Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1531445
Dante Oliveira Squeaks Out Ram-Page WHS Win I f round one is any indication, the AMA West Hare Scrambles (WHS) Regional Championship Series, Presented by MojoMo- toSport, will be a barn burner. The Ram-Page Hare Scramble, hosted by the Rockstars Motor- cycle Club, featured the area's towering sandstone cliffs best known for hard enduros. But for hare scrambles, the club utilized more of the many sandy trails crisscrossing the desert floor, trails that quickly became bike- swallowing whoops that tested fitness and riding prowess. But none of that foreshadowed how close the racing would be. After two hours and 48 minutes at maximum intensity, two-time and reigning series champ Dante Oliveira, his brother and teammate on the FMF KTM Factory Racing Off-road Team, Mateo, and LiquiMoly Beta's Zane Roberts finished one sec- ond apart! Less than a minute behind them came the first three Pro 250 riders, with Hatch Racing Kawasaki rider Colton Aeck besting defending class champ Layton Smail by two seconds. Ryder Thomaselli was third in class and sixth overall on his 395 Motorsports Husqvarna. Neither Oliveira is known as a desert racer, though you wouldn't know it by how they attacked the 13-mile loop. "Definitely, I was a little con- cerned [after watching a course preview video posted by former series champ Max Gerston and Taylor Robert]," Dante said. "I was like, 'Oh geez, I'm in for one tomorrow!' It's hard to go and push yourself out in the desert— anything can bite you so quick, and you're going pretty fast speeds, and just with the rocks and the sand whoops, you've got to be on your toes." Despite coming off a wrist WIND IN THE P38 Dante Oliveira (pictured) began his quest for a third-straight AMA WHS championship by winning the Ram-Page Hare Scramble, though Mateo Oliveira was a strong second and Zane Roberts sprinted the final lap for third. PHOTOS: MARK KARIYA