Brabec Claims First Career AMA Hare & Hound Title

Ricky Brabec seals the deal with his fourth AMA National Hare & Hound win of the year at the 100s M.C. 47th Desert Invasion National Hare & Hound.

Scott Rousseau

Ricky Brabec seals the deal with his fourth AMA National Hare & Hound win of the year at the 100s M.C. 47th Desert Invasion National Hare & Hound.

Ricky Brabec locked up the 2014 SRT AMA Hare & Hound Championship in style by leading the 100s Motorcycle Club’s 47th Annual Desert Invasion National Hare & Hound from start to finish. It gave him four wins for the season and netted him the series title his first full-time try at it. STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARK KARIYA.
Ricky Brabec locked up the 2014 SRT AMA Hare & Hound Championship in style by leading the 100s Motorcycle Club’s 47th Annual Desert Invasion National Hare & Hound from start to finish. It gave him four wins for the season and netted him the series title his first full-time try at it. STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARK KARIYA.

THR Motorsports/Monster Energy/Precision Concepts Kawasaki’s Ricky Brabec went into the 10th and final round of the SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series with the points lead and practically no pressure. All he needed to do was equal his worst finish of the series–a fifth at the opener when he broke the front brake off his bike.

Since then, of course, Brabec has proved to be both fast and consistent in his first full year chasing the championship by finishing on the podium each time and picking up four victories in the process–including the finale: the 100s Motorcycle Club’s 47th Annual Desert Invasion National Hare & Hound, outside of Lucerne Valley, California, Sunday.

Brabec came into the event knowing exactly what he needed to do.

“I didn’t need to win, exactly,” Brabec said. I think I needed to finish [only] fifth or sixth [even if title rival Nick Burson had won].”

A champion doesn’t want to just ride around to earn his crown, though, and Brabec is no exception. The first true privateer without factory support to win the championship, Brabec seemingly could do no wrong.

“I don’t think this day could’ve gone any better than it did,” he said after leading from start to finish, steadily moving away from the field with each mile around the three loops the 100s laid out in the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area.

Although Nick Burson had an outside chance at stealing back the points lead and championship, it was not to be as he settled for third on the day and second for the year.
Although Nick Burson had an outside chance at stealing back the points lead and championship, it was not to be as he settled for third on the day and second for the year.

Brabec’s only realistic title challenger was Purvines Racing Beta’s Nick Burson, who’d also been a model of consistency and led the points chase for most of the year. However, he’ll have to wait until next year after finishing the day third behind Brabec and FMF KTM Factory Off-road Racing Team’s Ivan Ramirez. To win the championship, Burson needed a minor miracle that never came.

“I wanted to win and in the beginning, I was third off the start and I was trying to pass Ivan,” Burson said. “I hit a pretty big G-out off the course and kind of scared myself. I just really couldn’t ride after that. I just kept thinking about the flight [to Argentina for the ISDE] tomorrow and how much money we’ve spent to go. Ricky was out front and I was like, ‘At this point it’s going to take a mistake from him so I might as well make sure I finish myself.’”

Ivan Ramirez enjoyed one of his best rides lately, finishing second in the race and a close third in the series points standings.
Ivan Ramirez enjoyed one of his best rides lately, finishing second in the race and a close third in the series points standings.

Burson ended up staying in third all day, which pushed his final points total to 190 while Brabec netted 216. Ramirez, who held the points lead for the first two rounds, ended up a close third for the year with 188.

A number of other class championships went down to the wire as well, while a few were already settled. Those who did well relished the season and the finale while those who didn’t seemed determined to change that in 2015.

Talk about close points chases! Jarett Megla finished second in Super Mini after crashing, with Braydon Bland taking the win for the fifth time this season. But Megla also had five wins and 225 points in the final tally. Both also had three second-place finishes. Therefore, the tie-breaker went to throwaways, with Megla’s a sixth and Bland’s a DNS (that one due to a broken arm while practicing motocross). That let Megla retain the number one plate.
Talk about close points chases! Jarett Megla finished second in Super Mini after crashing, with Braydon Bland taking the win for the fifth time this season. But Megla also had five wins and 225 points in the final tally. Both also had three second-place finishes. Therefore, the tie-breaker went to throwaways, with Megla’s a sixth and Bland’s a DNS (that one due to a broken arm while practicing motocross). That let Megla retain the number one plate.

SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series
100s M.C. 47th Desert Invasion National Hare & Hound
Results: October 26, 2014 (Round 10 of 10)

Overall
1. Ricky Brabec-Kaw
2. Ivan Ramirez-KTM
3. Nick Burson-Bet
4. Brandon Prieto-KTM
5. Justin Morrow-Bet
6. Max Eddy, Jr.-KaW
7. Axel Pearson-Bet
8. Eric Yorba-KTM
9. David Kamo-KTM
10. Morgan Crawford-KTM

SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series Final Points Standings (After 10 of 10 rounds)
1. Ricky Brabec-216/4 wins
2. Nick Burson-190/2 wins
3. Ivan Ramirez-188/3 wins
4. Axel Pearson-135
5. Justin Morrow-124
6. Skyler Howes-119
7. Ryan Smith-109
8. Jacob Argubright-106/1 win
9. Brandon Prieto-106
10. Morgan Crawford-86

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