The 2009 NMA Off-Road finale proved to be one of the most challenging tests racers would see all season. The Hareport Scrambles, hosted by the Bremerton Cruisers Motorcycle Club, were extremely popular in their debut last season. This year was no exception. Hundreds gathered to sample the 7 mile course continuously dampened by a massive cloud that stubbornly stuck around all day.
Youth racers broke in sections of the course during the morning's dim light. Waterproof outfitted parents cheered on their soaked little pilots and made an executive decision, warranting bath night. While the tots were tearing up the track, fully grown competitors prepped their machines and peeked at the horizon, silently praying for a break in the gray.
The adult short course participants lined up on the paved starting line, tightly packed into narrow rows two bikes deep in a few classes. Awaiting the takeoff, goggles began the early stages of completely fogging over. Rain sizzled off hot head pipes while soaking into pants, gloves and jerseys. They departed in a hurry, hurling standing water off their back tires while aggressively seeking the first turn. Once off the tarmac the cloud covering made the tight woods seem like an unlit tunnel. Knobbies transplanted topsoil from the ground to the bikes and bodies in their wake. In the open areas, rolling hills gathered pools of water in low spots while severed tree branches littered the trail side keeping racing lines narrow. The grass track had some of the widest lines racers would see all day, but finding traction through the meandering ribbons was treacherous. High and low 
side wrecks decorated the mushy turf as bikes in forward motion swapped in and out of control.
With each passing lap, once colorfully clothed riders browned with bespattered markings of liquid dirt. Bottlenecks stacked by the dozens around ruts, uphills, puddles, root clusters, logs and downed machines. Fatigue could be read on the mud pelted faces of racers who mushed through the course in survival mode. The grass track transformed into a large pool of thick gravy. Uprooted course markers were eventually mixed into the unappetizing brown sauce. Deeply hidden ruts crossed in and out of each other, surprising everyone on their way though.
Short course riders were still paddling their way through the final checkpoint as the last race of the day began. The prompt onset caught some off guard. A few AA riders were not on the line as the rest of the class began the race. One of them happened to be championship 
contender Ricky Russell, "I was in shock and looked over at my teammate Anthonee Gibbs and we began to panic."
They entered the race from the pit area and scrambled to get up into to the mix. Joining them in the hunt were the succeeding horde of riders on their way to test their skills and stamina against the draining course. Relentless rain and the traffic of the races prior, left large ruts throughout the track. Some were deep enough to swallow bikes, causing course workers to reroute through more suitable ground. Nearly all the turns on the grass track were eliminated into slithering straightaways that still had enough 
nasty to bring riders down.
By the time the first lap was complete Russell had forced himself into second place behind the Kawasaki of fellow championship contender Brandon Johnson. It looked as though it was going to be another great battle between the two front runners with over two hours left in competition. Russell would have his work cut out for him as Johnson rode with controlled aggression. "The course conditions were actually ideal for me. I really enjoy racing in muddy, technical conditions. [It] fell apart in a few areas, but the course workers did a good job on eliminating anything that could become impassable," Johnson said.
Many riders switched from race to survival mode following a few laps around the brutal terrain. Over-aggression resulted in crashes and exhaustion. Smooth riders were rewarded for their performance by picking wise lines and sparing their bikes from 
punishing penalties. Russell calmed down and settled into a good pace, but was too far back to put pressure on Johnson.
Russell wound up in second, in the race and in championship points. He felt it was a tough season that, "had it's ups and downs," including a broken shoulder blade, running out of gas in a race and coming down with mono.
His teammate Anthonee Gibbs clenched third in the event after an intense battle with Eric Forsberg.
Johnson (the only rider to complete 8 laps) was elated following the race. "It felt great to wrap up the championship with a solid win at the final race. Ricky rode great all year and he’ll definitely be a major threat in the next couple years, so I was glad to get one in there while I could." He also promised to, "work hard all winter for another battle next year."
It was an exciting finish to a closely matched season of racing held on a course that started out hard and never let up, just like the rain overhead.
(All photos by Ben Baucum)
For more photos and video please see http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-9668-Portland-Motorcycle-Examiner~y2009m11d17-2009-Hareport-Scrambles-photos-and-video.
For complete race results please see http://bremertoncruisers.com/.
For the 2009 season standings please see http://www.nmaoffroad.org/points.shtml for the details.
Ben Baucum
Comments