Despite being less than 100 percent after recent knee surgery, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Off-Road Team’s Dalton Shirey embarked on his quest for a fourth championship by speeding to the win at the Desert Motorcycle Club’s 57th annual Winter Classic, round one of the AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series, Presented by FMF, January 21.
Photos by Mark Kariya
Liqui Moly Beta’s Zane Roberts kept him honest all the way to the checkered flag and led part of the way on the 80-mile course in the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area that was in nearly perfect condition after sprinkles during Saturday’s Youth races and light overnight showers. But a spill by Roberts was all that Shirey needed to slip past for good, the three-time champ taking the checkered flag in two hours, eight minutes and eight seconds aboard his Motorex/Dunlop/Fly Racing-backed FX 450.
Roberts trailed him by just 11 seconds on his Fiji Waters/Pirelli/Klim-sponsored 480 RR with Shirey’s Rockstar Husky teammate Austin Walton nabbing third in his first H&H National aboard his FMF/Dunlop/Sidi-backed FX 450, with a time of 2:10:41.
After rehabbing from meniscus surgery at the end of last season, Shirey said, “I got three weeks on the bike, and it was enough for me to get the job done today. I can feel I still need more seat time so I can be stronger at the next one. I executed my start well, and I knew my line [to the end of the bomb] was good. My bike fired, and I knew I was going to get the start.
“From there, after the bomb, I just kind of was sending it a little bit and looked back to see where they were, and I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to start managing the race,’ because I knew my fitness might be a little lacking. Three-quarters into the second [40-mile] loop, I was getting a little tired and I was making a lot of mistakes—just couldn’t stay on course too well—and Zane caught me and I fell over so he passed me. I got up and caught back up to Zane and sat behind him, then he fell over. From there on, I just took it home.”
Roberts said, “We’ve got a lot of updated stuff for this year—it’s quite a bit faster than it was in the past—but I’ve been super-sick the last three weeks or so. I kind of knew it’d be just getting through today.
“I think the win was there for us today. I got into the lead for 15 or 20 minutes there on the second loop, but I just didn’t have much energy and fell down, and it was right when we got into this fast stuff, and you’re just not going to pass that guy back in the fast stuff.”
After testing showed that slightly softer suspension settings compared to his GP setup were better for the desert, Walton looked forward to racing not only a series that was new to him but in optimum conditions.
“The first loop [of 40 miles] was definitely fun and fast,” Walton said. “The second loop added a lot more challenge and it was rough, some of the rocks and whatnot, but we were able to make a good push and come out with a third place in the first race. I’m stoked! I can’t thank the whole team enough for that.”
Third after the bomb, Johnny Campbell Racing Honda’s Preston Campbell slipped to fifth on his Pro Circuit/Pirelli/Fly Racing CRF450X before grabbing fourth on the second loop. That relegated the 3Bros/AHF Factory Services/Fasthouse KTM 450 XC-F rider Carter Klein to fifth, followed by 3Bros/Hatch Racing GasGas-mounted Giacomo Redondi, Liqui Moly Beta’s Joe Wasson (who raced with a broken hand after his van door slammed shut on it that morning) and 2019 series champ Jacob Argubright, who borrowed Master-class racer Larry Engwall’s Husky FC 450 and rode less than a day after returning from competing in his second Dakar Rally.
Australian Sam Pretscherer adapted quickly to American desert racing aboard his Simford Group Motorsport-backed Husky, picking off guys one by one after an average start. His debut got him ninth overall and the Pro 250 victory in 2:20:54, followed by Matthew Combs about a minute and a half later. Last year’s 250cc A champ was 20 seconds ahead of third Pro 250 finisher D.J. Weber who held onto second until dropping his KTM 250 XC on a rocky climb a few miles before the finish.
Jason Gibbons topped the Pro Vet 35+ class by a comfortable four-plus minutes over Darrin Tuckett, with Steve Roberts third on the box.
Pro Women’s saw two-time and reigning champ Rachel Stout start her season off on the right foot with the win on her InnTeck/Full Factory Off-Road/Fly Racing KTM 350 XC-F over Steadman’s/Pure Adrenaline YZ250FX-mounted Ty Woolslayer. Liqui Moly Beta-supported Britney Gallegos claimed third in her National H&H debut aboard her 250 RR.
After a close call trying to pass one of the Pro Vet 35+ riders that saw her head smack the handlebar, which had gone lock to lock, Stout eased off just enough to preserve her lead. “I think that was the smoothest I’ve ever ridden a second loop,” she said. “It was a lot of fun. I kept reminding myself to keep my feet on the pegs and not lose my momentum.”
She continued, “I think I’ve actually never won an opening round before—I think this is my first one—so I think that’s good going into the year.”
Round two will be in Murphy, Idaho, on March 23-24, which is also usually chilly.
2024 AMA Hare & Hound National Round 1 Results
OVERALL
- Dalton Shirey (Hus)
- Zane Roberts (Bet)
- Austin Walton (Hus)
- Preston Campbell (Hon)
- Carter Klein (KTM)
- Giacomo Redondi (GG)
- Joseph Wasson (Bet)
- Jacob Argubright (Kaw)
- Sam Pretscherer (Hus)
- Matthew Combs (Yam)
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