AMA Pirelli / Parts Unlimited / Moose / Maxxis

Mid-South Championship Winter Hare Scramble Series

Round 4: The Big Stripper

Bersano Wins Big Stripper

BY DEBBIE ALLEN

New Johnsonville, TN, November 2

Blair Bersano picked off another win at the Mid-South Championship Winter Hare Scramble Series’ fourth round. This time he rode smart and waited until the last mile to make his move for first place. After a bad start, he slowly worked his way into third place of a twelve man pack. Then he passed the two front runners, P. A. Allen and John Maschino close to the finish. It was a close battle near the last couple of miles, and Bersano came in first place in overall while Allen and Maschino followed for the podium finish.

“We were a couple of miles out, and I knew I didn’t have much time left,” said Bersano. “I had one line picked out from the lap before when I saw P.A take it, and he passed John Robbins for the lead. But, when we got there, I was unable to take it because he took it again. I thought oh no, but then I had one other place picked out and that’s where I got him. There were two lappers in front of him, and they held him up. So, I just hammered it down and made the pass, but he was on my tail the whole time and there was no letting up.”

FMF Suzuki / Maxxis / Smith Sport Optics / Suonomy / Clarke backed Bersano said he had his share of troubles. “The track was slick and the lappers held me up for a good bit of the race.” In spite, Bersano seemed to have no trouble toward the end. He found P.A. in his sights, checked out the position of the lappers, and then zoomed into the lead for his third time this season. He rode smart and made use of experience by getting the lappers in between himself and Allen just before a tight section.

With no other places to pass, Allen struggled with two lappers in front of him and finished in second place. Like Bersano, he also had a bad start and was patient at getting the lead. On the start, he was dead last after going down at the first corner. Bersano was the last AA rider to pass him, and Allen took off just in front of the 250 /Open A group. Both riders rode conservative and managed the lead during the third lap with Allen riding up front and Bersano, Jeff Cregg, and John Maschino battling from behind.

Team Green Kawasaki / Sarge’s Cycles / Pro Curcuit / Dunlop / Maxima / supported Allen said, “I don’t mind losing if I am riding slower, but my bike was awesome out there. Every time I would take the lead my bike would fly. I just had problems with getting around the lapped traffic and Blair got around me. I know that’s all part of racing, but it would be nice if they just pulled over like they should.”

Off the start, John Robbins got the holeshot and was in the lead for the most of first two laps. He later dropped back to fifth place and worked his way up to finish the race in fourth place in the AA class. Maschino finished in third place while D.R. Atwood got fifth.

OffRoad Group / GasGas / Bridgestone / MSR / Leader Goggles sponsored Machino said, “I feel real good with my ride. Today’s the first time I ever got in the top five at this Mid-South race.”

The Big Stripper held more than its share of obstacles for the 339 riders who signed up for the Pirelli Tire, Parts Unlimited, Moose, and Maxxis Tire sponsored series in Lynnville, Indiana. The track was slick and many people went down while passing any one of its ten bridges. The track consisted of long, narrow hills that had boulders in its path. It was impossible to pass in those sections. In the low lying areas, some felt a little impatient to wait their turn on the bridge so they went through the Black Coal slime instead. It worked for some while others simply got stuck.

Jeff Cregg was one of those riders who felt the pain from his decision. He chose the mud hole instead of the bridge and got stuck. At that time, he was riding in second place in the AA class and unfortunately fell back to eighth place in overall.

Marty Michels was the winner of 250/Open A. He was dead last off the start and basically put his head down while everyone else made mistakes. Mike Sampson was flying and finished in second while Jeremy Ketchum followed in third place in 250/Open A.

Also winning his class was Jacob Patterson in Junior A. He overpowered his class by coming in first place and was a minute and a half in front of his second place contender, Sean Gentry.