Dirt Bike News – Pearson Edges Abbott For Superstition National H&H Win – Dirt Rider Magazine

Montclair Yamaha’s Russell Pearson made it two wins in a row at Round two of the AMA/FMF Racing National Hare & Hound Series. Pearson narrowly edged Team Green’s Destry Abbott at the finish of the Sidewinders Motorsports National on March 12 outside of El Centro, California.Abbott, the defending series champion, got off to a good start on his KX500 despite having to switch to his backup bike after his primary machine seized while practicing the bomb run just before the start. However, he blew a corner shortly after the end of the 2.3-mile bomb run which let Honda’s Steve Hengeveld past on his XR650R.The rest of the 53-mile first loop became a Hengeveld-Abbott duel, with David Pearson and Russell Pearson fighting for the third spot. Unofficial reports had Hengeveld and Abbott hitting the end of the first loop in about 50 minutes, which works out to Baja 1000 speed averages (over 60 mph). The 40-mile second loop headed north off the dry lake bed and would wind around in the sand dune area and mud hills before turning back to the main pit/finish.Abbott and Hengeveld kept up their personal battle, usually losing position due to losing the course-as well as dodging the many play riders and weekend warriors who frequent the dunes. What they didn’t know was how quickly Russell Pearson was making ground.”I told myself, ‘Well, it ain’t over,’ so I pushed and pushed and pushed,” Pearson said. “I started seeing dust and caught up to Hengeveld and passed him right before a tight wash. The next thing you know, I could see Destry’s dust. I saw my dad out there; he was cheering me on probably five miles before the finish. I just gave it everything I had and passed Destry probably a mile or two [before the finish].”But it didn’t end there, and they kept hammering at each other. However, they both lost the course again and wandered around a few moments while searching for it, even picking up the first loop for a bit. Pearson found his way to the finish first on his YZ450F with Abbott on his rear fender, about 10 feet off. Hengeveld hung on for third, tying his career-best National finish.Team Green’s David Pearson was fourth across the line on his KX500, though the promoter’s official results showed him in ninth with KTM-mounted Gary Klopp getting the nod for fourth—an amazing finish for a Vet B racer entering his first race—according to the promoters. Officially, Honda’s Kendall Norman ended up fifth overall on his XR650R, getting to the line just ahead of CRF450R-mounted freestyle king Mike Metzger.The second Sidewinders National was marred by several injuries as well as a dispute over the first two finishers. As Pearson and Abbott were both off course, a penalty against both was considered. However, after discussions with them, officials and the AMA’s Roger Ansel, the promoters let the results stand. Among the injured was KTM racer David Rees (femur) and Team Green’s Brian Brown (possible concussion). Another competitor reportedly suffered a broken neck though Ansel branded rumors that he was paralyzed as incorrect.”It was an eventful day, to say the least,” Abbott concluded, alluding to both the way he had to go to his backup bike minutes before the start and the race itself. “I’m disappointed in how it came out-the whole way we came down the finish. I was leading, and Russ and I were just going back and forth, and we lost the course. That was a little frustrating.”Official Results1. Russell Pearson, Yamaha
2. Destry Abbott, Kawasaki
3. Steve Hengeveld, Honda
4. Gary Klopp, KTM
5. Kendall Norman, Honda
6. Mike Metzger, Honda
7. Derrick Mahoney, Honda
8. Matt Gosnell, KTM
9. David Pearson, Kawasaki
10. George Follis, Yamaha
11. Luke Dodson, Suzuki
12. Brent Harden, KTM
13. Brian Pinard, Honda
14. Steve Fenton, Honda
15. Matt Kearney, NA
16. Joey Lane, KTM
17. Loren Dimond, KTM
18. Pete Andrassy, Honda
19. Bobby Kirby, Honda
20. Nick Hamill, Yamaha