Pearson Holds On With Jericho Win

Kit Palmer | May 15, 2006

Yamaha’s Russ Pearson kept the 2006 AMA National Hare & Hound Series title chase alive by winning the second-to-last round in Jericho, Utah, May 13. Having won the last two rounds, Pearson still has a shot at this year’s number-one plate, but he will have to wait, for the last round doesn’t take place until October.

Kawasaki Team Green’s Destry Abbott was hoping to wrap things up in Utah, and a win would have done just that, but a two-kick start left him choking in the dust and well down in the field. While Pearson got off to a good start, Abbott was mired in the pack, around 50th place, and he found it difficult to make up ground in the dusty conditions. He ended up ninth.

Honda riders Kendal Norman and Quinn Cody finished second and third, respectively. Fourth and fifth went to KTM’s Kellon Walch and Matt Gosnell.

Kit Palmer | Off-Road Editor

Kit Palmer started his career at Cycle News in 1984 and he’s been testing dirt and streetbikes every since – plus covering any event that uses some form of a knobby tire. He’s also our resident motorcycle mileage man with a commute of 120 miles a day.