Mark Kariya

Snow, Sun, And Hail Add Drama To Dante Oliveira’s First AMA West Hare Scramble Win

Lead swaps galore in Idaho

FMF/RPM/KTM Racing Maxxis' Dante Oliveira took advantage when a fried clutch caused David Kamo's PCI Race Radios KTM 450 XC-F to stall about a mile from the finish and went on to win Dirt Inc.'s Little Gem Hare Scrambles in Emmett, Idaho, round 4 of the Kenda/SRT AMA West Hare Scrambles Regional Championship Series, presented by Mojo Motorsports. Snow, rain, sun, and hail all in one day made for challenging conditions and a shortening of the original 15-mile course to about nine, though it was worst in the morning race for women and older age-group riders—and a lot worse than the good but chilly conditions for the youth races on Saturday.

Local favorite and part-time racer Kamo used his 450’s power and National Hare & Hound experience to lead the early laps, but getting stuck a few times dropped him back to fourth. That let Oliveira mix it up at the front with SRT Husqvarna teammates Clayton Gerstner and J.T. Baker, the lead exchanged often among the top four until it came down to Kamo and Oliveira in the final 40 minutes.

“I’m so excited! I’ve been wanting to win for a while and finally got an AMA West Hare Scrambles win,” Oliveira exclaimed. “It was an intense race the whole time.”

Kamo settled for second with SRT Husqvarna’s Trystan Hart keeping his point lead by finishing third after a huge get-off early. Beta’s Max Gerston, the reigning series champ, was almost fully recovered from being sick at round 3 the week before and came back for fourth over Gerstner.

The Little Gem Hare Scrambles in Idaho saw Dante Oliveira in the top four for all two and a half hours, but he only secured his first WHS victory in the final mile.Mark Kariya
Although a part-time racer now and riding a six-year-old KTM 450 XC-F, former National Hare & Hound star David Kamo gave his hometown fans plenty to cheer as he grabbed the holeshot and stayed in the top four all afternoon. But smoking his clutch to failure with two laps to go bit him as the bike stalled while in front with about a mile to go, forcing Kamo to forfeit the lead and settle for second.Mark Kariya
After crashing hard, having the bike land on him, and losing lots of ground, Trystan Hart gathered himself, rejoined the chase, and landed on the podium for the fourth time this season, his third place his worst finish to date as he continues to lead in series points.Mark Kariya
Another consistent performer through the first four rounds, Jeremy Wilton won the FMF Pro 250 division for the third time this season. The privateer Gray Area KTM rider finished seventh overall, beating class runner-up Kevin Weichers by more than two minutes and two positions with Dillon Sheppard third in class and 10th overall.Mark Kariya
The Sunday morning race started and ran as snow fell for nearly its entirety. Although the sand washes weren’t bad, the ravines, hills, and ridges contained a lot of deep, slick clay that proved a trap for many. Here, local Idaho racer Ashlee Gage leads the Women’s line down the start’s long, fast sand wash, though she later DNFed.Mark Kariya
At one point in the afternoon, the sun came out and, along with a slight breeze, started to dry the course slightly. It didn’t last however.Mark Kariya
This is what those who camped at the Little Gem Cycle Park woke up to on Sunday morning.Mark Kariya
Bryce Sumrall made the trip from Northern California worthwhile, as he came from behind to take the overall and 200cc C victory in the wildest conditions of the weekend.Mark Kariya
The Little Gem HS provided local motocrosser Madi Jo Taylor with a far different atmosphere and conditions than she’s used to, but nothing seemed to faze her as she romped to the Women A victory and third overall in the Sunday morning race.Mark Kariya
Despite the conditions in Sunday morning’s race, some took it in stride like Donald Yonker, here cruising through the pits en route to third Open C.Mark Kariya
In only his second race of the series this season, Anthony Ferrante came from behind to win the Big Wheel race over class point leader Seven Diaz and second-in-points Zach Kerling.Mark Kariya
Rylan Binford dominated the Mini class and finished fifth overall in the final Youth race on Saturday, the final rider to complete 13 laps.Mark Kariya
After starting the season in Micro Mini, Ryder Thomaselli moved to the Junior Minis and has dominated, winning all three rounds since. In Idaho, he nearly lapped the class runner-up.Mark Kariya
The top three overall got to spray sparkling cider after their race with Jenna Tingley (center) the first finisher overall as well as the Girls-class winner. Frank Bruce (left) won Micro Mini and was second overall, just two seconds behind Tingley, followed by Micro Mini runner-up Dylan Summers.Mark Kariya
On Friday afternoon, David Kamo held a riding clinic that was free for all kids and it proved more popular than anticipated. Abilities ranged from never raced to experienced racer, but Kamo and assistants Kody Bill, Jason Holloway, and Kamo’s mother Kit and wife Rhiannon split the kids into three groups to provide the young students with more individualized instruction that focused on the basics.Mark Kariya
Holloway suggests a slightly different approach to one section he saw Rylan Binford tackle. It must’ve worked as Binford won the Mini class the next day.Mark Kariya
The low-speed drills emphasizing bike control (preferably while standing) proved hazardous to the course cones.Mark Kariya