Oliveiras Top Doyle West
Hare Scrambles Opener
F
MF/KTM Factory Racing Off-
Road Team stars (and broth-
ers) Dante and Mateo Oliveira
kicked off the AMA West Hare
Scrambles (WHS) Regional
Championship Series, presented
by MojoMotoSport, by going 1-2
at the series opener, the Lassen
Motorcycle Club Diamond Backs'
Turtle Mountain Hare Scrambles
in Doyle, California.
Liqui Moly Beta's Zane Roberts
rounded out the Pro podium.
In addition, Sherco's Layton
Smail came from behind to score
the Pro 250 win over FMF/RPM
Racing KTM rider Jaden Dahn
-
ers and Carson City Motorsports
Husky-mounted Ryder Thoma-
selli. Defending Vet Pro 35+
champ James McMurray kicked
off the season triumphant after a
late battle with eventual runner-
up Steve Roberts and Chase
Rosenquist third, despite feeling
the effects of his bachelor party.
Interestingly, both Oliveiras
plan to run Red Bull/Motorex/
Alpinestars-sponsored 350
XC-Fs instead of 450s this year.
Though it's the choice for East
Coast woods racing, why the
smaller mount?
It's part of a longer-range plan,
according to Mateo. "For the
whole year, we'll be on 350s for
the West Hare Scrambles," Ma
-
teo said. "I think every round but
this one; we'll also be on DOT-
legal tires (which are required
at Six Days). This bike is full Six
Days-spec—bigger stator (but no
lights) and detuned, and every
-
thing is for Six Days [in Spain
in October]. It's a little Six Days
prep as we're racing in the U.S.,
but honestly, it's an awesome
machine—I had a blast today,
first race on it."
Indeed, and despite the dis
-
placement disadvantage com-
WIND
IN THE
P28
Dante Oliveira began
the defense of his AMA
WHS Championship with
a solid win.
PHOTOS:
MARK KARIYA
