Race Recap
2007
AMA National Hare and Hound rd 6 - Jericho, UT
May 12, 2007
Good morning everyone,
Sorry for being a little late getting this out, yesterday I traveled down to California for a golf tournament put on by Montclair Yamaha. It was put on to raise some money for a group that helps the mentally challenged. It was a lot of fun and hopefully they were able to raise some money for them. Well, this last weekend we traveled to Utah for round 6 of the AMA National Hare and Hound series. The race was located at Jericho which is a little over an hour southwest of Salt Lake City. It was a hot and dusty one with temps in the high 80's and low 90's. Well, Nick and his wife Amber with their baby Ryder came with me along with Piper, and Friday we got the bike all dialed in and did some walking and had a good day. So, back to Delta for some dinner and watch a little bit of basketball. Jazz were getting spanked pretty bad, so that sucked, but since then they won again and now are up 3 to 1 over the Warriors. Well, lights out, snoozing time.
Saturday: Up and at it and drive out to the race. After some more final walking and dialing in, it was race time at 11:00 a.m. when it was nice and hot. Well, banner up and stare time. After a bit and your eyes nice and blurred up, drop and kick. Baaaraaa as I bogged a bit and didn't get the best jump. Shifting through the gears, the start was on a field and just wide open. I got to 5th gear and locked the throttle. At the end, they funneled us through some banners and danget, I was not first. I was probably 10th to 20th, poopey. The course hopped right on a road and it was a dusty and wide open one. I drifted wide and kept 'er pinned and got by some people. Well, I knew there was a ditch on the left side, so I saw it at the last second and kind of veered to the right where it wasn't so bad. Next, we went by a fence and around a dead cow that smelled pretty awesome. I was blinded by dust and had to try to dart through people so I could go to the right side of the road, because there was a fence now on the left. I pinned it and ohhh ahhh, as I saw some pretty crazy acrobats done by fellow riders hitting ditches and I might say, a bit squirly. Anyways, it continued like this and then we hit a sandy section with whoops. Pin it and try to keep passing people. I worked my way up and then could see the leaders dust a ways up. I pinned it all the way to the alternate gas. I decided to stop and get a splash, but probably shouldn't have as some of the leaders hadn't and kind of checked out. The rest of the loop went over desert mountain and had some fun tighter stuff and then back in the fast valleys back to the pits. After about 45 miles I was 4th and about a minute back of 3rd who was close to the leaders. So, time to pin it and give it all I got. The second loop was twisty through the trees and such, but not very tight. My Yamaha was feeling really good and as I entered a wash I saw 3rd just up ahead. Probably halfway through the loop now, I pinned it. Ohhhh as I almost stabbed myself by a tree. The dust was bad and now I found myself off the course going through the trees back to the ribbon. I would push, just to get blinded by the dust so bad that I would either hit rocks or go off the course and lose time. Pretty much again and again. Almost catch up to him just to get blinded by the dust. It was aweful and pissing me off. Well, that's how it finished and I was 4th with 3rd just a couple seconds ahead, ahhh just frustrating. My cousin David won which, if I guess if I didn't, then congrats to him. I finished 4th.
I found out after the race that our friend Kellon Walch had broken his shoulder pretty bad. I guess he was right with me off the start and when I veered to the right to miss the ditch, he entered it in a bad spot and wrecked. So, our hearts are with him and his family for a healthy recovery.
Thanks to all my family, sponsors, friends and fans for all the help and encouragement and I am trying to race a Best in the Desert race this weekend with my friend Carl, so until then have a good week
Thanks again
Russell Pearson
russpearsonracing.com
AMA National Hare and Hound rd 5 - Lucerne Valley, CA
April 29, 2007
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend we headed down to Lucerne Valley for the 5th round of the AMA National Hare and Hound series. The weather had called for high 80s, but it was a hot one. We arrived and got the bike all dialed in. Then, we went out and did some walking and got our line all dialed in for the starting bomb. The bomb was probably like a mile long and fast. After the final race prep stuff on the bike and getting the bike to start and fire good, we loaded and headed back to town. Got some pasta and pizza at Nick's Pizza and were ready for showers and bed.
Ring, ring, ring, as the alarm was going off at 4:15a.m. Up and at it. After some quick showers and such, we were on the road to the desert. It was still dark and you were fine in shorts and a t-shirt. It was going to be a warm one. We got out to the pits and finished the start and ready for race time. After a little grub and top off of gas, we headed to the starting line. Banner up and the whole line, which was several hundred yards wide and full of elbow to elbow riders, went silent. All eyes glued to the banner looking for the first flinch of . . . drops and kick. My Yamaha 450 jumped out and was ready to go. I got to my line first and pinned it. Carl Maassberg was about 20 feet to the left of me and we were pinned, side by side all the way. I barely edged him out at the end and I think I was like 2nd. I veered to the right a little out of dust and ended up picking a bad line as I went through big ups and downs in like 2nd gear when I should have been in 5th going fast. Next thing I knew, vroom vroom, as a couple riders went by me on both sides where it was good, I was like Ahhhh, dangettt. Well, I pinned it and tried to play catch up. I was back around 5th or 6th. I pulled up on a rider who was to the left and we pinned it together going through ditches and kind of sandy stuff with sagebrush. I got the better end of it and one down. Then we got in some gnarly sandy stuff that was all mogely. The sand had built up on the sagebrush and was just like nasty 2 foot tall mounds of dirt you would just bounce off kind of like a pin ball. Lean back and pinn it as 2 more guys were right in front of me. Then it got fast and some big whoops. It was a bit sandy, so you would like kind of swap around a little so I hung on tight with my legs and pinned it. Yeeehaa as I passed the next 2 riders. I pushed the rest of the loop and could see more dust ahead. I came into the pits after the first 42 mile loop and Nick said I was 3rd. The second 40 mile loop was a little more technical. I pushed hard, but I would bounce left off the rocks instead of right and just wasn't flowing like normal. So, I pushed harder and would bounce further to the left. I got by David, who had run out of fuel or something near the end and ended up 2nd. Finish order
1st Destry Abbott
2nd Russell Pearson - me
3rd David Pearson
Well, I just got back from the gym this morning and I am going to work my butt off for the top box at the next National which is in 2 weeks in Utah. I want to give a big thanks to my family, friends, dog, sponsors and fans for their awesome support and chat with ya in 2 weeks.
Thanks
Russell Pearson
Russpearsonracing.com
AMA National Hare and Hound rd 2 - Red Mountain, CA
February 11, 2007
Good mornning everyone,
This past weekend marked the 2nd round of the National Hare and Hound series. The race was held at Red Mountain, CA. We(my brother Nick and his wife Amber and baby Ryder and myself and Piper-puppy) arrived Friday afternoon and got a chance to check on my suspension a bit. We made a couple little clicker changes and my Yamaha was feeling really good. After a bit of work, we were on the road back to Ridgecrest for dinner and some shut eye.
Saturday, up early and back out to finish our prepping. We got all signed up and were able to ride the bomb run in the afternoon. It was about 2 or so miles, kind of uphill and there were some rocks to contend with, both big and small, along with some smaller ups and downs. We made a new line right up near the right side and were pretty happy with it, so back to the boxvan to get all the final race prepping done. It was dark and we were tired, so back to Ridgecrest for some pasta and well deserved sleep.
Sunday, alarms going off at 4:30 and off to the race. We were able to finish up my line and dang, she was a good one. I did a practice run and held it wide open, except for one little section that I came back to and we straightened out. Now, she was perfect. Back to the boxvan to get my goggles and gas and back to the line. Before we knew it, the banner was up with all engines quiet. After a minute or so, the banner is dropping. Brrruummm, as my Yamaha fired. But, the banner wasn't down??? so I held the clutch in and didn't go anywhere. They must have done a half drop with the wind or they messed up. So as I was about to turn my bike off again it dropped. I got going, but not near as good as if I would have just started it and gone, because Kendall Norman who was a bit down from me, got a bit better jump off the line by a couple bike lengths:( Crapp, so I went through the gears. 5th gear pinned as fast as she'd go. My line was good, I was almost tucked all the way and could see a bike to the left of me, but up, just a little bit. He got closer to my line and I could see it was Destry, crap. I was pinned and just held on. During practice, his line had crossed mine, so as he got closer, thats what I figured. Well, he hooked a left and jumped right in front of me, now he was on my line, dangetttt. Well, I was like 20 feet behind him going wide open and dang his bike throws some roost. I am still all pelted up on my arms and chest. Well, I tucked in right behind him for the top half of the bomb as we crested the hill. I was trying to take different lines right after and just enough to get screezed out again. Finally, there was a line off to the left. I took it and fell back a bit into his dust worst. I got back to the course and now there was more dust, so I went right on a trail. I pinned it hoping it would parallel and I could try to make a pass, but not so good of luck as it veered further right and the next thing you know, I was bouncing through the brush and boulders trying to find the course. Danget, not a good line. I pulled back on the course, but could tell I lost some positions. I passed like 1 or 2 riders and came into a road crossing where I seen my brother Nate and he held up 6. I was 6th, crappp. I pinned it and passed a rider, then the next. So, now I am 4th. Well, I looked ahead and I could see dust way up in the valley. I stuck my head down and charged. Finally as we neared like the 35 mile mark or the 40 mile loop, I started catching dust. I pushed and finally caught 3rd as we entered the pits. It was my friend Carl. I entered the pits right behind him. Thanks to my awesome pit support, we got out in front of him. They had told me David was leading and Destry was right behind him and they had 1 minute on me. Alright, when it was end of pits, I held my bike wide open. I had 40 miles and I knew it was going to get tighter, so I had work to do. Well, as we entered the hills, I pinned it up the first one and on top, my bike went pooof, nothing. Crap. I could see the leaders dust ahead down the hill, so I kicked, kicked, kicked and nothing. So, I got off the bike an pushed it to the top and tried to coast start it. This was a gnarly down hill with boulders and a long ways down. The bike didn't do much as I got all the way to the bottom. I kicked some more, but nothing, so I pulled off my fanny pack and ripped the bike down, looking for a burnt wire or something, no luck, the bike looked good, so I kept working. After probably a half an hour or longer, I had tried everything I knew how and luckily there was a guy there taking numbers. I chatted with him(sorry, I am bad with names), but he was a real nice guy who drives from Phoenix, AZ to do all of the desert races and he said I could borrow his bike to go get help. Well, I finally tracked down my brother and we got my bike out. It was way cool of that nice guy to help and thats what makes desert racers just awesome people is they look out for eachother and help eachother out and this young man was a perfect example. well, the finish order was as follows:
1st David Pearson
2nd Destry Abbott
3rd Carl Maassberg
It is good to see my cousin and my friend Carl do good, but dang, I've been working hard and I wanted to do really good, but as they say, 'That's racing' and desert racing is no exception with all the gnarly elements they put us through. Well, I got to give a huge thanks to my family and friends and sponsors and fans helping me out so much and my next National Hare and Hound isn't until near the end of March, so until then, I will be doing several races and doing my darnest to get back on top of that podium box. Thanks again and chat with ya later
Russell Pearson
russpearson.com
AMA National Hare and Hound - Lucerne Valley
January 28, 2007
video - MOV00845
Good morning everyone,
Well, it finally came. The first round of the AMA National Hare and Hound series kicked off this weekend at famous Lucerne Valley. We have been working all year long with getting prepared and ready and it was a good one.
We headed on down to Lucerne Friday to do a little final shake down. We had let Piper(my little red healer puppy) out to go potty and started unloading. Well, 2 other dogs were roaming around and came over to the boxvan. I was like cool, they were a black lab and a husky(like YZ my old cool dog who was way cool, but tragically got hit by a car last year and will be missed). They both seemed nice and I figured, they would sniff, do the dog thing, no biggy. Well, the one dog full on attacked little Piper and had it's whole mouth around her and started shaking her violently. I was like wooo and grabbed the big dog and threw that piece of crap a long way off. Not cool. If you have a dog that you know attacks little dogs, then please put it on a leash or leave it at home or if it was at the ranch, you just shoot it, sorry, but I don't have kids yet and she is my little girl. And Nick(my brother) and his wife Amber brang Ryder, their 3 month old baby, out and what if Ryder was on the ground and got attacked. Please use your head people. OK, we had to take Piper into the vet where she stayed over night and now has drains and many stitches, but is doing better now we are home. Sorry, for rambling on, but it just bugs me. Well, I did get to do a little riding and got my Yamaha 450 where I was comfortable and confident.
Saturday, We headed out to the race site and did a bit of walking and got signed up and got to look at the start. It was the same as one that had been in the area a couple years back. We checked out several lines and I made my own line kind of off to the right. We were happy and headed back to the boxvan to change tires and do all the final race prep stuff. It was dark and we finished and headed back to town for some grub and quick showers and off to bed.
Sunday - Race Day
3:30 am and riiinngg riiingg. Alarm going off. Off to the race. I got my bike parked on the start line at the very right and back to the boxvan for some cereal and get my goggles all finished up. Well, after a bit of grooming and practices on the start, we were ready. 9 o'clock start. Everyone got all lined up and before you know it, banner was up. Several hundred bikes lined up in a line and dead silence. Quickly blinking, breathing heavy, but trying to breath smoothly, almost shaking, looking for the first glimps of the banner movement down. Uhhh down and kick hard and my Yamaha 450 fired and started breathing fire. Pinned through the gears. I was going for my line and someone to the left had me by literally 2 feet, so I pulled off to the side and tucked harder. Top gear pinned and my Yamaha pulled the other rider barely and I was able to get on my line I had made. Wide open and the 2 or so mile start went pretty quick. We got up to the banner and I could could see first up there. I pushed the next bit, but settled for 2nd. I pinned it the whole first 40 mile lap as much as I could, but it was dusty one. Not much I could do. As I came nearing the pits, we were riding on what they call the 'Moon Rocks' area. The rocks are round with some sharp, but they are the same color as the ground. The sun was like in the clouds a bit and I was struggling reading the terrain a bit. I pushed, but had to back 'er off a bit. I was coming down a tight nasty downhill and my goggles fogged a bit, and my cousin David slipped by at the bottom. I came into the pits right behind David and pitted. Well, I got my dad and my crew that are awesome and we got out litterally side by side with David, but I had like 2 feet on him, so he couldn't pass. End of Pits sign and we both pinned it. Uhhh, no ribbon, we were both looking now, like uhhh there, seen ribbon and pinned it through the rocks for it. We got to the course and it was just just virgin terrain through the loose, big, black lava rocks and we were goosing it, letting it hang out. It was so rocky, there was no dust which is good for battling. I would go to the right and pull up on him and get stuck with a bigger ditch and he would gain ground. We went at it and could now see Kendall who was in first. We caught and passed him literally at the same time, me to the left and David to the right. It was awesome. We kept at it for a while and then the ribbon hopped on a main course. It went right down a hill, but I noticed some lath and arrows to the left. I slammed on the brakes and looped back up a hill and off the back side. David went straight on the trail and had to loop back, but I had the lead. I pinned it and this was another 40 mile loop. They kept us in nasty virgin stuff, you know the stuff I like:) I could see David back a bit and just hammered down. I felt good and about 10 miles later had opened up a tiny lead. They would throw you down some pretty crazy stuff. There was a crazy waterfall section with like literally 2 foot size boulders you had to ride on to get down and into the check. It was gnarly. There was another waterfall section and I pulled up on a rock and seen some trails to the left. Too late, I would have to get off my bike and take along time to get back, so I picked a line straight over just big rocks. I made it almost. Waamm, as I clipped one of the bottom rocks and it slammed me into the rock wall to the right. Woo, I just came to a stop, but didn't fall over. Well, I kept my head down the whole loop and opened up a little more lead as I came into the pits after a definite National caliber loop which was gnarly, but cool. I headed out on the last 35 mile loop and pinned it. The last loop had more National Caliber stuff with uphills and downhills that were just gnarly and rock infested stuff. It was cool. I pinned it and came into the finish first. Yeee haaa:) All my work had paid off. I ended up having like a 4 or so minute lead and the next rider was David, my cousin. Pearsons went 1-2 which is awesome. We've done it before and I remember the first time when my brother Nick won a National Hare and Hound in Idaho and I took second. So, thats pretty special. Results:
1st - Russell Pearson me:)
2nd - David Pearson
3rd - Kendall Norman
4th - Carl Maassberg
5th - Brian Brown
It was cool seeing Carl do good and Brian Brown(who is a past Champion) come and race. I got to give a big thanks to my family and friends for all their awesome support. They are pretty special. And I have just tremendous sponsors who are behind me a 100% and are great. Thanks also to all the support of people out in the desert cheering for me as I am racing and people at home following the sport. I included a couple photos and I have more on my website. I have another National H&H in 2 weeks at Red Mountain, so until then, have fun
Thanks
Russell Pearson
russpearson.com
photos thanks to Jessica Penman(girlfriend) and Mark Kariya(friend/journalist)
Ohh, Piper
Nick, Amber and Ryder
Starting line
2 minutes later
Racing
Right before finish
Me, David, Kendall
me with trophy
AMA D-37 Hare and Hound - Red Mountain, CA
January 14, 2007
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend I traveled down to Red Mountain, CA for the first round of the District 37 Hare and Hound put on by Jackrabbits M/C. We traveled down there Saturday morning and it was a cold one with temps in the 30s. I got to play around a little and then checked out the start. It was probably around a mile long and a bit uphill with the bomb at the left of a rock hill. We got all signed up and back to Ridgecrest where we spent the night.
5 o'clock and up and at it. After showers and taking Piper to the bathroom(burrrrr, it was a cold one - like 8 degrees), we stopped in at Denny's for some breakfast. Out to the desert and get ready for the start. They did a moment of silence for a fallen racer Elmer Symmons who passed away while competing in the Dakar rally last week. He was a real nice, friendly guy who my family and friends and myself had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends and is just a sad sad thing. After that the banner was up and all several hundred engines quiet. Banner drops and my Yamaha was fired first kick and braaaa, through the gears till no more up shifts:). I had the best line and pinned it all the way to the bomb. 1st, yeee haa! After the bomb, the ribbon and arrows took a sharp right around the rock hill. I kind of blew the corner and hit a creasode bush, wamm and it flung me back and sure enough, I was on the ground, craaapp, not at the start, I better be quick, because I don't want to get passed or hit by the crazy some hundred plus riders coming right behind me. I picked it up and wooo, I was still first, but got pulled up next to by someone. I pinned it and got back the lead. The first loop wound you up through some rolling hills which was fun, then into some real fast and really rough, gnarly whoops that made stadium supercross whoops look like mini speed bumps, woo, they were big. I came in the pits with a pretty good lead, but at the end of the pits was a railroad crossing, crapp, there was a train and it was long and slow. After a bit, Brett Saunder's pulled up. In the middle of a Hare and Hound and I am sitting there hanging out talking to second overall, woo, there is never a dull moment in the desert. After a couple minutes the end was coming near and you could see 3rd place almost to us. Well, Brett was cool and let me go and back racing. The second loop they through us up in some rocks with some exciting, boulder bashing downhills and some fun tight stuff. I was a bit into the loop and after a tight long downhill, I came to a check. I did a back look and noticed a KTM probably 20 or so seconds back. Cool, time to pick it up. I pinned it and wow, my Pro Circuit suspension on my Yamaha started working good. Man, I guess I just needed to go my fast race pace. I felt good and the loop got a bit faster the second half. I felt good and pinned it to the finish. I looked back and had opened up a couple minute lead and was happy. results were
1st Russell Pearson:)
2nd Matt Gosnell
3rd Brett Saunders
Well, I kind of used this race as a prep race for the AMA National Hare and Hound in 2 weeks. Everything seems to be coming along good and I got some more work but, I will be prepared and hopefully have a good report to give all you following. Thanks for all my supporters, family and friends for all the awesome support. Chat with ya later
Russell Pearson
russpearson.com
2006
US Desert Racing - Red Mountain, CA
December 10, 2006
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend I traveled down to Red Mountain, California for the first ever USDR (USDesertRacing.com) race. The new series is a desert series that is almost like a Gran Prix. It was a 13 mile loop that you can prerun for a limited time on Saturday and then race on Sunday. I just got one of my YAMAHA 2007 YZF 450s and figured I better get to work and get 'er dialed in so come January I am on top of my game. I arrived on Saturday and parked next to the Saunder's Family and did some playing with suspension. I went for a little play ride with Brent Saunders and then it was time to go look at the track. I went around it and it looked pretty cool. It had an uphill start and some fun zig zags through the creasode bushes. They took you through a little twisty first gear rock section and then the second half kind of had a lot of neat, twisty ups and downs with a cool wash and then back to the pits. It looked fun. I got my bike all dialed in and it was windy, so I called it a night. I decided to just camp out and the Saunder's invited me over for some Pasta, so heck ya, I was stoked. After the great food(thanks Saunder's), they threw in a movie - "Saving Shiloh." It was about a dog and a family and 'oh man,' that movie took a long time to get going:). Finally the last 10 minutes it came together and was pretty good. After that it was time to retire to the boxvan and get some shut eye.
Sunday, Race Day.
The race didn't start until 11 am and they were doing a timed start, one pro every 30 seconds, so the morning was kind of quiet. Usually at desert races, we are up at like 3:30am or something crazy to get my bike on the line and shortly after start practicing and finalizing your line, so it was nice to relax and sleep in a bit with no stress:). One thing extra cool, was it had rained during the night and the desert smelled that crisp wet smell and you couldn't ask for better conditions. The morning race started at 9, so I got to watch a little bit of that, and also some friends cruised down to help pit me, so that was rad, thanks. Time to cruise down to the start. I started 5th pro, one every 30 seconds. Flag waives and I was off. Braaa, my Yamaha 450 was feeling really good and I pinned it. I caught up to one rider and made a pass. then near the end of the loop I saw the next. I felt good and slowly reeled him in. As I got closer, I could see him and then up ahead another rider and then the leader way up ahead, cool:). I snuck around the first rider and then I could see the next. A bit later I came up on a corner that had a couple lines and I snuck under him. Nice:). back pinned and first was up there a ways. After the first 13 mile loop I was 2nd physically. The next loop I got around the leader and from then on out had a good ride. No tip-overs or any problems and pitted after 3 laps. My new bike was feeling really good. I passed a lot of lappers, but the dirt was wet and it was not a problem. I had fun and after 6 laps, the checkered flag was thrown. I have to give a big thanks to the club for putting on an excellent event.
1st Russell Pearson(me) :)
2nd Dylan Murdock
3rd Ryan Kudlow
As the 2006 season comes to an end, I would like to take a second and give a big thanks to my family,sponsors, friends and supporters for all their awesome support in 2006. Without all of you, I could not have the oppurtunity to race motorcycles at the level I do, so a big thanks. We have had some ups and downs, some wins and not wins, some broken bones and surgery, and lots of hours at the gym and physical therapy. So, thanks to everyone and for '07 I will be under the big blue tent riding for Yamaha so until then a big thanks and talk to ya next year:). I wish everybody the best for a Merry Christmas and Happy and Safe Holiday season.
Thanks again
Russell Pearson
russpearson.com
EnduroCross , Las Vegas, NV
November 18, 2006
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend was the crazy EnduroCross held in none other than Las Vegas, NV(stadium about 30 minutes from my house:). Well, we cruised down Friday to watch some friends try to qualify for Saturday night's show and it was a bunch of laughs and some OOhhhs. The track looked a bit easier than before, but still had all the regular stuff; big rock pile, bunch of logs in hills, water with waterfalls to go down and back up, more rocks, some sand, huge logs, and some huge tires of course to try to make it over. Well, cool, got some dinner and back home for some shut eye.
Saturday and race day:). Well, we cruised down a bit before noon and at 1pm we were able to walk the track. They had taken some dirt away from the take off to the rock pile which was interesting and gnarly and added some more angled logs and just roughened up the course to make it a bit more crazy. Shortly after it was rider's meeting and time for qualifying times for gate pick for the night show. The track looked good and lets go. I got one sight lap and then, time started for hot lap. I felt good and my 450 4-stroke Yamaha felt solid and real good in the rocks and most everything. I made one bobble in the rock/log section, but felt good and ended up with the 4th fastest time right behind David Knight. Cool, I was happy and the bike felt good, so a lot of hanging around and a bunch of autographs and dinner and ready for the night show. 8:30 and the opening ceramonies which were like Wow, as it was a sold out arena and the fans were soo cool and I think when I was announced I got the loudest cheers which was a pretty awesome feeling. I was in the first heat, so let's go. Lined up and gate drops, braa, I got a pretty good jump and was right there with the leaders and wamm, I got pushed wide and almost went down, but regrouped and back going. Man, they must have watered the track and the logs were sliiippery. I was feet out, kind of goon style:\. I struggled and climbed up to forth. They took 2, so come on Russ, get it together. I tried, but wammm, bike to the ground and back up and picked off another guy back to 4th and there was 3rd and by him and then I got tangled up with another guy and just blaaa. I fell down one more time and ended up like 4th, Crapp, I wasn't the happiest of fellows, so onto the semi. Gate drops and Braa, not a good jump and got pushed back and stuck on the first log. I was I think last, yea, not good:(. So I picked it up and they only took 1 to the main, so I tried harder and the harder I tried, the worse lines I picked and just bad. I got tight and just was not flowing. They only took I think the top 5 out of 10 to the LCQ and I made that but wasn't first, Crapp. OK, one more chance, the LCQ, gotta win to make it. Well, get a good start and ride my own race is what I was thinking. Well, I lined up at the start and drew the second row starting pick. Gate drops and Braa, right into the back of everyone and they were like stopped and I couldn't go anywhere, so I finally got going, but not real wonderful, I think probably 10th out of 12 or so. Well, more of the same, I pushed and worked up, but not good enough, I didn't make the main:(. But wait, there was a night race with lights off and they mounted head lights to our bikes. Alright, gotta try and have some fun tonight. It was fun and I again got a bad start, but passed up to like 3rd and was feeling better than I had all night and in the dark. First and second were like right there, but then poof, my bike died. I finally got it restarted and finished the night out. Well, back to the truck, my night was over, Crapp. Well, we hurried back over and got to watch the main. Nathan Woods was up front followed by Dowd and then Knight was I think 4th, but then moved to third. Nathan made a couple bobbles and let Dowd by, but regrouped and with laps winding down had closed the gap. They were going at it and at the last lap, last straight away, Nathan launched over some logs and pulled up right beside Dowd and with the crowd on their feet, Aahhh, Nathan went flying off the course and wrecked.
1st John Dowd
2nd Nathan Woods
3rd David Knight
When I returned to the boxvan right after the race there were a bunch of people around, but then there were these 3 cute looking kids(Jason, Joshua, and Jeremy Rinder), all boys and at least 2 of them had red hair to top it off:). Well, they were all holding these pictures and gave them to me, they were drawings of the endurocross race course and me they had each drawn and it was pretty touching and special. I had signed the one boy's cast last year and he said he had kept it and they were just a really neat family. Thanks Rinders for making my day.
Well, I was pretty bumbed about getting tight out there and not flowing like I know how, but by the next day, I actually look back and see some things I can work at and there was some really neat stuff and fun too. I would like to thank Tim Clark and promoters for being way cool to us and Carl Maassberg and my brother Nick for their help during the weekend along with all my sponsors and friends and the fans were awesome. They cheered so much it was so awesome. So next time I'll try to get some better starts and flow and have a lot of fun and try to win:).
In 2 weeks I am going to do the Best in the Desert "Henderson Terrible 400." So, that should be exciting and fun as I am going to team up with Carl Maassberg. Until then thanks again to everyone and have a good, happy and safe Thanksgiving and chat with ya later.
Russell Pearson
WORCS Nov. 5th Mesquite, NV
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend was the final WORCS race of the year and it was held in Mesquite, NV. It is only like an hour and a half from my house, so that was nice. This was my first WORCS race since my broken ankle, so I was excited to be back and have some fun. Anyways, we(Carl Maassberg and I) rolled down there Friday morning for a little practice on the moto track. Practice was good and we called it a day.
Saturday, we rolled in for the morning unclassified race and got a little practice. We had a little break and then I had the pro qualifier. I had a good start and then cheesed it a bit and went wide on the first corner and got swooped under by some guys. I fell back to like 5th and jeez, it was a dusty one. I slowly picked off a guy, then another and by the end of the first lap I was 2nd. I caught up to first, but it was dusty and I just kind of checked out some outside lines and finished 2nd right behind first. I was happy and my Yamaha felt good. Well, back to the truck and back doing prep for the main race. The Montclair Yamaha guys reserved a little dinner thing at the Chuck Wagon and it was some really good food, thanks guys. Back to the room and showers and lights out.
Sunday, Race Day
Did some final prep stuff and ready for race. After parade lap and National anthem, all eyes on gate, drop and braaa. I got a pretty good jump and I start a gear higher than everyone, so usually I can pull them. Well, when I went to put my foot on the pegs, I accidently put my right on the rear brake. Yea, not the best thing to do on a start. I was back around mid pack. It was a dusty one and just bad. I slowly worked my way up and then, wooo, I was going probably 5 miles an hour in blinding dust when I should have been doing 45 and I was staring at parked bike like 10 feet in front of me. I swerved and barely missed it. I was just swallowed in dust and it sucked. I came in off the first lap probably around 10th. The next lap, the same bike I almost clipped was on the ground, someone must of done the same as me, but hit the bike. A couple laps later, they(my pit crew of my dad, Carl, Valerie, Jessica and Charles- thanks for the help everyone, also a big thanks to Ty and everyone at Zip-Ty Racing for all the help and support) held up 7 fingers. That sucks and I pushed more. My bike started sputtering and I was like what?? It finally got to the point where I was riding around like quarter throttle and barely going. It was at the hour mark and time to pit, so I pulled in and put a new air filter in. They said I was 5th when I pulled in, but I lost a couple minutes doing the filter. My Yamaha 450 fired and was back breathing fire. I caught one pro and passed him and was feeling strong. I got back by another and then came into a corner and started having little freakish problems. I cruised into the pits and got 'er going and back out. Well, I had a couple more little problems and worked my way back to at least get a finish. I am not sure how I finished, but it wasn't first where I wanted.
1st Ricky Dietrich
2nd Bobby Garrison (Yamaha-Zip-Ty Racing teammate)
3rd Kurt Casselli
Bobby and Ricky were going at it and they were kind of in the same boat Destry and I were at the last National. Whoever wins, gets the Championship. I heard Bobby was in the lead the last loop and his filter plugged and that was when Ricky got around for the win.
Well, I am back home and just got done with cycling class and am getting ready for the Enduro Cross here in 2 weeks, so until then, thanks for all the support and a big thanks to all my sponsors, family and friends.
Russell Pearson
AMA National Hare and Hound Oct. 22
Lucerne Valley, CA
Good morning everyone,
Well, it finally came and happened. This past weekend marked the final race of the AMA National Hare and Hound Series. Points tied pretty much, came down to whoever won the race between me and Destry Abbott would be champ. All the physical therapy from my broken ankle and preperation and training and now time for action.
We rolled down to Lucerne Valley, CA Friday and did some shake downs and final suspension settings on the bike. By days end we were happy and ready to relax. I rented a motorhome, so we didn't have to do the rat race into town and back everyday, so after some dinner, thanks to Paul Buckles'and Rick Nuss' family, we were off to bed.
Saturday, more of the same. Get the bike all dialed and head on down to the start to look at the bomb. Before that, we got all signed up and Anna Cody was doing a raffle to raise money for a cancer association, which was really neat. She is going to do a 24 hour ride down in Mexico(I think like a 1000 miles or something). I found out later I won a Kendall Norman autographed jersey, so that was odd, but cool. Well, finally at like 3 pm the bomb opened and it was like a little over 2 miles kind of up hill and fast and dusty. We got my line figured out and an alternate just in case of a bad start and back to the boxvan. After the final prep on the bike, we got some good grub and off to bed. Well, about like midnight or so, I had to pee something aweful from all the water I had been drinking and so after that, back to bed. Well, that wasn't going to happen. The night crowd had decided to move the party and bon fire right outside our motorhome. They had some crazy loud music and fireworks and all kinds of crazy stuff. Then, I don't know where it came from, but boooom. Someone had some big bombs and were letting them off. Car alarms were going off and it was crazy. Well, finally back to sleep
Race day: 5:30 am and up and at it. After some breakfast and getting ready, the bomb was open at 7:00 to do some last runs on it. After a couple runs and getting ready, holy cow, it was almost 9:00 and race started at 9:30, so haul butt back to the pits, which was like 5 miles away, for some gas and a sandwich and back to the start, a little hectic. Well, all ready and then the guy comes by with 2 fingers up, implying 2 minutes to start. Banner up, all the hundreds of bikes dead silent. Shaking, trying not to blink and staring intently on the banner. Banner drops and kick and my YZF450 fired and through the gears I went. 5th gear wide open, tucked, the whole way to the banner. I was 2nd, danget. Well, I stayed to the left of the dust and then I could see him and it was stinking Destry, so I pinned it harder, through some ups and downs, flying off them, a little crazy. Well, I pulled up on him and yeehaa, I swung right around him and into first. We got in some ups and downs and I could hear him right on my tail. The course went right down into some big whoops and I swung wide and it was a good smoother line, up the next rise and into some more whoops that looked smaller, wooo, as the smaller whoops turned into deep straight up and downs that made supercross whoops look like little chop. Well, I had to slow down and as soon as I did, braaa, Destry swung around me on the outside where there wasn't any whoops, Dangett. Well, I stuck on him and then wamm, clipped a rock, back pinned to try to stay on him and avoid getting dusted and, finally was engulffed in a cloud of dust, crapp. Well, it was dusty, real bad. I tried to get off to the side of the course and that was scary, so back on the course, doing like 5 mph instead of 60. I was pissed. Well, the first loop had some fun ups and downs and that I would almost pull up on Destry's rear tire, just to get back in a fast, dusty valley, where I would pretty much just have to come to a stop. Crapp. Coming into the pits after like 36 miles, I could see him maybe 5 to 10 seconds up. He pitted and I passed him then to my pits, where he passed me back. I got an awesome and quick pit thanks to my pit crew and almost was on his tire, but just far enough back where wamm, stuck with a face of cloud thick dust. I pushed, but I was like a pin ball machine bouncing off rocks that I couldn't see, so I had to back 'er down. Well, the 2nd loop was like 55 miles and more of the same, I pushed as hard as possible and just to stay at the edge of his dust. We were getting near the finish and I pushed harder than I should and then I had a freak mechanical problem(I haven't found out for sure yet, but I lost a lot of radiator fluid, maybe from a bush or rock, I don't know yet) and ended up literally pushing my bike and that didn't work so well. I still had a couple miles and the dirt was soft. Well, danget, day over :( I got a push back to the truck and had to settle for a DNF. results were
1st Destry Abbott
2nd Kendall Norman
3rd Carl Maassberg
Well, not the finish order I wanted, but I gave it a 110%, so back to work and I have a WORCS race in Mesquite in 2 weeks. I want to congratulate Destry though on a hard fought year, we had and seems like have been having for years now. He is a friend and good, fair racer, but danget I like it when I win:) It was good to see Carl do good too, He is a kid who I train and ride with a lot here in Henderson, NV and works hard and deserved a good finish. I have to give a big thanks to all my family and friends and sponsors for all the awesome support who helped me out so much this year. I couldn't do what I do without all your help, so a BIG thanks. Well, I better get to work so chat with you again in 2 weeks.
Thanks again
Russell Pearson
WORCS rd 7 Wahougal, WA June 11, 2006
Hello everyone,
This past weekend we traveled up to Wahougal, WA for the seventh round of the WORCS series. We(Kellon Walch, Carl Maassberg, and myself along with YZ) hit the road early Thursday morning. 19 hours later, we were at Vancouver, WA for some shut eye. Friday was practice. We got to check out the MX portion of the race and after that, we went and did a walk around the whole track. It was probably 5 or so miles long and a lot of ups and downs. We took YZ around and I would give anything if I had the energy to run up and down hills like she does. Anyways, we made it around and it was almost starting to get dark. I looked at my clock on the drive back to the motel and it was already like 9:30. Man, it crazy up there. It stays light 'til like 10 o'clock. Man, I need some sleep. So, shortly after that, snooring was going on.
Saturday was another day of practice. This time, we get to check out the whole track, MX and offroad. Well, I didn't do Unclassified, so I walked around and checked stuff out. Ohhh, I seen Craig Wesner do some amazing acrobatic moves and uhh, ahh, ohh. Well, he halfway pulled it out, but ended up tangled in a fence. Well, the track workers had changed a section over night and changed a section of 5 kind of week bumps into gnarly sharp up and downs. A little later, I heard ohh and looked and Ryan Hughes jumped into the section blindly too and didn't fair so well. He ended up breaking his upper arm. Well, I was headed back to the van and someone came over to me and said Kellon got hurt at the end of practice in the same section, he cased the 4th one, but didn't wreck. So, when I got to the van, he was loaded up in a mini van and in some major pain. He hurt both his ankles. Well, I had my little practice and changed some things and then Carl raced the Pro Qualifier race. He got a dead last start and slowly worked his way up through the pack. They only race for like a half hour and by the end he had worked his way to 8th out of like 20. Not too bad for a desert boy playing in the slippery trees. I had to do a little bit of prep on my bike and we had heard Kellon was coming back and his results were not wonderful. He broke both ankles and got some splints on them and was now back at the van and just chillin for the weekend. Well, after all that good stuff, we headed back to town and met up with Tony Acosta at the hospital where another friend(Maria Foresburg) had reportedly messed up her knee. After seeing her and finding out she had torn her MCL, we got some grub with Tony and Roger Hamel. After that was time for the motel scene. I went to the front desk and asked for a downstairs room so we didn't have to haul Kellon upstairs. Well, no luck, but she did see YZ. She goes "NO animals allowed" then I said, "uhh, she is staying in the van". The lady then said no animals on premises, so I was like OK and just left. Well, we cleaned out part of the back of the boxvan and hauled Kellon out the back and up the stairs and into the room. Of course, I then took YZ right up the stairs quickly and into the room also, oopss. Alright, time for night night, but only after watching some Old School that was on TV.
Sunday is Race Day. Well, we got out to the track. Holy cow, we are in Washington and it is another nice day with no rain. Well, we got all ready and did the parade lap and all eyes on the gate. Drops and Braaaa. I kind of bobbled a bit but was in the top 10. Shortly after the start and moto section we were in some off-road stuff and into the first Pro Sections. It was a section of probably 10 logs with the first being on the bottom of a down hill and probably 3 or 4 feet in diameter. There were people to the left and in the middle so I chose to the right where Woods was going. He bobbled and got stuck on the first one and I had to wait, crap. Well, he got going and I went right behind him. Ok down through the pit and into the little tree covered wash thingy and into the next gnarly Pro Section. A short uphill to the right that was covered with slippery rocks and mud. Well, people were already getting stuck. I picked a line and Braaiiiingg as my rear tire started to spin. I almost came to a stop and started paddling. Well, I actually made it after a bit of struggle and was onto the grass track. After that we went up in the hills and into another Pro Section with a down hill covered in slippery grassy bushes and then an uphill that we've run before. I came down and Uhh, slipppeeerrry. Well, took a left and went up this uphill pretty easily. There was like one more little pro section and a bunch more turns and parts of the moto track until I was ready for round 2 which was lap 2. Well, down through the logs and into the uphill. Well, I am pretty good at uphills out here in the desert, but I struggled. This time I came to a stop and could get no traction, except for the loud noise of my bike spinning on the slippery rocks. There wasn't much braaa going on, it was more like bring, briing, briiiiiiing, no traction. Luckily, people were there to help get me up. By the time I got up it, I was out of breath and pooped. Crap. Well, it pretty much was like that for every lap coming. It sucked something aweful. Well, laps clicked away and finally the checkered flag was out. I got 7th.
1st Ricky Dietrich
2nd Mike Kiedrowski
3rd Destry Abbott
4th Lance Smail
5th Bobby Garrison
6th Eric Rhoten
7th me Russell Pearson
Well, I am back home and got a little time off to work on some things so I can get up on that podium and up at the top at these WORCS races. My next WORCS race is August 13 or something like that and my final Hare and Hound is October 22. I want to give a big thanks to Carl for helping me pit along with the Zip Ty Racing Crew for their help this past weekend along with Yamaha and all my other sponsors and I can't leave out my family and friends back home for all their support, thanks.
I want to give a best wishes and get well soon to Kellon, Maria, Ryan and others that are out with injuries.
I also got a phone call shortly after the race on Sunday from Nick telling me that we have another new baby sister as of Sunday at like 2 o'clock pm and her name is Paige and she is healthy and a cutey. I actually got to see her Monday when I returned before they headed back up to the ranch.
I will try and get some pictures of her and other race ones on my website at russpearson.com
Thanks again for everything
Russell Pearson
WORCS rd 6 Payette, ID May 21, 2006
Hello Everyone,
This past weekend was rd 6 of the WORCS series in Payette, Idaho, just a bit outside Boisie, ID. We(Tina and I along with the animals(squirrels and dogs) and Kellon and Milly Walch hit the road Thursday evening. I drove, then Kellon, then myself through the night. We rolled into Payette in time to unload and go do practice. Changed a few things and were pretty happy. Rolled back to the motel that evening after dinner with Tony Acosta and Mark Kariya. Sleep was good. Friday was another day of practice and everything was pretty good. We then went and walked the 2 little pro sections and then we traveled to David Kamos house for their little Bar-b-que thing. We just missed some of the excitement. I guess they had grown up Duck Duck Goose going on. I heard Paul Ondas fell over and another guys from Washington ran after someone and cornered them and dove for them, but the guy cornered ducked and Washington launched right into a rose bush, or should I say where it used to be as he lied flat on the ground with rose bush underneath. He got a few nice scratches to say the least. Well, I looked at the clock and it was like 9:30 pm, but still light outside.?? Time change is weird up there. Man, I got to get some sleep, so we say byes and headed back to the rooms. Well, one highlight on the day was Tina had a little puppy(Chinese Crested) flown in from back east somewhere. They couldn't ship her to Vegas, because it was too hot. Well, when we got back to the room, there was big NO PETS signs everywhere. Well, the side window was open, so we handed them through the window. The dogs didn't quite get along real good at first, so we put Gidget(the new one) in her cage thingy. Well, she started whining so, we put her in the bathroom, still yelping, so we gave in and put her on the bed. She actually was pretty good, except for a couple squiggles and I was afraid of rolling over and smothering the poor little thing.
Sunday: race day, Well, got some pretty good sleep and up and at it. Got to the track and unloaded and dialed in. They had added a new little section with almost straight down hill with little ledges to jump off and down again. Well, it looked pretty gnarly, but nothing that we don't do a hundred times at a desert races. After the rider's meeting and little morning chapel thing by Tony Acosta, we were headed to the starting line. I had like 5th or so gate pick and everyone was on the inside. I had a little different approach and lined almost all the way on the outside. The start was a long uphill drag and on the left it had like a jump on the top and the right was smoother where you could keep power to the ground. Alright, got all set and 1 minute, then 30 seconds and sideways, BuuurrrrrRRAAAA as the gate dropped. Grab gears and hang on. My Yamaha 450 pulled strong, but there must have been a little better traction on the inside and got pulled just a bit, but after the jump I was by myself. Railed the first turn with no one around. Nice. Well, a bit later in the moto track, they had some jumps and I need to learn the bubba scrub, because Garrison and Hughes both got me. Ah, Danget. Well, I hung in there and felt pretty good. The course was pretty good with a faster moto track into some deeeep sand with gnarly whoops and down some hills into raveens and after the pits it went down into a hard packed road wash and up on top to a really fast road with a couple ski jumps and into a fun grass track. After that we went down a little canyon and back up a hill to the moto section and in the middle was that gnarly straight down hill with cutouts. Well, a lap went by and I didn't fall down or make a stupid mistake, cool. Well, a lap or two later, I took a wide line and Dietrich snuck by. I was feeling pretty good and the pit board was out with "pit next". I was right with Kiedrowski and Woods around 5th and feeling strong, ready for the second half. Well, I was going around the moto track when Buuuurr, then Raa, then Buurr until it died. It sounded just like I ran out of gas and sure enough(fast track with sand and found out after the race my pits decided to pit me at an hour fifteen minutes instead of an hour like I told them). Craaap, finally up front with them and this, so I jumped off pushed 'er fast as possible down and back across the moto track and then down through the pits and parked it on an outhouse, jumped the fence and went to my dump can. Grabbed it and ran back over the fence and to my bike. Dumped it myself and got 'er fired and back through the pits and went back to the moto track where I left off and grabbed gears. I was mad and breathing pretty hard from all this. My goggles still were all sweaty with no more tear offs and I didn't get any water, which wouldn't be that bad, but I had elected not to carry any, just take some in the pits. I figured I'd stop and get some goggles and water, but I had caught another rider when I came into the pits so I kept going. Well, I pinned it and tried to stay strong. Laps went by and the white flag was out. I could see Destry ahead and tried but couldn't close the gap. I finished and found out I worked my way back up to 7th. Not bad for all that, but 7th sucks. I am back home and done with the Hare and Hounds for a bit, so I am working to do some improvements for the next WORCS round in a couple weeks in Washougal. Finish order
1st Ryan Hughes
2nd Bobby Garrison
3rd Ricky Dietrich
4th Nathan Woods
5th Mike Kiedrowski
6th Destry Abbott
7th me Russell Pearson
Thanks to my family and sponsors and friends and fans for all the support. I am up to Washington for a WORCS race in 3 weeks, so until then, thanks and have a good couple weeks.
Russell Pearson
russpearson.com
AMA National Hare and Hound - Jericho, UT
May 13, 2006
Good morning everyone,
Well, someone needs to give me a good ol' butt whooping for me being so late on getting my race report out, excuses, excuses. Sorry!!
This past weekend was rd 5 of the AMA National Hare and Hound series in Jericho, UT which is about an hour and a half southeast of Salt Lake. We(Nick and I along with the farm animals-dogs and squirrels) headed out Thursday when Nick got off work. We arrived in Delta around 11pm and with gas prices these days, elected to save some cash and slept in the boxvan. Well, I am not sure if that was the wisest decision because we only had one blanket and 2 guys so that meant we were both to sleep on the fold over little couch that is about 3 or 4 feet wide when laid out so that meant for some major spooning. Well, I wasn't real fond of the hairy thing to my right so I snuggled with the wall on the left all night long except for a couple of footsie playing moments that had me into a spiderman move against the wall. 6 o''clock am rolled around and we had enough, time for breakfast.
Friday: After breakfast, we hit the road to the race site. Well, we stopped a bit before to do some final bike testing and dialing in. Got the dogs tied up so they wouldn't go on their journey again and went out on my loop. I got like 1 mile out and something was just not on. Felt like the rear end was high. Well, I'll ride the rest of the loop and check it out in some chop and whoops. Well, I was going through some rocks and turns and small whoops when braa around a turn just like all others but clunk, my front tire clipped a rock and didn't soak it up and it landed like a foot or so to the right and heading right, OOOhhh, hang on as it was too late, there was a tree and I was about 10 feet away going about 20 or 30 mph and nothing to do butt gritt my teeth and hang on, Whaammm. Danngg, I didn't get harpooned by any branches, but made it all the way into the middle of a big ol' cedar tree. I am pulling my bike out when Carl Maassberg who was riding with me came up and was like, huh? Well, I got my bike out and I had managed to break some pretty dang big branches. Back to the boxvan. Well, I changed my sag and some clickers and played around for a while, but got to where I was happy. Then was time to practice some starts and every time Braaa. Well, we changed most of the plastic from the tree incident and tires and filters and so on until the bike was ready. Then we headed to the pits where the start was. Walked the start and got it all figured out and were happy. Back to the motel where we met up with my dad and grandpa and little brothers for dinner and a tiny bit of relaxing and before lights out. BAng, BAng, as someone was banging on our door. Clock said like 12:00. What?? Went to the door and it was the girls, Tina and Amber. Oh, cool they made it. They said they had to wait for like an hour on the road due to a big fire and back to sleep.
Saturday: Race Day: 5:30 and up and to the shower and on the road. Got to the race and unloaded and walked the start again and got all ready.10:30 and to the start for the rider's meeting and start. Banner was up. All quiet, except you could barely see the banner, it was small and a light color that blended in with the sky. Drops and kick and BRAAAA, she fired and was ready and roaring. I pinned it wide and YEEhaaa, came into the banners it funneled through with no one around, hooked it right and pinned it. We headed out through sage brush and whoops that lead us to a road crossing and into grassy areas that was really fast. After about 10 miles we started getting close to the mountains where I was like OK, there is always rocks that sneak up on you in this grass and Whamm, Ohhh as the front end clanked a bit rock and I lost the bars with my left hand and barely clutched it with my right. I was going fast and now one handed going fast. Regrouped and and got my left hand on the handlebar. OoooK, we're in the rocks. There was quite a bit of rocks and grass and hills to go up and over and then I could see the alternate gas at around the 28 mile mark. I stopped for some gas and water and goggles and back pinned and then brakes and then pinned and brakes as it was fast with ditches and stuff. Well they threw us in sand whoops the last 10 or so miles and there was the pits at the 45 mile mark. I came in breathing hard as I was pushing and they said I had a minute lead. Nice. Braa, as I headed out on the second loop. Well, I kind of put it on cruise mode so I didn't bend any discs like last time and save the bike. Well around the 20 mile mark, wamm, front end slid out and I hit the ground. What?? this cruising stuff sucks. I don't usually tip it over, but I was cruising and not pushing the bike around and it got the best of me. Crapp, Well I picked the pace up to where I was under control and rode harder, but still backed off just a little. They through us in a lot of whoops, but did have some short sections in the trees that were fun and into some creeks with water and stuff. Well, I looked back and no one was very close as the miles wound down. We came into a crowd of people and then it was the good ol' Cherry Creek crossing. About 30 feet across and 2 or so feet deep. I stuck my feet out kind of novice style, and putted real slow because I didn't want to hit a rock and fall over and throw it away. Well, no one was coming behind me and I gassed it and just ahead was the finish. Yeeehaaa.
1st Russell Pearson:)
2nd Kendall Norman
3rd Quinn Cody
4th Kellon Walch
5th Matt Gosnell
Well, that puts me right back in the points race coming down to the last round, but we have to wait 'til October 22 I think for the final round where it is down to myself and Destry Abbott. Whoever wins, gets the Championship. So, I am already preparing so I can be best prepared come October.
I have to give a big thanks to my family and Yamaha and all my sponsors, fans and friends for all the continued support. Thanks so much
We are headed out tomorrow for Idaho for the next WORCS race where I hope to continue improving my results.
I actually went down to California Monday for a Golf Tournament put on by Montclair Yamaha to raise some money for some Down Syndrome kids. It was a lot of fun and Bill Mattox said they raised a bit of money, so that was good.
A little side note. Has anyone seen the commercial about the 2 older ladies sitting on the couch. I think it is an identity theft commercial. Anyways, I have seen it like once or twice now. But people were telling me about it. "I was like Braaa." "Naa, it was like Vroooom Vrooom." These 2 old ladies are moving their lips, but older man voices are coming out. I swear it was made after Nick's wife's sister who always does that to us. She always makes fun of us describing how our races went. "I was like Braaa Braaa, moving our hands like dirt bikes turning and jumping." Anyways, it was pretty funny and a pretty dang good commercial.
Well, thanks again and chat with ya next week.
Thanks
Russell Pearson
pics and short video coming
Best In The Desert Terrible's Town 250 Pahrump, NV
April 29, 2006
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend was the Best In The Desert 'Terrible's Town 250' around Pahrump,NV. I was teaming up with Ty Davis on one of his Yamaha YZF450s. We met up Friday morning outside Pahrump on a dirt road to check out the bike and change anything if needed. We changed a couple little things and did the final race prep stuff and down to sign ups and tech ispection. A little later, was time for the rider's meeting and grub and then we(Tina met up with me) headed to my Grandma's(my mom's mom) and visited for a bit and it was like 10:30 and past my bedtime. Lights out and snoring time
Saturday: 4:00 a.m., and alarm flying. Quick shower and to the RV park to pick up Bill and Marissa(Montclair Yamaha crew) and to the start where Clint and Jamie met up to help pit also. 5:45 is still pretty dark, but the light turned green and I was next, 30 seconds later and Braaa. They watered the first bit and then we headed into the rocks. Smack, I found one right away, OK, I'll respect you guys. The rocks were gnarly, and the speeds were pretty dang fast and just got faster with dust to throw in the mix of them. I rode the first 2 sections which consited of slower gnarly rocks then to faster rocks with chop and into gnarly cross grain into some fun high speed washes and then to some buggy rutted roads with silt and rocks. I rolled into pit 2 still in second and gave the bike to Ty for his 2 sections. I did the first 2 loops like 1 minute behind projected time of 58 mph. Ty did his 2 sections and then my turn again. I pinned it for the next section and coming into pit 5 was wide open for probably 5 miles. After the pit was another real fast section and into that part we just had a freakish problem and kind of ended our day, poopy.
Well, on our way back, we got to check out the trucks and buggies in a section and also the Rhino class. What is that? Well, Yamaha makes Rhinos right, well, these things are Rhinos on steroids. They are pretty freaking cool. They got bigger shocks and long A arms and all kinds of stuff. Some had all new custom frames and stuff. They were cool. We got to see them start and headed back to Pahrump. I dropped a couple photos here and also put in some more photos and some videos of trucks on my website. So, thanks again to all my sponsors and family and friends and I have my next AMA National Hare and Hound in 2 weeks at Jericho, UT. Until then, thanks and chat with ya later
Russell Pearson
russpearson.com
Click above for Herbst Trophy Truck clip
Click above for another Trophy Truck Clip
AMA National Hare and Hound Lucerne Valley, CA /
April 23, 2005
Holy Cow,
This weekend marked the 5th round of the AMA National Hare and Hound Series. So, Friday morning we made the trek to beautiful Lucerne Valley, CA. That is beautiful if you like the crisp smell of creasode bush in the morning and the sound of motorcycles and desert that has wide open desert and hills with rocks and steepness that make trials courses look like kids playing on their tricycles going over speed bumps. Well, Nick(brother) and I and the dogs and sugar gliders(flying squirrels) headed on down and got some lunch in Lucerne Valley and to the desert we headed. After bajaing the boxvan down the wonderful whoops and rocks Bessemer Mine Road (if anyone has been down that road, you know what I am talking about) throws at you, we arrived. I did my little testing loop that I usually do and the bike seemed pretty good. I changed a couple things around and ended up kind of sticking close to where I started. I got the feel and confidence of going wide open (probably almost 90mph) through the open desert and the feel of the rocks and how to handle them. We were happy so back to Lucerne for the famous Pearson stop at Letty's(local Mexican restaurant) and then to Victorville where we got our motel and the girls (Tina-my girlfriend and Amber-Nick's wife) met up with us for a fun filled weekend.
Saturday: We got to sleep in until almost 7 and then after a breakfast stop for some good grub and we were on the road to the race site. We got all unloaded and did a couple things and then I went out for a morning ride with some friends(Rick Nuss, Scott Perkins, Angela House, Heather, and another friend). It was a lot of fun. I took them on part of my testing loop and by the place I had seen a big ol' 5 plus foot long snake the day before and then to some more fun tight stuff through the hills. I was leading and I seen a trail to the left up a little hill with rocks scattered, up I go. Uh oh, is what I thought as I pictured the crew going up it, so I found a trail that looped back around to the base of the hill and it was like a yard sale. Bikes all over, 'sorry guys and gals'. Well, we found some more stuff including a really gnarly hill climb and then headed back to camp. That was fun, just going for a ride with friends and adventuring through the hills. Well, it was getting close to when the sign ups open, so we got signed up and the bomb run was open. The bomb was like 3 miles across the valley and fast. I tried the right side, then the left, then the middle. All were pretty good, just find a line. We(Nick and I) made a line right down the middle that was straight and fast. We only did it cruising like once or twice and called it good 'til morning because we didn't want other people tearing it up and making it all chopped out. Back to the boxvan for final race prep and load up and to town for some grub at Nick's Pizza(good pasta and pizza) and to the motel for showers and a little tv before sleepy time. We watched the end of Jurrasic Park and then Twister started. It was after 9 and we had to get up early, but the movie was catching us and we couldn't turn it off, finally at almost 10, we mustered the courage and hit the power button and snoring time.
Sunday: The Battle: The alarm clock was going off 3:50, so I started pressing buttons, I clicked every switch and hit every tab and nothing but ring ring ring. It was irritating me, I was half asleep and couldn't turn it off, 'what the heck'. Finally after like a minute of that Tina, who was already up, comes over and grabs my phone and hits a button, "Oh" it was my new cell phone, not the alarm clock, dang things. Got some showers and on the road. After the 45 or so minute drive, we were at the race site. It was just starting to show signs of light and time to unload and get some cereal. It was cold and windy. Well, the bomb didn't open for a while, so we got everything all set up and after a bit it was time to head down to the start and finalize my line. We got it all smooth and I hit it twice, wide open for 3 miles, craazy. Well, back to the truck for top off of gas and a little grub for my belly and back to the starting line. We got all set and before long, the banner was up. 1 minute, dead silence, couple hundred riders lined up bar to bar for like a half mile wide, breathing smoothly with legs on kick starters waiting for the first glimpse of the banner dropping and Drop. Braaaaa, my YZF450 fired and was breathing fire. 2nd, 3rd, 4rth, 5th gear and tuck, wide open. I was first on my line and I knew we had the best line. Well, like one or two minutes later and 3 miles behind us was the end of the bomb and the start of ribbon, no one around, SWEEET. Braaa, Pinned and I pushed hard trying to open a gap on second. I never looked back until the first check. I seen second not too far back so back focused, pinned. They threw us in some fun hill sections that were virgin and I was looking for ribbon, being the first rider and all. I felt good and my Yamaha was working flawless. 2nd check and a quick look back, second place was still only like 10 seconds. Then, they would throw us in a fast Valley, going wide open, like 80 plus miles an hour, barely blinking, looking for a "gotcha" or ditch or a road crossing that will send you to the ground. My bike worked well as we went through valley and mountains and fast and slow. We came into the pits after 40 miles. They said I had 10 seconds or so on Destry. Craap, I worked my butt off and he was still right there. I left the pits and did a quick look and Destry was pitting. ALRIGHTY, lets do it. I left the pits and pushed. We got out there and the 45 mile mark, then the 50, about then, I heard a bike. OK, lets do it. They had us in virgin terrain and I was riding as fast as I could. I went through some ditches and this dang green thing with a craazy possesed man passed me. NOO, I pinned it right behind him. A bit later we hit an older trail that had a bit of silt and I got roosted, I took it and stayed right there, but we changed direction and the dust was blowing right at me and I was blinded and had to crack the throttle. Craapp. We were probably 15 or so miles into the loop. I fell back probably 7 or 8 seconds and then we got back into the virgin stuff. Now Destry had to find the ribbon and I rode off him. We headed up this gnarly rock infested almost verticle hill. I took a different line probalby 10 feet to the right and was bouncing off 2 and 3 foot boulders, just pinned hanging on going up this almost verticle hill. Well, I put some time on him and he was just a 50 feet up there. We were going on these ridges that make Triceratops dinasaur backs look like freeways. It was gnaaarly. Destry was right there as we headed off this gnarly rocky down hill, he went left, I went right. Then I seen the side off his bike and him up and down on the ground. I am trying to navigate these gnarly rocks and stay on two wheels as I looked to see if he was alright, he was up and running to his bike, so I stuck my head down and floored it, ping ponging off rocks and bushes. A couple miles later, there was a check and a left hander afterwards. Destry was back and right on my tail again. 65 mile mark. He was not giving up. I stayed strong as the miles clicked by. I came down this gnarly downhill and the course at the bottom took a right in the wash. Braa, through rocks and the course is taking a left out back up another hill and a flash and Destry launches off a ledge and he seen the ribbon and made the zig zag into a launch and a straight line. Danget, as I was playing catch. We went at it. I was off to the right, then to the left going through ditches over rocks, and jumping off ledges, sometimes into more rocks and others into washes, it was craazy. I pulled to the left of him, but even and he seen me and pinned it even more. My path wound me up in big rocks that I was not going over, so slowed down and tucked into the course. I lost 5 or so seconds, but wasn't giving up. I slowly caught up and it was on again. Flying off 10 foot cliffs and just going for it pinning it. I finally read a better line and YEEeHAAA. I was first again, time to bear down and take this baby home first. I worked my poor bike hard, milking every thing out of 'er possible. I could hear Destry still not backing off. We headed up more and down more and finally a gnarly uphill with people all over. I dropped the wrist and pinned it and 'Oh' rock, wamm sideways, still pinned and 'Oh' another rock I was aiming right for, but I couldn't back off and waamm, sideways and back pinned. This was gnarly, just find a ribbon at the top of the hill and pin it as fast as freaking possible to it. I got to the top and had steamed my bike from working it so hard. There was a gnarly straight down down hill with loose rocks and what do you do, brake right, naa, I gassed it and shikaned down through this thing littered with rocks and fans all down it and whooo, I took a half a breath and pinned it, I didn't hear a bike behind me, but he should be right there. I pinned it and tried for more. A guy on the side of the course head his hands wide like I had a big lead. I did a quick look back and didn't see anyone, but I wasn't about to crack the throttle 'til the checkered flag. I could see pits and I knew the finish was coming. I pinned it all the way to the last section. They through us down this gnarly rock thingy and YEEEHAAA, I screamed with joy as I crossed the checkered flag. I was still just on edge and a little jumpy as I took off my helmet. Holy Hell, sorry for the langauage, but Holy Hell. That was craazy. Finish Order
1st Russell Pearson :)
2nd Destry Abbott
3rd Kendall Norman
4th Brian Brown
5th David Pearson
I have another National Hare and Hound in like 3 weeks back in Utah so, I hope to continue with the same results there too. It was cool seeing Brian Brown(H&H champion from a couple years back) come and race and do good. My cousin David, who won the last H&H soldiered through a hurt ankle from last weekend where he tweaked it something awful riding and taped it and just tuffed it out.
Well, I am back home and might be racing Terrible's Town 250 this coming Saturday. I attached 3 photos, but I have more and Angela(Matt Gosnell's girlfriend) had some footage with me and Destry close racing that I am trying to get up on my website at russpearson.com. The one is a photo with me and my dad with my cousin Jeremy and my grandpa who is holding a trophy I got also from catching the hare. Another of me about a quarter mile from the finish. Well, after the race, we also stopped by at Lucerne Valley where we seen some animals in a little feed barn thingy, so we stopped to check it out. There were rabbits and ugly turkeys with big old geezer necks and then they had these cool miniature goats. The best was this old black one they had, he was rad lil' billy goat. So, ya never know, I might have to add to my farm here in Henderson before too long. I also included a shot of Napoleon or Zero(our sugar gliders) so until next time, a big thanks to my family and friends and all my great sponsors and fans for all the great support. I couldn't do it without ya, Thanks
Russell Pearson
russpearson.com
Napoleon or Zero(sugar glider) flying squirrels
Napoleon or Zero
no lines, just ribbon and rocks
Right before finish
Grandpa with Hare Trophy, Dad with Overall Trophy, Me, Jeremy(cousin)
WORCS rd 5 Victorville, CA / April 15, 2006
Hello everyone,
This weekend we headed out by Adelanto, CA for the 5th round of the WORCS series. Nick and I along with the dogs and sugar gliders headed down Friday morning for practice while the girls(Tina-my girlfriend and Amber-Nick's wife) stayed for work and headed down later that night. We got there and rode the moto track a bit. Everything was pretty good. There was a like 100 plus foot step up then down jump thingy that was pretty cool along with just typical moto turns with some ruts and up and down thingies. We did some changes on the bikes and then you could see the rain coming. I did a couple more laps and it started sprinkling and getting heavier, so, with practice about over anyways I headed to the boxvan. I chatted with Nick about the course and bike stuff and he said he slid out and banged up his thumb pretty good. Crapp, that sucks. Well, we threw the bikes and stuff in the boxvan and the rain started coming down pretty hard. On our way out of the track, the road went by the little guys and girls track, and those kids were ripping around like no other all soaked and all. Man, kids are great, just out there having fun. Well, we made it to town and got some ice for Nick's thumb and grub and to the motel for night night.
Saturday: alarm clocks flying at 5 and showers and to the track. I decided to do Unclassified so I got all signed up and some food for my belly and to the track at 7:30 for Unclassified. Tina came and had a screwdriver and hammer and punch and hung out by the side of the track, thanks Tina. Well, my bike felt pretty good and the track was already getting rough, so cool. We headed to the boxvan and got out of my gear and checked over some stuff on the bike and chatted with Nick. His thumb looked like it had come off the Pillsbury dough boy as it was all swollen and puffy and also turning black and blue. He couldn't even grab his clothes bag let alone a hold onto a crazzy motorcycle as you're pinning it in huge sand whoops and wide open square edge chop. That sucks, but is racing. So, 1:20 was my practice and Tina was out there again with tools in case I wanted to change something. Well, the practice was good. The track was getting gnarly with sand and whoops and turns and a couple fast sections with gnarly square edge chop. They had a little log section with tires(kind of like the Enduro Cross scaled down) that was pretty cool also. I felt good and after practice did the usual race prep with tires and bleeding brakes and new air filter and so on. The WORCS staff along with some parents did a little Easter Egg hunt thing for the kids and that is cool. Easter is always fun, especially for the kids. Well, Tina and I got all done and loaded and headed on into town. What for dinner?? Well, we elected Olive Garden for some dang good ol' salad and some pasta for fuel for the body. We met up with Tony Acosta. race chaplain, and Doug Sillers and friend Jen showed up later on. Got some good grub and then back to the motel for showers and some shut eye.
Sunday: Race Day, got to the track and unloaded. Checked out how they were running the pro pit and also seen that we were doing the logs and tires backwards. They ended up filling inbetween the logs and tires full of water for a little extra difficult or struggle too. Nice. Well, before long, it was time for Rider's meeting and a little chapel service by Tony and signed a couple more autographs for kids and adults and to the starting line for the parade lap and National Anthem. Well, lil' Dillon and Tina helped get my start grove in tact and Tina gave me my race goggles and 1 minute board was up and 30 seconds and sideways and gate drops. Leaning forward and Braaa. I got a good jump and my Yamaha was running strong. De Ja Vu as Garrison(Yamaha teammate) were up front and heading into the first right hander wide open. Well, there was a bit of mud and ruts on the inside and Tina and I had walked it earlier and found a line on the very very inside. Well, I dove in and braa, yeee haa 1st. Well, a couple turns later, there was a weird section that I would single table and triple, well, Garrison was a little more swift and stepped onto the table and slipped by. Crap, well alright as we headed out into the offroad. We were pinned and I slipped wide and Hughes got by, danget. Well, I pulled back beside him in the next straight away and rode there most the lap. The outsides were pretty good in most turns because the insides had like 3 foot whoops that would slow you down too much. Then I just brain faded and took a turn wide, but too wide and got into some slippery stuff and poof, hand and face full of sand, nice. Well, I got my bike started and had fallen probably to 10th or so. I was like alright, don't panic, just get in a groove. Well, I got by a couple guys and feeling good, when on lap 2 through the logs and tires, there was a couple guys. I got stuck for a second and kind of squidded it, but back going and OK, well, when I went to hit my front brake for a turn, nothing, what?? well, I figured I must have hit my bottom caliper on a tire or log and compressed it, so pump pump pump trying to get brake and still nothing. Crap, I looked down and my caliper was hanging. I clipped something and broke it. Well, into the pits and got a caliper off my other bike and switched it with help of Ralph, Charles, myself and other, we got it done and back on the trail. Well, by now I was back behind all the pros and a lot of the semi pros. Danget. 2 hours, so I can make up time. I pinned it and the pit board next lap said 24th. I would slowly see a guy and catch and make a pass. Again and again. I came into the pits after and hour and they said I was like 15th or 16th. OK, lets do it. I kept charging and charging, then the sign said "11th, get top 10". So, I found the next guy up there a couple turns and gave it my all. I made the pass. 2 laps left. I could see 9th up there a couple turns and stuck my head down. Well, maybe a little too low as later on that lap, I did another soil sample. Ohh man, picked my bike up and got going. I lost a bit of energy, but was like OK, I still got a lap left and its not over. I was back a bit, but gave it my all and started catching him, but time was clicking. I came into the logs and he was already out. Dang, well, I turned a couple more turns and there was the checkers. 10th.
1st Ryan Hughes
2nd Bobby Garrison
3rd Ricky Dietrich
4th Nathan Woods
5th Ty Davis
6th Mike Kiedrowski
7th Lance Smail
8th Mike Corder
9th Matt Karlson
10th Russell Pearson (me)
This next weekend we are headed again to California, this time to an AMA National Hare and Hound in Lucerne Valley, CA where I am going to work my butt off to come home with a win.
A big thanks to Tina for her help at the races and Ralph and Charles for their help in the pits, thanks. Also, thanks to Yamaha for building a great motorcycle and all their continued support along with all my other sponsors. Thanks to my family and friends and fans for your support. Nick's thumb is still all poofed up and is having some doctors check on it for quicker healing and my cousin David also tweaked his ankle this weekend practicing up in Panaca, NV. So, hope they heal fast and chat with you all next week.
Thanks for the support
Russell Pearson
russpearson.com
AMA National Hare and Hound -rd 4 Jericho, UT /
April 8, 2006
click above for video of start(not too cool for me, but something)
Hello Everyone,
This weekend marked the 4th rd of the AMA National Hare and Hound series in Jericho, Utah. The Sageriders put on this race and it is usually one of the funnest of the year and I was really looking forward to it. After my brother Nick and girlfriend Tina got off work, we were on our way Thursday evening with dogs and squirrels. We arrived in Delta, Utah at our motel at around 1:30 am and were ready for some shut eye.
Friday, up at 7 and got some breakfast and back driving the 45 or so minutes to where the race was. We pulled off the road by the Little Sahara riding area for jetting and final suspension check ups. There was a bit of snow on the ground and just epic conditions. Right before, I headed out, the dogs(YZ and Riley) disappeared. Well, they've done that before, but usually in a couple minutes, they come back, so we(Nick and I) went out. My YZF450 felt really good and comfortable. I ended up slowing down the rebound in the shock 1 click and that made the little difference and I felt confident and stoked. We got back to the truck and still no dogs. Crap, they've never gone that long. I yelled and yelled and was like, well, I got to find these crazy dogs. So, Nick and I started the search. I'll go over here, you go over there. I ended up coming upon Destry Abbott and his mechanic John and Destry's dad, they said they'll let me know if they see them. Then I seen Steve Hengeveld and his mechanic, they said they'll let me know if they see them. Then, David(my cousin) showed up and he started looking with Nick and Me. Man, we searched and searched. We put our pit-board out on the main road with Lost Dogs and phone numbers. After a couple hours and every hill top and sagebrush and trees gone around, I headed to the boxvan. I was kind of in a panic and bummed. It wasn't so bad at first, but as the minutes turned to hours I was getting scared. I go, we need a bigger sign, so we got our big table out and got some duck tape and started writing "LOST DO" as Tina went to put the G and then S on the table, here comes the hoodlums, trotting through the trees, back to the Boxvan. Well, after a pretty good spanking and then some hugs, they were put on a short chain. A big thanks to David and Nick and if anyone else helped. We headed to the pits and they said the start would be open early in the morning, so we headed on into town. After getting the bike's washed and prepped and dinner and all that stuff, our dad showed up with Tuffy, Axel, Maggie and Emma(some of our little brothers and sisters). We did a couple things to help them out with their little bikes and then lights out.
Saturday, Ring a ding ding, as the alarms were going off and after a shower and take dogs potty, we were on the road at 5:15 am Utah time. We rolled into the pits at around 6 am and it just showing glimpses of light. We got signed up and they said the start wasn't going to be open now 'til 9, so Axel and Tuffy were racing at 8:30, so we checked over their little YZ125L fourstrokes. Axel's throttle grip looked like it had been through the cheese grader, so we put a new one on and got them some hand guards and they were all ready. We got to watch them start and that was a lot of fun and then, back to the boxvan to put gear on and check out the start. We(Nick and I) got down there and checked it all out. We got the best line and practiced a couple more starts and she was firing and ready to go. We went back to the van where Tina had us some PB and Js for some fuel for my belly and the kids had just finished their race. They were telling stories and they had a blast. Dallin(my cousin David's brother) raced also along with a couple more of our cousins and they were doing all kinds of story telling. Well, it was about that time. After the National Anthem and the Rider's meeting, we headed like a bunch of crazy ants, to the start line. They got us all lined up and, after a bit, the banner was up. Dead silence for a minute and then, it drops. Kick and no braa, just twisted the throttle and no go, craapp, kick, kick, kick and after a bit, finally fire and braaa pinned. I cheezed it on the start, so now I was behind a hundred or so people and we all had to funnel down at the end of the bomb between 2 banners about 50 ft apart. I came into it and it was scary. Soft sand dunes and everyone wanting to go fast. Ooh, as somebody hit some sand and hooked a right right in front of me, then another guy sticks his front end and flies over the handle bars and, I wiggled my was through the banner and back pinned trying to pass as many people as possible. I saw David(my cousin) off to the side doing the same thing, then Quinn Cody and I were passing people together. It was totally craazy. We had like 7 miles of sand and it helped me out in passing a lot of people. I finally caught up to Matt Gosnell and pulled up on him and he kind of backed off a sec and then onto the next who was Kellon Walch, and finally snuck around him and then just pinned. After another couple miles, there was Destry. We were probably 15 miles or so into it and somebody held out 4 fingers. I was 4th. and the leaders were all right there. I pulled up to Destry's rear tire and he was riding good. I would almost put a tire in there every once in a while, but he was riding good and now we were right on Kendall's tire. David had pushed his way by both them and I could see him stretching it. Crapp, I pushed and tried a different line through the trees. Bad idea as I was now off the course and finding my way back to the course. I lost Destry and Kendall, so I pinned it and after a little bit was right back on Destry's tire. Well, about the 30 mile mark, Kendall blew a corner. Destry tucked in and I pinned it right with him. I was 3rd now. We got on some roads, and Destry dusted me a bit, but we got back in the sand and trees and I was like OK, this is it. I floored it so I could be right on his tire coming into the pits and that's what happened. Alright, it was 5 mph pits and I could have throwed a rock and hit him. OK, quick pit, so I can get by him. I threw some goggles on and didn't even take a drink of water. Nick said I was like 40 seconds behind David. She was full and braa, back to 5 mph. Destry was still filling. I was like yea, but then they did the extra pump on the dry break and he dropped it into gear and, we were practically side by side, but he had like 2 feet on me. You can't pass in the pits, so I had to hang there 'til the end. End of pits and it was a drag race. We were both going for it, pinned. We were now in some whoops and going fast, scary fast. My heart was thumping. I pulled to the side and made the pass. breathe, breathe as I left it pinned and looked forward to catch David. My Yamaha was finally open and we were flowing. I looked back at a check, no Destry, cool. I pinned it and then around the 15 mile mark, I just blew a corner. what? and then I went to the next corner and no rear brake. ???did I heat it up, I bleed the brakes right before the race with a brand new bottle of the best fluid??? did I bend the disc??? I'll play it cool for a bit and maybe it will come back. Never did. After a bit, I could hear Destry. I was riding a bit over my head as I would bang off trees and bounce off rocks trying to give it my all with not much stopping, but the wicked front brake. I finally blew a corner and he snuck under me. I followed him for a bit and he slowly snuck away. I rode my butt off and came into the finish 3rd, like 15 or 20 seconds back of Destry. David won, by like 25 seconds and that was the story.
1st David Pearson
2nd Destry Abbott
3rd Russell Pearson
4th Kendall Norman
5th Matt Gosnell
6th Quinn Cody
7th Kellon Walch
8th Carl Massaberg
Something I noticed, was out of the top 8 this weekend and 2 weeks ago at the last National, 5 of them are my buddies from Vegas. Carl, is a kid I ride with quite a bit during the weeks and all the others are close friends we hang out with and ride with too. Anyways, I am back home and back to work, because this weekend is a WORCS race in Victorville, CA followed by the next weekend our next AMA National Hare and Hound in Lucerne Valley, CA. I want to give a big thanks to my dad and brother Nick and girlfriend Tina for always being there at the races and waking up at the wee hours of the morning and running around for me, you guys and gal are awesome and I truly appreciate it. Also, a big thanks to Yamaha and all of my incredible sponsors for their support. Thanks to all my family, friends and fans for your support and backing also. I also included a couple photos that Tina took if you want to download and check them out. Thanks
I also put my Race Reports, including more photos and stuff on my website at RussPearson.com if any one is interested. Thanks again
A couple side notes: My mom was just awarded Tenure at her college in San Antonio, TX which means she can teach there pretty much as long as she wants and is what all College Professors try to accomplish and she was also awarded Best Teacher at her college from several thousand students which I think is quite the honor. I am not sure if I told everyone yet, but I have another brother or sister on the way come June(that will make 12 of us) and I am also going to be an Uncle here, come November when Nick and his wife Amber are do.
Russell Pearson
Part of the starting line
Dang Dogs, stay next time
Put on leash after their journey
Axel with no rear fender before race - (Tuffy wrecked and finished with no front fender and a tweaked exhaust)
Me coming into the finish
David center, Destry left, Me right (anyone have a shaver I can borrow?)
Axel and Dallin - pre race talk
Tuffy almost leading the way( red and black jacket on Yamaha leading left side)
WORCS - rd 4 Milford, CA / April 2, 2006
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend was rd 4 of the WORCS series located north of Reno, NV in the town of Milford, CA. We(me, Tina-girlfriend, Nick-brother and Amber-Nick's wife, dogs and squirrels) got out of Vegas after everyone got off work Thursday evening. We rolled into the big mining town of Tonopah around midnight for some shut eye at a local motel. Friday, up at 5 and on the road. Nick took over after a couple hours and I chilled in the back with Tina and we watched the chick flick "Just Like Heaven". It was FANTAstic, na, it actually wasn't too bad. Well, we rolled into the track around 11 and did practice. I changed a couple small things but, all in all was pretty happy. We walked the track and then headed on in to Susanville for dinner and motel.
Saturday: We got up and to the track for my practice and Nick's qualifier race thingy. I did a couple small things to my bike and next was practice. They let us do the whole track including the Pro Sections and everything was good, including the verticle waterfall section that a couple pros got hung up on. I chatted with Ty for a second and then we eyed up 2 mounds at the top of a hill and were like yea, we can clear it. So, he did it first and I followed, it was a blind jump and pretty far, but I made it barely and it was pretty cool. Afterwards, I got my bike all washed and changed a couple tires and bleed the brakes and filter and all of the normal stuff and back on the road for dinner at a little restaurant that we heard had some pasta. It was good, but pretty spicy. After that it was shower time and a little tv before lights out.
Sunday: Race Day, Well, it was here finally. Got some roll offs done on our goggles for the creeks that we went up and down and in case it started raining and did a couple final prep things and after the rider's meeting and little chapel thingy with Tony Acosta, it was time to put gear on and head to the start for the parade lap. After that Tina gave me my race goggles and the one minute board was up. 30 seconds and then sideways. Sounding like a bunch of angry bees until drop and braaa, pinned to the first turn. I was second, cool, right behind Garrison, another Yamaha rider. After the moto section, we headed off into the off-road stuff that I liked and then back to the moto. I was feeling tight on the moto stuff and lost a couple positions early on, shoot. "Get it together, come on Russ." Well, I passed Destry back when he pitted early. Cool, then I pitted and he got back by, danget. Well, I actually started flowing and caught right on the rear tire of Destry and we headed up the hill where Ty and I had made that made up double and I was like OK, I can do it and set up for a pass and braa, pinned and it was a lot rougher now and I didn't line it up perfect and wamm, I cased it pretty tough and the bad thing was, Splash, the sweat on my goggles went all over my lens. Crap, man, everything was blurry now as I did my best just to stay on the course. I kept Destry in my sights and the next lap, he got by a lapper right before the Pro Section with the waterfall and rocky stuff. Well, I gave a little space at the waterfall for this guy and he made it easy, so I got up and then there was another little rutted up hill with rocks and I thought it was pretty easy, but apparently not as he was now stopped and I was already in the huge rut halfway up this thing, Crap, I stopped and jumped off my bike and had to wheelie it to get it out of the rut and then turned around and had to ride backwards down the tight wash until I could find a place to turn around. Meanwhile I got passed by a bunch of guys and lost probably a minute or so. I finally got turned around and took another line up the hill and I was pooped. I pinned it and ended up getting around a couple guys and crossed the finish line in 8th.
Finish order?? I think
1st Mike Kiedrowski
2nd Hughes
3rd Smail
4th Davis
5th Woods
6th Bell
7th Abbott
8th Russell Pearson(me)
Nick ended up 14th after a kind of stuggled day. Well, back to work so I can do some improvements. A big thanks to my family and friends and sponsors and fans for all of the continued support. I couldn't do it without you and I am back home getting ready for this Saturday where I will be up in Utah for the next round of the AMA National Hare and Hound series where I am working my butt off to be on top of the podium there. I attached a couple photos of me that Tina took. Thanks again
Russell Pearson
picture from starting line
pic of me in creek
pic of brother Nick
AMA National Hare and Hound-Ocotillo, CA March 26, 2006
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend we traveled to Ocotillo, CA for the 3rd rd of the AMA National Hare and Hound Series. The race was 2 loops, first one 50 miles and being really fast. The second was 40 miles and a lot of sand and rocks and mud hills. I pulled 2nd on the bomb and quickly passed Destry for the lead. I lead the whole first loop and came in with a 20 or so second lead. The second loop I went out and missed the course a couple times. I had some problems for the second half of the loop and ended up at the finish 3rd. Finish order
1st Destry Abbott
2nd Kendall Norman
3rd Russell Pearson
4th David Pearson
5th Kellon Walch
This next weekend we are headed to Milford for a WORCS race, so until then a big thanks to all my family and sponsors and friends and chat with ya later.
Russell Pearson
WORCS Lake Havasu, AZ March 20, 2006
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend we traveled to Lake Havasu, AZ for round 3 of the WORCS series. Havasu is notorious for whoops, sand and more whoops and not to mention it is Spring Break time and the partiers were out in full force. We(Tina, myself and dogs and squirrels) arrived Friday for practice. After getting the bike all dialed in and a walk around the track, it was dinner time and lights out. Saturday was filled with races and the Pros got a practice time where we got to check out the track and make any final adjustments if needed. The track got beat with endless whoops that would gobble a VW bug up and holes and just gnarly. After practice, I did all the final Race Preperations on my bike and to dinner and showers to get all the sand off me and nighty time, well, at least some sleep between the hooting and haulering of the party crowd outside the motel room at 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning.
Sunday: Race Day
After some final preperations and the rider's meeting, it was time to head to the starting line. After the parade lap and National Anthem, bikes were fired and board was up, sideways and flag was thrown. Braaaa, I got a good jump and shot straight. I was about in the middle and started squeezing everyone off on the inside and came into the first turn all alone, nice, my Yamaha 450 hooked up got me the holeshot. I wanted a good start, so I wasn't playing catch up like I have been and was where I wanted to be. There was a set of double jumps back to back to back and I jumped a bit desert styleish and didn't stay low enough and got passed, danget. A bit later in the track there was some loose gravel on top of some hard pack and my front end slid on the marbles and poof, I was on the ground quicker than snot. Poopey, man, that sucks as I picked it up and time to play catch up. Well, we went down by the water and I got splashed a bit, no biggy, but for the next lap I was riding around a bit out of it. I pulled a tear off and not much better, finally I figured it out and some water had got under all my tear offs, so I finally just pulled them all off and could see straight again. Well, I was now around 12th, man, that sucks, I finally get a good start and then that. Crap, I stuck my head down and pinned it and started catching and finally a pass, then the pit board said 11th, then 10th, then 9th and when I pitted around the hour mark I was 7th. I had a lot of friends and fans at this race that kept cheering for me and it was really cool. I moved into 6th and 7th was right on me for the last part of the race, I would pull and then make a mistake and he would catch back up. Well, I finally pulled like 15 seconds on him and poof, I did a dumb move and lost the front end in a turn with 2 laps left. I picked it up and lost valuable time and it was a race for the last 2 laps. I pushed as hard as I could and with a mile to go before the finish, I did a dumb line and lost my momentum and now I was 7th, I tried again and almost lost the bike and then there was the checkered flag. Danget, not where I wanted to be at the end, but better than the last one, so I am improving, just not finishing where I want, so back to the gym and riding so I can be on that podium here in 2 weeks at Milford, CA for the next WORCS race. I want to give a big thanks to Tina and Ralph and everyone at Zip-Ty for the awesome pits and my friends and fans and sponsors for all of your continued support. finish order:
1st Mike Alessi
2nd Bret Metcalf
3rd Ryan Hughes
4th Bobby Garrison
5th Lance Smail
6th Ricky Dietrich
7th Russell Pearson
This next weekend is a AMA Hare and Hound in Ocotillo, CA. So, I am back home prepping for the desert and working my butt off so I can come home with a win there.
Thanks again,
Russell Pearson
BITD Laughlin US Hare Scrambles
Hello everyone,
This past weekend marked the notorious BITD Laughlin US Hare Scrambles. A brutal team race that goes through treacherous choya cactus fields, gnarly ups and downs and rocks and rarely getting out of 2nd gear. It is definetely one of the funnest race of the year in my opinion. A Pearson has won it I think 7 out of 8 times the last 8 years and I was hoping to keep that streak alive teaming up with Ty Davis on a YZ450F. Nick(brother) teamed with Robby Bell on a honda and my cousin David's partner bailed out the last minute and so he teamed with Joey Lanza. All the other top riders were there also. We(Ty and I) got our bike all dialed in on Friday and did a couple last minute things and then to Tech Inspection and Rider's Meeting.
Saturday: race day
I was starting, so I got out a bit early for breakfast and then to walk the first little section. 7:30, race starts. One bike every 30 seconds. We started 8th, last in the Open pro division. There was two 20 different miles loops, I was doing the first and Ty the second. Laughlin, is pretty tight, so usually dust isn't tooo bad, but the wind was calm and the dust was sitting and not moving at all. The light turned green and I was off. I felt good and ready, but just found myself pinning it just to almost come to a stop because of the dust. I pushed, but no luck. I never found an opening in the dust to make a go of anything. I remember going in like 2nd gear cruising on a road that was wide open for a bit because I was riding by brail the dust was so bad. The dust sucked the whole loop but I did get by Johnny Campbell who had tipped it over and then another rider who was not up to pace, but came in the pits right on the next rider and handed the bike over to Ty. We were close on time, but I lost a bit to my brother Nick and the other Honda team. Ty came in off his loop right behind the KTM teams. We did a quick gas and rider change and I pinned it(sorry for the roost pit crew). It worked as I barely got by a rider. One more down, but we were down a bit on time, so I pinned it. Our bike was feeling good and I slowly caught my cousin David and closed slowly and then wamm, he stalled it or his bike died or something(found out later, he had a problem that put them out of the race. I had a lot of clear sailing and almost caught the Honda teams as I gave it to Ty. We had made up some time, cool. I had worked my butt off, but we were back in it. Got cooled off and some food for my belly and ready for my last loop. The Kawi team was first and a little gap and then the 2 Hondas and there was Ty. We got a quick gas and then I roosted out of the pits again(sorry pit crew), but the Honda team was just ahead and the pits weren't dusty. I pinned it and there was a 100 ft silt section at the end of the pits with ruts and just gross. It was Nick(my brother) and he back off a bit, like he should and I should, but I couldn't. I wanted to stick with him because there was a fast whoop section right after and if I backed off like I should, then I might as well have a snickers because I would have to just cruise for a bit until the dust settled. Well, it worked kind a. I pinned it and caught within probably 50 to a 100 feet of him, just to where I could see a tiny bit. We were in whoops and nasty chop and going fast probably 60 or so. I did a couple nice swappers, not soo cool, but pulled a little closer. As it slowed to turn right into a little tighter stuff Nick saw me and let me by. Thanks Nick as I pinned it harder. Kendall Norman was just ahead as he was next. I had to get by them both if we had a chance for the Overall. I caught up to Kendall and he kind of bobbled as he over shot a turn and wamm, I got him. Yeehaa. All eyes forward as I had some time to make up on the Kawi team. I flat floored it and our Yamaha was working great. Well, unfortunately with about a mile left in my loop, the bike stopped and we were done, danget. We just had a freak mechanical error, poopey. I heard after the race I had made up over a minute and we were only like 40 seconds back physically to the Kawi team and that would have put us 20 seconds in first on time, but oh well, that's racing. I had fun and the course was great and Ty rode a great race too. Results
1st Abbott/Woods
2nd Hengeveld/Norman
3rd Gosnell/Corder
4th Nick Pearson/Robby Bell
Well, I want to give a big thanks to all my supporters, my family and friends and all my sponsors for all the help. I have a WORCS race in Lake Havasu, AZ in 2 weeks so until then, I will be working my butt off so I can be atop that podium there. Thanks for all the support and have a good week
Russell Pearson
WORCS rd 2 Taft, CA
Good morning everyone,
This past weekend we(Tina and I and pets) headed to Honolulu Hills outside of Taft, CA for the 2nd round of the WORCS series. The weather had called for showers Saturday and Sunday, so we tried to be prepared. We arrived Friday and got my Yamaha 450 all dialed in and were happy. Saturday was basically another day of practice, but we got to go around the whole course minus a couple of pro only sections. It started to rain on us Saturday as we did some laps and it was pretty chilly and pretty dang slippperry. Everything worked pretty good. I came back and did the final bike prep stuff for Sunday and then headed out to walk the pro only sections. After walking back in the dark, we headed to town and got some dinner and showers and then watched 15 minutes of Olympics before lights out.
Sunday, weather was good and we got to the track and did a couple of last minute details to the bike and got all dialed in for the race. After the parade lap, we all lined up and the 30 second board was up, turned sideways and all eyes on the gate. Braa as I tried to get a smooth launch on the concrete pad, but next thing I knew briingading as my bike broke loose and span, so I dropped the throttle and did a novice burn out. Well, I came in the first turn and tried to go wide, but got pushed out and almost hit some hay bails. I continued to get pettled with muddy roost and there goes a tear off and another. Danget, another bad start. Well, I plugged away and had to come in for new goggles and was around 20th. I pushed and slowly started passing people. I got around Glen Kearney (GNCC rider) and then started to put a gap and then pop. I stalled my bike in the log section. Shoot, kick kick and finally got it started, but lost enough time where I lost a position. We were little over the halfway mark and I got stuck in a funk. I pushed, but couldn't ever pass Kearney back, and basically played follow the leader. I came into the checkered flag at 10th. Shoot, not what I wanted and have been working for. So, back to the drawing board and work on some starts and a bit of other things so I can be on top of that podium. Finish order was I think like:
1st Ryan Hughes
2nd Mike Kiedrowski
3rd Bobby Garrison
10th Russell Pearson
I want to thank all of my family, Tina, sponsors and friends for all the support. I am back home and to work so we can make some improvements and I will keep you posted with the next race updates here soon.
Thanks
Russell Pearson
AMA National Hare and Hound rd 2 Red Mountain, CA
Hello Everyone,
This weekend marked the 2nd round of the AMA National Hare and Hound