2017 NHHA #2 | New Mexico

Riverside, CA (February 14, 2017) –

A sandy, whooped course awaited the riders at the second round of the AMA National Hare and Hound championship in Alamogordo, NM. Rocky Mountain ATV/MC, Precision Concepts Race Team’s Justin Morgan got off to a good start and worked his way up to second place behind the leader, Gary Sutherlin, on the first lap. Justin ran third at the close of the first loop after a battle with Ricky Brabec, and then a slight navigational mistake allowed Jake Argubright to make the pass, moving Morgan to fourth midway through the second loop. A solid, mistake-free ride on the third and final loop of the race gave Justin a healthy gap over the rest of the field behind him as he garnered a season-best finish in fourth place.

Photos courtesy of Mark Kariya

Said Justin after the race, “The bike fired up real quick, but so did every body else’s. It was a mid-pack, but closer to the front and I was able to work my way up in the early chaos as everyone funneled into this tight, dusty canyon. I was actually in second and then Ricky got around the outside of me in one of the corners, but I kept up with him pretty good for a few miles; he’d gap me and then I’d pull pretty close to him, and then he eventually pulled a little lead on me. After the first pit I had a really good pace going, I could still see the two leaders for a while, then I made one wrong turn in a canyon and it ended up costing me a position when Jake got past me and get away from me. It was great [to run up front], I know I have the speed now; it was a big confidence builder. When you never see those guys [being back in the pack] you don’t know what they’re doing so it was great. I learned what I need to work with on the bike and myself, but we’re really close. I’m excited going forward.”

Results

Justin Morgan – 4th