Round one of the 2024 AMA West Hare Scrambles presented by Mojo Motorsport, the Turtle Mountain Hare Scramble kicked off the season in Doyle, in style with Dante Oliveira claiming the win.

The conditions for this year’s AMA West Hare Scrambles (WHA) season opener could not have been better, with a late season snow melting off just in time to leave wet dirt on the freshly groomed trails, minimizing the dust.

The Lassen M/C has hosted the opening round for WHS for the past 4 years, and has always set up a fun, flow-y race leading the riders up and back down steep mountainous desert terrain. The 12-mile loop ended in a huge downhill known as “Widowmaker”, which could be seen from the pits and allowed spectators and teams the opportunity to view their racers ripping into the finish line. 

The fastest Pro racer completed the loop in just under 20 minutes. The race was 2.5 hours long, resulting in a maximum of eight laps over the course of the sunny day. 

Returning 2023 WHS Pro Champion RedBull FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Dante Oliveira showed up in full force ready to defend his title, which is exactly what he did. After an exciting back and forth battle with his teammate Mateo Oliveira, the champ secured his P1 position finishing less than a minute in front of his brother. The two secured the first two podium positions, clocking times of 2:40:17 and 2:41:02 unofficially. 

“I’m really excited with the result and to be on the KTM 350 XC-F in WHS this year.” Said Dante who is mixing GNCC with his west coast desert racing this early part of the ’24 season. “I actually went down on the first lap and then had to catch back up, which we did in the end – they were going fast! I had my spots where I was quicker and I pushed in those areas, but it was tricky to make the pass on this track, flowing up over the ridges and stuff. We will keep building from here and I’m looking forward to getting more races in.”

Rounding the pro podium was Factory Beta’s Zane Roberts who had a couple get-off’s that cost him a little time, but also admitted he just wasn’t tracking his competition with as much speed. Due to a number of variables including the terrain and lappers, Roberts made the wise decision to set his own pace and finish the race without issue. 

WHS 2024 Rnd 1 results (top 25)

Ava Silvestri on the gas, but not too much

The Pro Women’s class took on the 1.5 hour morning race and were the first to touch the race course. This turned out to be a much appreciated as with each raced lap, the lines became more defined, making passing in some places nearly impossible.

2023 WHS season champion GAS GAS Factory-supported racer Ava Silvestri came prepared to defend her title. It is safe to say she accomplished her mission, running lap times as fast as the Pro Open class, at just over 21 minutes.

Knowing those times would force another lap (for here and everyone else) Silvestri slowed slightly so she would finish just over the time limit, take the win and give everyone an easier time.

Not far behind her was Innteck KTM supported racer Rachel Stout, who got off to a great start and ran her own race, staying a comfortable distance in front of P3’s finisher Factory Beta Racing’s Britney Gallegos.

The Pro 250 class saw some new faces mixed in with the usual suspects including Layton Smail, bringing Factory Sherco USA 2024 SEF 250 Factory ride. P1 in his class and P4 overall proved Smail is in it to win it.

A little over a minute behind was FMF RPM KTM Racing Team’s Jaden Dahners who stepped up to the factory supported team in 2024. Rounding the Pro 250 podium was Ryder Thomaselli, a long-time WHS racer on the Husqvarna Factory support team this season.

James McMurray raced to the Pro Vet win after some good battles with second place finisher Steve Roberts. By the last lap Roberts had successfully made a pass on McMurray but a lapper got in the way on the infamous Widowmaker steep hill, holding him up just enough for McMurray to make a pass for the win. Rounding out the Pro Vet podium was Chase Rosenquist, celebrating his bachelor party over the weekend.

Overall this year’s AMA West Hare Scramble season opener was s good one with the ‘Widowmaker’ proving to be a section the racers either came to loved or hated, there really was no in-between.

Round two of the WHS is April 13-14, in Jacksonville Oregon.

More information and full results: www.westharescrambles.com 

Words Credit: Mary Rinell

Photo Credit: Mark Kariya