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/1543402
Dante Fastest at Prospector 150 O n February 21-22, The Whatever Motorcycle Club's Prospector 150 Hare & Hound served up the longest event in re- cent memory, a unique point-to- point with a loop to finish it off. As round two on the schedule of the AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series, presented by FMF, it tested both ability and mental toughness, with only the eight fastest riders able to com- plete it in under four hours. Of that elite group, defending series champ FMF KTM Factory Racing Off-road Team's Dante Oliveira emerged the fastest, leading practically the entire distance in a race where most of his competitors seemed content to let him blaze the trail—some- times covered in snow—and cope with the pressure of hold- ing off the pack. But he did so and completed the 147-plus actual miles in three hours, 44 minutes and 16 seconds with Liqui Moly Beta's Zane Roberts the runner-up, 32 seconds in arrears, and Husqvar- na-supported Ryder Thomaselli leading a trio of Pro 250s at third overall on what was a 450cc course. "I was stoked! I got the hole- shot, pulled away, kept a solid gap here and there," Red Bull/ Motorex/ Alpinestars 450 XC- F-mounted Oliveira said. "There was a little bit of cat and mouse with Zane and Dalton [Shirey]— they'd catch me, then I'd be able to pull [the gap] back out, then they'd catch me, then I'd just pull it out back out so I'm stoked with my riding, stoked with how the bike felt, and was able to conquer the 150-miler." Third in the early going, Rob- erts and his FMF/ Bridgestone/ Moose Racing 480 RR were among the handful of competi- tors content to match Oliveira's pace through the first 82 miles up to pit three. From there, only the Pros and A riders tackled the 39-mile loop back to the main pit/finish and that loop is where Oliveira finally put the hammer down. "It was pretty close [for most of the race]," Roberts said. "I kind of let it get away from me there, coming into this last pit. I was probably 10 seconds back the whole race until this last pit and he got a little bit of a gap on me. "I think everyone today was kind of waiting for…the last loop, waiting for the race to really WIND IN THE P40 Leading practically from start to finish didn't faze Dante Oliveira, who's off to a perfect start to the season with two wins in two rounds. PHOTOS: MARK KARIYA