Ivan Ramirez goes wire to wire for his first National win of the season at the Kenda/SRT AMA National in Idaho.
Ivan Ramirez led from start to finish at the 40th Annual Rabbit Creek 100 outside of Murphy, Idaho, today, becoming the third different winner in three rounds of the Kenda/SRT AMA National Hare & Hound Championship Series.
Defending National Hare & Hound Champion and round-two winner Ricky Brabec chased Ramirez all the way to the finish but couldn’t force the FMF KTM Factory Off-road Racing Team star into a mistake, which meant Brabec had to settle for second. Brabec is still sits atop the series point standings, but his lead has been sliced from nine to four. Unofficially, Brabec now has 80 points with Ramirez much closer now at 76 points.
After leading at the bomb for the second round in a row, Ramirez knew he was in control.
“I knew I just had to relax and be patient and not make any mistakes and I’d be able to get a win, for sure, because it’s hard to pass here,” he said.
A somewhat frustrated Brabec confirmed that, saying, “I never really had a chance to get around him [Ramirez]. I was always just right in his dust and just sucking his dust, but he rode good.”
Try as he might, Brabec couldn’t rattle Ramirez, the FMF KTM Factory Off-road Racing Team rider besting THR Motorsports/Precision Concepts/Bonanza Plumbing Kawasaki’s champ by 31 seconds after 106 miles of racing. Race promoter Dirt Inc. made sure Ramirez’s trip was worth it by awarding him $2000 as a winner’s bonus plus $500 for being the first to catch the hare (1999 series champ Brian Brown, who even dressed the part by wearing a bunny suit).
After the race, Brabec had to hustle to Salt Lake City in order to catch the first of several flights that’ll end with him landing in the United Arab Emirates. What’s he doing there? Brabec is entered in the 25th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan, the opening round of the six-race FIM Cross-country Rallies World Championship. The Abu Dhabi round is scheduled to run from March 26 to April 2.
PCI Race Radios KTM’s David Kamo made the locals proud with his third-place finish, his first podium since 2013. Purvines Racing Beta’s Axel Pearson rebounded from a mediocre start to claim a strong fourth followed by Blais Racing Services KTM’s Skyler Howes, Zip-Ty Racing Husqvarna’s Dalton Shirey (the FMF 250cc Pro winner for the third straight round), Precision Concepts Yamaha’s Justin Morgan, WFOx Motorsports Honda’s Colton Udall, ADS Motorsports KTM’s Josh Knight (the FMF 250cc Pro runner-up) and Open A winner Joseph Wasson.
Round four of the Kenda SRT/AMA National Hare & Hound Championship Series, the Virgin Voyage National Hare & Hound, put on by the Vikings MC, is scheduled to take place in Johnson Valley, California, April 26.
Kenda SRT/AMA National Hare & Hound Championship Series
Rabbit Creek 100 National Hare & Hound
Murphy, Idaho
Results: March 22, 2015 (Round 3 of 8)
Overall
1. Ivan Ramirez-KTM
2. Ricky Brabec-Kaw
3. David-Kamo-KTM
4. Axel Pearson-Bet
5. Skyler Howes-KTM
6. Dalton Shirey-Hus (first 250)
7. Justin Morgan-Yam
8. Colton Udall-Hon
9. Joshua Knight-KTM
10. Joseph Wasson- KTM (first A Open)
11. Jimmy Jarrett-KTM
12. Steve Kirk III-Yam
13. Nick Stover-KTM
14. Taylor Stevens-KTM
15. Zach Evans-KTM
16. Joe Black-Kaw
17. Mark Samuels-Hon
18. Cooper Ashton-Yam
19. Bret Klingner-KTM
20. Kevin Murphy-KTM
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