DESTRY ABBOTT TAKES THE WIN - KENDALL NORMAN KEEPS THE LEAD

ROUUND 5 - AMA/KENDA NATIONAL HARE AND HOUND SEREIS - JERICHO, UT

By Erek Kudla - Photo By Stacy Gordon

JCR Hondas Kendall Norman came into Round 5 of the National Hare and Hound series in Jericho Utah with the wind at his back and a large points lead over the field. With two wins in a row and a comfortable gap Norman seemed to have things under control but Monster Kawasaki's Destry Abbott would definitely have something to say about that.

Abbott was able to get the best of Norman into the huge sand dunes of the Little Sahara Recreation Area but Norman was able to put his Red Bull/Alpinestars backed CRF 450x into the lead and with its great fuel economy, and not stopping at the Alternate pit on loop 1, was able to stretch out a 40 second lead into the pits. However Kendall did not walk his bike across the road which was just outside the OHV area. "I came into the check and the guy yelled something in my ear, I didn't hear what he said at all and I knew Destry was coming so I just booked it. I'll never make that mistake again." At the end of pit row Kendall was stopped and given a 1 minute penalty for the infraction allowing Abbott to get back by him and the battle was on for the entire second loop.

Kendall was able to reel Destry in and make the pass when Destry stopped at the second Alternate Gas pit and got back into the lead. The two went back and forth for the rest of the 52 mile loop never giving an inch. 5 miles from the finish Kendall was "dodging cows" across a pasture and missed a turn arrow giving Abbot the lead. "When I came to the finish I didn't even know I won! I'm really glad to be able to pull it off and get back to within 3 points of the lead with one more round to go before the summer break". Kendall came across the line only 10 seconds down, frustrated but still happy with the second place and the points lead.

Back in 3rd and 4th were FMF/KTM team mates David Pearson and David Kamo were battling for the  final spot on the Podium. Pearson was in front heading out into the second loop but Kamo put his woods racing skills to the test and got by putting himself on the podium for the 3rd time this season and holding on to 3rd in points. Team Green Kawasaki's Gary Sutherlin was able to squeek by into 4th with Pearson finishing 5th Overall.

1. Destry Abbott 
2. Kendall Norman
3. David Kamo 
4. Gary Sutherland
5. David Pearson 
6. Robert Underwood
7. Morgan Crawford 
8. Jason Argubright
9. Nicholas Burson
10. Shawn Strong
11. Justin Imhof
12. Cody Schafer
13. Brett Saunders
14. Ryan Kudla
15. Levi Hutchings
16. Colton Sanders
17. Jared Buoy
18. Trevor Ricci
19. Preston Hannifin 
20. Jason Densley