Race Report from the Dirt Inc. Hare and Hound: Pearson’s Take

AMA Racing/Kenda National Hare & Hound Championship Series
Round 3: Dirt Inc. Hare and Hound

Courtesy of THR Motorsports
MURPHY, ID, MAR. 25, 2012

If he wasn’t at the front of the pack, David Pearson was darned close to it all day, as the THR Motorsports/ Monster Energy/ Precision Concepts Kawasaki KX450F-mounted star eventually finished third at the Rabbit Creek 100 hosted by Dirt Inc. near Murphy, Idaho. That gave him his third podium finish through the first three rounds of the AMA Racing/ Kenda National Hare & Hound Championship Series, positioning him a strong second in the series points behind FMF KTM’s Kurt Caselli, 90-71. Caselli is the only other racer who’s been more consistent.

David Pearson (2) on his way to his third consecutive visit to the NHHA podium.

Unlike the first two rounds, which were held in California, this one was a bit chilly, though not as bitterly cold as last year’s event. Pearson got a great start on his Bob Bell of Precision Concepts-prepped machine, settling in right behind Caselli. But he wasn’t alone up there.

“We kind of hopped into a rocky wash, and I was a little bit timid,” Pearson confessed. “I blew a little corner, and [Justin Morrow] was right there.”

After that, Pearson held a steady third until the alternate pit at mile 40 of the 68-mile-long first loop. There, he opted to take on perhaps a little more fuel than absolutely necessary and ceded third place to JCR Honda’s David Kamo.

“Kamo was riding good today, and so was Justin and so was Kurt; they were all riding really good,” Pearson noted. “I mean, when you go out there, you’ve got to be on top of your game as much as you can or you’re not going to be battling for the lead, that’s for sure!”

But Nationals tend to be long and tough, meaning there are more chances to make mistakes – and more chances to make up for mistakes. (Pearson had to serve a one-minute penalty at the end of the first loop as punishment for walking past the bomb during bomb-run practice.) When Morrow crashed on the more technical 40-mile second loop that skirted the snowline in the surrounding mountains, Pearson stopped to make sure his fellow racer wasn’t seriously injured.

Recounted Pearson: “I stopped and shut off my bike and said, ‘Hey man, are you all right?’ He was with his bike, but you could tell he was pretty hurt, so I was like, ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’

“I looked back,” Pearson continued, “and [JCR Honda’s] Colton [Udall] had caught [up to] me while talking to Justin. So then Colton and I battled for the last [loop]. He was behind me a little bit, [and] he never passed me, so I ended up getting third today. I got good, valuable points and look forward to the next round.”

(From left to right) Runner-up David Kamo, victor Kurt Caselli and third-place finisher David Pearson.

That one will take place back in Southern California on April 22, with the Vikings Motorcycle Club’s Virgin Voyage.

For more information and updates on the THR Motorsports Team, visit the THR Motorsports website at www.thrmotorsports.com. THR Motorsports thanks and is proud to represent Monster Energy, Kawasaki, Hoosier Precision Machining, Precision Concepts, John Burr Cycles, FMF, Renthal, IMS, Dunlop, VP Racing Fuels and ZLT.

Dirt Inc. Hare and Hound
Murphy, Idaho
Results: March 25, 2012 (Round 3)

OVERALL: 1. Kurt Caselli (KTM); 2. David Kamo (Hon); 3. David Keith Pearson (Kaw); 4. Colton Udall (Hon); 5. Nicholas Burson (Kaw); 6. Justin Morrow (Kaw); 7. Axel Pearson (Kaw); 8. Ryan Smith (Yam); 9. Skyler Howes (Yam); 10. Dan Capparelli (KTM); 11. Kevin Dejongh (KTM); 12. Kelly Fisher (KTM); 13. Michael Slawson (KTM); 14. Kyle Joiner (Suz); 15. Dave Lahn (Yam); 16. Zach Evans (Suz); 17. Christopher Morrow (Yam); 18. Ben Binckley (Hon); 19. Paul Ostbo (Hon); 20. Cordis Brooks (KTM).

[For full race coverage, results and more photos from this event, please see “Caselli Catches the Hare and Cashes In on Another Win!” by Chris Blais. For another racer’s-eye view of this event, and more photos, please see “Race Report from the Dirt Inc. Hare and Hound” by rider Jacob Argubright… Editor]