Russell Romps at New Timber Beast WHS
T
hough he no longer considers
himself a full-time racer, Lyn-
wood Motoplex Kawasaki's Ricky
Russell is still a threat to win
whenever he lines up at a race of
his choosing. His latest choice:
the 6C Motorcycle Club's Timber
Beast Hare Scrambles, a brand-
new addition and the fifth round
of the AMA West Hare Scrambles
(WHS) Regional Championship
Series, presented by FMF, on
June 7 in Orofino, Idaho.
And while it's been two years
since he last dropped into the
series, he proved that working
a "real" job hasn't diminished
his formidable speed, forcing
defending series champ Mateo
Oliveira to accept second place
after nearly two and a half hours.
Though fourth physically behind
Russell, Oliveira and Liqui Moly
Beta's Zane Roberts, Canyon
Excavation/Let's Ride Kawasaki's
Layton Smail came from row
two (for Pro 250s) to post the
third-quickest time overall, with
Roberts still pleased that his
improved woods riding gave him
third Pro/AA and fourth overall.
Though Russell grabbed the
holeshot aboard his Americool/
TBT Racing/FXR-backed KX450,
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's
Oliveira quickly slipped past to
lead the first two laps of the ap-
proximately eight-mile-long loop,
which featured abundant chal-
lenges in a beautiful setting.
But Oliveira and his FMF/Dun-
lop/Fly Racing FE 450 managed
to stay in front until Russell found
a better line through one section
and grabbed the lead. Oliveira
lost the front shortly afterward,
forfeiting even more ground he
was unable to retake. The champ
ended up 28 seconds behind Rus-
sell's finishing time of two hours,
28 minutes and three seconds.
"I feel like I can still show
up and be competitive, as I did
today, so I'm happy with how I'm
still performing," Russell said.
As for Smail and his Team
Green/JMR Suspension/FXR
WIND
IN THE
P24
Though no longer a
full-time racer, Ricky
Russell proved to have
lost none of his speed
or endurance and won
the Timber Beast Hare
Scramble, his first WHS
in two years.
PHOTOS:
MARK KARIYA
