Though like many of his East compatriots, Beta’s Kyle McDonal had already wrapped up his Championship, he made the long drive to the private Stillwater 500 venue worth it by topping both days of the third AMA East-West Hare Scrambles Shootout double-header weekend over a much larger contingent of racers from the West.
Photos by Mark Kariya
The two days served as the final rounds (eight and nine) of the AMA East Hare Scrambles Regional Championship Series, Presented by Beta, while simultaneously being rounds six and seven of the AMA West Hare Scrambles Regional Championship Series, Presented by MojoMotoSport. There is only the finale left in that (West) series, and it takes place in two weeks.
While McDonal had already clinched the title in the East for the fourth time, the West crown remains in play, with points leader Austin Serpa taking third on Saturday behind McDonal and West racer Blake Best, but suffering several injuries (possible internal bleeding and a concussion as well as trauma to his pelvic region) in a major crash on Sunday. The Carson City Motorsports KTM rider still leads, but his margin is down to 22 points, 136-114, after 3 Bros/Kilmartin Racing KTM’s Shane Logan went 6-4 overall in clinching the Pro 250 Championship.
Saturday | 2021 AMA East-West Hare Scrambles Shootout
Serpa got the holeshot in Saturday morning’s race, scheduled for two and a half hours, but found himself on the ground a couple times as the laps wore on. Thus, he slipped back to fourth for a couple laps on his Chik-Fil-A/Regulus Fit/Moose Racing-sponsored 450 XC-F before getting back into podium position during the final half of the race, having displaced Husqvarna/KTM of Aspen’s Clayton Gerstner.
After a poor start on his Bromley’s Motorsports/Mika Metals/Family-backed 430 RR, McDonal went to work and dominated, consistently pulling away from eventual runner-up Best, thanks in part to adding more motocross track time to his training.
“I was waiting for the technical spots they were talking about, but it all seemed more open than what we’re used to [back East],” McDonal said. “I was able to keep a good pace and it worked out in the end, I guess.
“I’m waiting to see what tomorrow is [like] when it opens up a little more,” he added, laughing.
Officially, the win sealed the East Championship for McDonal.
Second in West points going into shootout, Watachi Racing/Fun Country KTM’s Blake Best from Washington missed West round five, as he was staying back East getting some GNCC experience, which he credited for helping him get second today.
“I felt like a B-level rider [back there],” he admitted. “I was just getting whooped every day practicing and training with those guys.
“I actually blew up my race 350 at Ironman [GNCC] so I had the guys at Fun Country grab my [250cc SX two-stroke] moto bike, so I threw my off-road suspension off my 350 on it at [Ricky] Russel’s house yesterday and ended up dialing it in and I actually liked it more [today] than my 350! I was in fifth gear a lot today, but it was definitely fun.”
A disappointed Serpa shared, “I just had a mediocre day. I didn’t ride very well, had a lot of mistakes—like a lot of mistakes.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect here since it’s my first time in Oklahoma. I’ve seen a lot of videos of it and it’s kind of what I expected. I was surprised the traction was as good as it was because I was expecting a little bit slicker. But somehow I was able to find the slick spots and find the ground shortly after.”
Gerstner hung on for fourth with Carson City Motorsports KTM’s Ryder Thomaselli speeding to the fifth fastest time of the day in winning 250cc A and A overall ahead of Logan, East Pro Ryan Quinn, 250cc A runner-up Mason Parker, Pro 250 runner-up Zachary Kerling and 200cc B winner Kenny Held Jr.
Sunday | 2021 AMA East-West Hare Scrambles Shootout
“I did the International Six Days Enduro] before, and I love racing every day of the week, so I think I’ll like racing two days in a row here, too,” McDonal predicted after his Saturday win. “I think it’ll work out for me.”
Indeed, it did. Though he lagged at the back of the pack off the start again, McDonal rocketed his way to the front once more and never looked back.
On the second lap while running in second, Serpa crashed with Best. Quinn and Gerstner were the first riders to arrive at the scene where they stopped to try to assist their fallen comrade. Best then rode ahead to get help, with several course workers soon reaching the site and rerouting the course, which understandably caused some confusion.
By the time they felt enough help was on hand, Quinn and Gerstner were down about 20 minutes and McDonal was close to lapping them. That’s when they jumped back in the race with Gerstner determined to not get lapped.
“Honestly, it didn’t really bug me [attending Sherpa].” Gerstner said. “I saw Kyle coming and I hate getting lapped—I don’t like it at all. I was happy the course workers came, because I was getting nervous towards the end a little bit; Serpa wasn’t in and out of consciousness, per se, but he was definitely out of it.”
So, he got back in the race and laid down a heater of a lap to successfully stay ahead of McDonal, saying, “Yesterday I didn’t feel quite as good. I was a little off pace. I got in the lead on the first lap [which] I did both days.”
Several Pros lost time attending with Serpa, with the A riders on row two bypassing the crash site and taking the hastily implemented course change, which shortened the course by about three miles.
Technically, that allowed Thomaselli to win 250cc A again and finished second overall ahead of Parker, Logan, Kerling, Open A winner Cody James, Open A runner-up Hayden Simmons, Best, Pro 250 runner-up Tayson Weeks and 200cc A winner Zeke Degeyter. Officially, Gerstner achieved his goal of not getting lapped and finished 22nd overall and third Pro/AA (coincidentally, his first Pro podium was here in 2019) with Quinn 27th.
Pro Women found Kaitlyn Jacobs on her FMF/Maxxis/RPM Racing KTM getting a double-win weekend as well, followed by Let’s Ride KTM’s Ashlee Gage and MojoMotoSports Yamaha rider Sharon Mowell both times.
But the weekend belonged to McDonal who said, “Both days I was able to get out front on the first lap and run away with it from there. I guess I got lucky and had two good days in a row so can’t complain about that. After a few years of getting beat by West Coast guys, I had to change it around.” CN
2021 AMA East-West Hare Scrambles Shootout Results
Saturday
- Kyle McDonal (Bet)
- Blake Best (KTM)
- Austin Serpa (KTM)
- Clayton Gerstner (KTM)
- Ryder Thomaselli (KTM0
Sunday
- Kyle McDonal (Bet)
- Ryder Thomaselli (KTM)
- Mason Parker (KTM)
- Shane Logan (KTM)
- Zachary Kerling (Kaw)
