David Kamo Race Report - Round #2
By: David Kamo

Valentine’s Day brought me to Ridgecrest for the 2nd round of the national H & H. The day before Brendon Ritzman, KTM-RPM Racing Team, and I spent time looking at the bomb run. It was near last year’s start but further out and going in the opposite direction. I basically started on the far side like last year, but I’m pretty sure that the scrub brush had grown even bigger and taller! All the lines eventually funneled down to a couple.

I got a decent start off the line on my KTM 450 XCF. Dave Pearson was first at the end of the bomb and Destry was second. I jumped in right behind Des, and then I got a chance to get around him in the beginning of the first lap. I followed Dave for the first 41 mile loop. I made a mistake coming into the pits that took time, but caught back up and passed Dave on the second loop. Then Dave passed me back right before the end of the 2nd 38 mile loop.

We came into the pits for the end of the 2nd loop. The pits were a cluster. Kendall Norman was right behind me coming in. He passed me through the pits, but forgot to turn. Dave went through the pits backwards and I let him in front of me to get to the KTM pit.  I looked back and could see Destry, Kendall, and Jacob Argubright right behind me. I got a faster pit than Dave and was out of the pits in the lead.

Unfortunately, the 17 mile Loop #3 started out as common course with Loop 2 – It didn’t take long before I came up to the lapped riders and had to let off on the throttle. I made 3 or 4 stupid passes on the lapped riders trying to keep my lead position, but by then Dave had caught back up and passed me. I was getting frustrated and hit neutral about midway up a hill. Not a good place to do that. Jacob and Destry got by me. I was able to catch Argubright and passed him back. I watched Dave and Destry go back and forth for the lead, but was unable to make up the distance before the end of the race.

Final 5 were Pearson, Abbott, me, Argubright and Norman. This leaves Destry and I tied for 1st, Pearson in 2nd, Norman and Argubright tied for 3rd for the series standings.

Ritzman was close behind me at the start, but a rock hit and broke his goggles off. He raced back to the pit area, got new goggles, and went back on course. Later, he and Paul Krause ended up helping an injured rider who needed medical attention.

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