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/303159
OFF ROAD AMA/SRT HARE & HOUND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ROUND 5/APRIL 27, 2014 JOHNSON VALLEY OHV/LUCERNE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA P108 My Own Race: 3 NICK BURSON 3RD O/A Nick Burson continued his run of podium finishes, his re- cord through the first half of the season is now 3-1-1-3-3, though he had to work a little harder for this one after a fairly mediocre start on his Motul/Dunlop/6D Helmets- backed 498 RR. "I think they said I was 18th or 20th [at the bomb], somewhere around there. I just tried to play catch up all day. I made up a bunch of time in the beginning, then broke off the brake tip on the rear brake pedal, so I had to use just the lever all day, so I struggled a little bit with that, but it was good. I'm up on the podium and that's where I need to be." He estimated that he still leads the points chase, adding, "If I can just keep it up here and keep it on the box, it should be good [for the championship]." 17 RYAN SMITH 1ST 250CC EXPERT, 4TH O/A "I didn't have the best start this race," said Ryan Smith of his race. "Out on the first loop, luckily we had rain so it wasn't too dusty and I was able to make a lot of quick passes and get up front. I came into the pits around eighth overall, I think. After that, it got technical and there were a lot of people losing the course. We had a good battle going with Skyler [Howes] and Max Eddy. After that, we got about halfway through the second loop and we got to a section where I was able get them both and just go for it. I held it wide-open the rest of the loop and got fourth!" The First Mortgage/Rick's Custom Shutters and Blinds/ EPM Engineering YZ250-mounted Smith added, "This is my best overall finish and my first top five. It feels great!" 10 NIC GARVIN 6TH PRO, 9TH O/A Nic Garvin's second-place start was impressive on his 250. "I've been working really hard with Rudy Abele on getting a good motor together," he said. "Today was our break-in day. Jake and Ricky were side-by-side with me on the start and I just pulled it and I just held it pinned. Midway through the bomb, Ivan cut me off from my line so I broke right and just did not let off! It was awesome! I was in second for, like, 15 miles. I was in Ivan's dust for a little bit then we got into this first really tight canyon coming through these whoops, and I saw Jake and Ricky just side-by-side com- ing out. I was like, 'You know, I'm going to tame it down! I'm up here and these guys are just pinned!' It was cool - we went three-wide through a valley for a second and then the G-outs came and I figured I needed to get back on the trail. It was scary!" Sam Bangert crashed heavily, fracturing his pelvis and L1 vetebra, and bruising his intestines. Still, he managed to finish 32nd overall.