Redondi Tops Heppner West
Hare Scrambles
T
he Great Escape Motorcycle
Club hosted the Heppner Hare
Scrambles in northern Oregon for
round three of the AMA West Hare
Scrambles series presented by
Mojo Motosport. Mother Nature
provided the perfect conditions
for a woods race, having rained
the week prior, so the nearly 300
riders that showed up got exactly
what they hoped for—excellent
racing conditions that resulted in
ear-to-ear muddy grins.
Factory Beta racer Zane Rob-
erts and 3Bros Kilmartin Racing's
Giacomo Redondi came into the
race tied for second in series
points, behind KTM's Taylor
Robert, who unfortunately was
injured in another race and will sit
out the rest of the championship.
Tensions were high on the start
line as both Roberts and Redondi
were itching to take the lead. Over
three hours of racing later, Gia-
como was sitting atop the podium,
with Zane occupying the second
spot and Dalton Shirey the third.
Giacomo led all five laps but
could never let up, because Rob-
erts was always right there.
"I could hear the Beta behind
me," Giacomo said. "On the fire
road, [Roberts] would come very,
very close. I rode my own race
and when I tried to let up, I would
hear the Beta in the back, and
I'd think 'Ah, he is still here!' So, I
say good job to him."
Most every racer decided to pit
at one point or another, however,
Giacomo decided to risk the pit
stop, giving him at least a 10-second
gap on Roberts in second place.
"Overall, it was a pretty solid
race," Roberts said. "I got off to a
terrible jump off the start but was
able to make some passes and get
to second about a mile down the
road. I knew Giacomo knew where
he was going, so I just kind of sat
on him for the first lap. After that it
was kind of like I'd catch him and
then he'd gap me, and we played
that game for a long time."
This went on for nearly three
hours. At times, only a few sec-
IN
THE
WIND
P36
Giacomo Redondi is
the new AMA West Hare
Scrambles leader after
winning the Heppner Hare
Scrambles in Oregon.
PHOTOS: MARY RINELL
