Blackwell Again in Illinios National Hare Scrambles

Shan Moore | October 18, 2004

FMF Suzuki’s Doug Blackwell closed out the 2004 AMA National Hare Scrambles season with a win at the 10th and final round in Crab Orchard, Illinois, October 17. The win was Blackwell’s second straight in the series and assured him of third overall in the final standings.

Jason Raines, who wrapped up the Hare Scrambles title two weeks ago in Indiana, skipped the Crab Orchard event to rest his injured shoulder and to concentrate on the final GNCC event the upcoming weekend in Crawfordsville, Illinois.

Kawasaki Team Green’s Chuck Woodford and Throttlehead.com Kawasaki’s Josh McLevy pushed Blackwell early, but the ‘98 and ‘99 Hare Scrambles National champ pulled away in the end, winning by nearly a minute-and-a-half. After taking a wrong turn on the trail during the first lap, Woodford and McLevy settled into second and third places, respectively, and cruised, unchallenged, to the finish, while Kawasaki rider Cole Calkins finished fourth, nearly 10 minutes back.

Fifth place went to Justin Williamson, while top U.S. trials rider David Chaves of Spain finished eighth overall in only his second off-road event riding the new Sherco four-stroke Enduro model. Woodford finished out the year in second place.