Kurt Caselli Captures Virgin Voyage Victory

Mark Kariya | April 29, 2013
   Left to right  Ivan Ramirez  Kurt Caselli and Nick Burson celebrate on the Virgin Voyage podium. Photography by Mark Kariya.

(Left to right) Ivan Ramirez, Kurt Caselli and Nick Burson celebrate on the Virgin Voyage National Hare & Hound podium. Photography by Mark Kariya.

It was just another typical day in the SoCal desert for Kurt Caselli, which means he collected another victory in the AMA Racing/FMF/GPR Hare & Hound National Championship Series. The FMF/KTM Factory Off-Road Racing star scored a wire-to-wire win at the 27th Annual Virgin Voyage H&H put on by the Vikings Motorcycle Club at the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area near Lucerne Valley, California, April 28.

Caselli’s victory was his third in a row and moves him farther from his pursuers in the points chase. But what set round five of the series apart from the ordinary was the runner-up finisher. After getting an excellent start and tucking in behind Caselli at the bomb, FMF/KTM Factory Off-Road Racing Team’s Ivan Ramirez maintained the second-place position all day to secure his best ever National finish.

Purvines Racing Beta’s Nick Burson hit the ground at least three times, but he picked himself up each time to earn third, battered bike and all.

The day after finishing fourth at the Virginia City Grand Prix, Agent Orange Racing KTM’s Irving Powers rode to another fourth and won the Open A class, having picked off Morgan Crawford on the final lap after the eventual Vet A winner fell a couple times on the third and final loop.

Warm weather added to the challenge the three-loop, 96-mile race with a relentless rocky, twisty 40-mile second loop.

RESULTS

OVERALL:

1. Kurt Caselli (KTM)

2. Ivan Ramirez (KTM)

3. Nick Burson (Beta)

4. Irving Powers (KTM)

5. Morgan Crawford (KTM)

6. Jacob Argubright (Kaw)

7. Dan Capparelli (Beta)

8. Paul Krause (KTM)

9. Nicolas Garvin (KTM)

10. Cordis Brooks (KTM)

 

 

Mark Kariya | Contributor

Kariya spends way too much time in the desert, but we’re glad he does as he’s the man who gets us our coverage of all things sandy.