opportunity Austin
Serpa was hoping for—and by
the time he'd turned around to
get back on the 7.5-mile course,
Serpa was headed for his sec-
ond win in a row. Baker held on
for a strong runner-up finish with
Cole Conatser—who'd also led
for a bit in the hotly contested
race—rounding out the podium.
The two-and-a-half-hour race
at Hannegan Speedway was
widely considered the first "typi-
cal" hare scramble this season
in that it featured plenty of tight
woods with ruts, roots and even
a little mud—but no dust to speak
of. At the green flag, points
leader Chase Larson got the
holeshot on his Watachi Racing/
PDR Suspension Technologies/
Fly Racing 450 XC-F followed by
Baker, Kreft/DeVol/Fly Racing
350 XC-F-mounted Blake Best,
ISDE-bound Joel Tonsgard on
his Cycle Barn Racing KX450,
Johnny Campbell Racing (JCR)
Honda's Preston Campbell
(aboard a CRF250RX as he
preps for Six Days) and the rest
of the Pro line.
It didn't take long for Baker to
make his way to the front. As the
race progressed, though, the
two guys he couldn't shake were
Serpa and Conatser.
"I haven't really had the best
training program lately—just kind
of messing around and not really
riding," Baker admitted. "I've
IN
THE
WIND
P46
A last-lap miscue by
longtime leader JT
Baker gave Austin Serpa
the break he needed to
snatch his second series
win in a row and assume
the points lead going
into the summer break.
PHOTOS: MARK KARIYA
