Russ Pearson Squeaks Out Cherry Creek Win

Kit Palmer | May 9, 2005

After 90 miles of racing, the fifth round of the AMA FMF National Hare & Hound Series was decided by just a few feet between Russ Pearson and his cousin David in Jericho, Utah, this weekend.

At the Cherry Creek National, Russ, on the Montclair Yamaha-backed YZ450F, led much of the race but a crash let David, on the Team Green KX500, catch up toward the end, so it came down to a final sprint race to the finish, and it was Russ leading David across the finish line by about three feet. For Russ, it was his third win of the series.

Finishing a little farther back in third was Honda’s Steve Hengeveld, while Kawasaki riders T.J. Hannifin and David Kamo rounded out the top five overall.

For Kawasaki Team Green’s Destry Abbott, the Utah race was a disaster. Going in, he and Russ Pearson were tied for the series points lead but came away from this one empty handed. Abbott suffered a hard get-off while battling for the lead and injured his leg, though he was able to forge on. Later in the race, however, Abbott’s bike quit running and was forced to take a hard-to-take DNF.

With just one round left, Pearson now enjoys a commanding 30-point lead over Abbott, 140-110. Hengeveld is third with 93, and David Pearson is fourth with 87.