13.05.2024
An exceptional weekend out in the AMA West Hare Scrambles (WHS) and Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series resulted in more winning results and podiums for FMF KTM Factory Racing on Sunday. Dante Oliveira made it three victories from three starts in WHS, while on the east coast, Johnny Girroir extended his GNCC advantage with a runner-up result, and FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers' Grant Davis won the XC2 250 Pro Class to increase his points lead.
WEST HARE SCRAMBLES SERIES - ROUND 3The third round of the 2024 AMA West Hare Scrambles Series was another convincing one for Dante Oliveira, recovering from an early fall on his KTM 350 XC-F to reclaim the lead on lap four and go on to victory.
Defending WHS Champion Oliveira has won all three rounds to date this season, continuing that trend in dusty, rocky conditions at the Flying Blind Dirt Park in Prineville, Oregon, with a six-second winning margin. He now has a 22-point lead in the Pro Class championship standings.
Dante Oliveira: "It was a fun day, but nasty! So dusty out here and a demanding track, with just how rocky and choppy it is – you can't ever really relax. I've never felt this comfortable on the bike in these types of conditions, so shoutout to the FMF KTM Factory Racing Team – all in all, it was a solid day out for us! I got the holeshot and then I hit the ground, but it ended up coming together in the end. I pitted on lap two and put the hammer down to get back into the lead on that following lap, which worked out, and I was able to maintain after that."FMF KTM Factory Racing teammate Mateo Oliveira finished fourth in Round 3, affected by his starting position and going on to salvage a decent haul of points. He was positioned as high as third in the middle stages, before settling into P4 for the weekend in class. That result sees him maintain second in the Pro Class title race.
Mateo Oliveira: "It wasn't ideal at all because the start was key today and I didn't get a good one. It was a super technical track and I was pretty timid, but a good learning round, and we will aim to keep moving forward. It was dusty and hard out there, with a lot of rocks, and the boys were on it today." Pro Class Results1. Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing2. Giacomo Redondi, GASGAS
3. Zane Roberts, Beta
4. Mateo Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES - ROUND 7A seventh podium in as many rounds marked another impressive ride from Johnny Girroir in the Powerline Park GNCC, as Round 7 saw the Grand National Cross Country Series arrive at its halfway point for 2024.
Girroir rode his FMF KTM Factory Racing 350 XC-F to second position after challenging for the victory in St. Clairsville, Ohio, and that result has enabled him to extend his XC1 Open Pro Class advantage to a commanding 29 points following seven of 13 rounds scheduled.
Johnny Girroir: "You had to be patient today. With two or three laps to go I got in sight of Craig [DeLong] and tucked the front-end in the woods, so I was like, 'Man, it's time to get going'. I ended up getting alongside him a couple of times on the last mile, but hats off to him on a good job today. It was a good race! I wish I got going a little bit sooner, but you had to be careful with how hard you were pushing out there."Riders were met with technical conditions, but there was no slowing current XC2 250 Pro Class championship leader Grant Davis on his way to the win after leading from the outset, while FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers teammate Gus Riordan managed a podium finish in third position.
Grant Davis: "It was a good day, for sure. I got the holeshot and led the whole race for once, which has never happened before! I'm glad I was able to get this win and extend the points lead this weekend."Gus Riordan: "Today was rough, but I was happy to salvage some points and put it on the box. I just couldn't quite execute on my lines, but other than that, it was a fun day."It's still Davis who continues to lead the XC2 250 Pro Class series, now 18 points clear of Riordan – both with three victories each to their credit to date in 2024 onboard their KTM 250 XC-F machinery.
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers WXC entry Brandy Richards factored up front at the Powerline Park GNCC on her way to a second-place result, also equipped with the KTM 250 XC-F. Richards is currently positioned second in the standings following the first half of the season.
Brandy Richards: "It was a pretty good day. I had a decent start, just had a couple of falls, and caught back up – I was pretty patient all day. I led the first two laps and Korie [Steede] caught me on the last lap, but we had such a good battle! I had a good time out there, the track was great this weekend."XC1 Open Pro Class Results1. Craig DeLong, Husqvarna
2. Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing3. Grant Baylor, Kawasaki
5. Trevor Bollinger, Husqvarna
XC2 250 Pro Class Results1. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers2. Liam Draper, Yamaha
3. Angus Riordan, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team LandersWXC Class Results1. Korie Steede, Husqvarna
2. Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers3. Rachael Archer, Kawasaki
UPCOMING OFFROAD RACES - MAY 20245/26: National Grand Prix Championship - Round 6
5/26: U.S. Sprint Enduro Series - Round 5
5/26: U.S. Hard Enduro Series - Round 4