Speed Week is here and there’s plenty to talk about: Hot Rod’s River Ranch, Bubba’s Daytona, and a whole lot more dirt… ‘er, sand.
Hot Rod Charlie Mullins was on it at the River Ranch GNCC. Photo: Shan Moore
The River Ranch GNCC is undoubtedly one of the toughest rounds on the GNCC schedule, due to the sandy nature of the course. It gets unmercifully rough and whooped out! Hot Rod Charlie Mullins emerged from the palmettos with a big win at this year’s round after running down early leader Michael Brown on the final lap. Charlie played this one just right, laying back and conserving his energy in the beginning and then turning up the wick on the final two laps while he moved to the front. Brownie, who drove down from Tennessee to get in a little sand riding practice before the next WORCS round at Lake Havasu, held on for second.
Chris Bach finished third at River Ranch on a Beta. Photo: Shan Moore
Chris Bach turned some heads at River Ranch by finishing third on a Beta 450RR in his first national appearance on the bike for American Beta. The Lanky Indiana native ran as high as second but spent too much energy at the beginning of the race when he was forced to come from dead last after a tip-over in the first turn.
James Stewart had bad luck again at Daytona. Photo: Shan Moore
James Stewart is certainly having a rough run in the AMA Supercross series. And the latest episode of “Bubba’s World” was more of the same. The San Manuel Yamaha rider was putting on a “Carmichael-esque” riding clinic on the rough and sandy Daytona course when bad luck struck. I don’t think you can call it anything but bad luck. I don’t think was riding out of his comfort zone. He just happened to hit a kicker that pitched him. Once again, Ryan Villopoto was the benefactor.Out west, FMF/KTM’s Kurt Caselli claimed his second win in a row in the AMA Racing/Kenda National Hare & Hound Championship Series with a strong ride at the “King of the Desert” H&H at Superstition Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Area just west of El Centro, California. David Pearson was runner-up and leads the points despite Caselli’s recent run of wins. Meanwhile, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Destry Abbott finished third ahead of Kawasaki of Simi Valley’s Jacob Argubright.Tomorrow is the Alligator Enduro and David Knight was at the River Ranch GNCC and confirmed that he will be riding the Alligator. Multi-time Alligator winner Michael Lafferty will be on the starting line (even he doesn’t know how many Alligator’s he’s won), as well as National Enduro round-one winner Russell Bobbitt. Look for a report in next week’s Dirt.
