from competing in his second
Dakar Rally.
Australian Sam Pretscherer
adapted quickly to American
desert racing aboard his Simford
Group Motorsport-backed Husky,
picking off guys one by one after
an average start. His debut got
him ninth overall and the Pro 250
victory in 2:20:54, followed by
Matthew Combs about a min-
ute and a half later. Last year's
250cc A champ was 20 seconds
ahead of third Pro 250 finisher
D.J. Weber who held onto sec-
ond until dropping his KTM 250
XC on a rocky climb a few miles
before the finish.
Jason Gibbons topped the Pro
Vet 35+ class by a comfortable
four-plus minutes over Darrin
Tuckett, with Steve Roberts third
on the box.
Pro Women's saw two-time
and reigning champ Rachel Stout
start her season off on the right
foot with the win on her InnTeck/
Full Factory Off-Road/Fly Racing
KTM 350 XC-F over Steadman's/
Pure Adrenaline YZ250FX-mount
-
ed Ty Woolslayer. Liqui Moly
Beta-supported Britney Gallegos
claimed third in her National H&H
debut aboard her 250 RR.
After a close call trying to
pass one of the Pro Vet 35+
riders that saw her head smack
the handlebar, which had gone
lock to lock, Stout eased off just
enough to preserve her lead. "I
think that was the smoothest I've
ever ridden a second loop," she
said. "It was a lot of fun. I kept
reminding myself to keep my
feet on the pegs and not lose my
momentum."
She continued, "I think I've
actually never won an opening
round before—I think this is my
first one—so I think that's good
going into the year."
Round two will be in Murphy,
Idaho, on March 23-24, which is
also usually chilly.
Mark Kariya
OVERALL
1. Dalton Shirey (Hus)
2. Zane Roberts (Bet)
3. Austin Walton (Hus)
4. Preston Campbell (Hon)
5. Carter Klein (KTM)
6. Giacomo Redondi (GG)
7. Joseph Wasson (Bet)
8. Jacob Argubright (Kaw)
9. Sam Pretscherer (Hus)
10. Matthew Combs (Yam)
WIND
IN THE
P46
Ben Davis, last year's
Mini 85cc (12-15) champ,
moved up to the Big Wheel
150cc (12-15) class and
dominated, besting runner-
up Connor Elmblad by
almost four minutes.
Though she's won
the Pro Women's
Championship for two
years in a row, Rachel
Stout had never won the
opener until now.
