Cycle News Staff | June 22, 2022
Coastal Racing GasGas rider Ricky Russell earned the nickname “Slick Rick” after dominating the “mudder” Bark Buster Hare Scramble presented by the NHHA, round four of the AMA Western Hare Scrambles Series presented by Mojo Motorsport. The event took place at Hannegan Speedway in Bellingham, Washington, on June 19, where a large turnout of racers filled the paddock, including the Oliveira Brothers, Dante, and Mateo.
Ricky Russell en route to victory at the Bark Buster West Hare Scrambles in Washington. Photos: Mary Rinnell
“We grew up racing this series, and it’s always cool to get back to your roots and what you know,” said KTM RPM Racing’s Mateo, (the younger of the two brothers).
Mateo led the Pro 250 class the entire race and finished third overall, which included passing current Pro-class points leader Giacomo Redondi, who suffered a mechanical en route to third.
“I lost my shifter on the second lap, it broke off,” said Redondi. “I was in second gear for a bit but somehow it went into first, and I had to finish the race in first gear.”
Regardless, he held that position for over two hours. But that wasn’t the only hardship he faced this round. Due to massive amounts of rain this year, the shortened course was thick with mud and after only a few laps, the deep ruts grew and started swallowing up the bikes. It was every racer for themselves. Lappers quickly became a huge factor, and after derailing a chain in the deep mud and suffering even more lost time, the 3 Bros Kilmartin GasGas rider, Redondi, went into full survival mode.
“I just try to move quickly, but it is hard when there is so much mud and people everywhere, it is a lot! Frustrating day, but I am happy to still finish on the podium.”
At the end of the race, a filthy yet satisfied, Mateo Oliveira recapped his day. “It was a good race today,” he said, “not the best start, but I made short work of my competitors and got out to the front by the second lap. It was just full survival mode, the track was pretty gnarly and lappers were a huge factor, just digging their bikes in; trying to maneuver around them was tricky! But I had a blast still, stoked my brother and I made the trek up to Washington.”
Dante Oliveira led off the start and went on to finish second.
Dante was somewhat disappointed with his second-place finish in the pro class.
“Fun day playing in the mud,” he said. “Slick Rick got the best of me today, but it was a good battle for two laps or so! He was just consistent pushing and pushing, and I wish I would have given him a little more of a battle. But it was mayhem out there, and I had a blast!” Dante said. “Everybody had issues with the lappers there were guys everywhere all over the track, bikes were abandoned, it was crazy. I’m just happy the bike had no issues and want to thank all my sponsors and my mechanic, Bobby, and Timmy who came out. Really had a great time, and was happy to finish on the podium!”
Topping the Pro podium, Ricky’s last appearance at Hannegan for the WHS was in 2019 when the conditions were far different. Nevertheless, he got off to a good start this weekend, was able to make a pass early on, and continue to ride well all day, giving him the top step at the end of a very long, very muddy two-and-a-half hours.
“Got a good start, second behind Dante, and I was thinking, ‘this is a good start just follow him,’ because I knew there were a lot of holes to get stuck in. We were just going back and forth for a bit, then on the third lap there were bottlenecks everywhere and we just pushed through, and I kind of got lucky because I was able to get away at some point in all that. Then I just maintained that gap and kept pushing and it went pretty well, I was trying to conserve the bike but she was steaming. A 450 is a bit much for these tight woods and mud, so I’m pretty sure I’m out of coolant, and it was barely running at the end, but we made it to the finish!”
The Pro Women’s class saw yet another exciting super tight race between the top two female racers—3Bros Kilmartin GasGas rider Ava Silvestri and KTM RPM Racing team’s Kaitlyn Jacobs. Silvestri’s win widens her gap to now six points, leaving the championship door still wide open going into their summer break.
Mary Rinnell
OVERALL
| 1. |
Ricky Russell |
(GG) |
| 2. |
Dante Oliveira |
(KTM) |
| 3. |
Mateo Oliveira |
(KTM) |
| 4. |
Giacomo Redondi |
(GG) |
| 5. |
Jaden Dahners |
(Yam) |
| 6. |
Zane Roberts |
(Bet) |
| 7. |
Blake Best |
(KTM) |
| 8. |
JT Baker |
(GG) |
| 9. |
Owen Mckill |
(GG) |
| 10. |
Eric Forsberg |
(Yam) |
