National Hare
and Hound Andy Lagzdins Wins Opening Round
NHHA - Round 1- Johnson Valley,
CA - January 22, 2011
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Moose Racing's
2011 AMA National Hare & Hound Champion
Andy Lagzdins took the first round win
aboard his DirtFirst Racing Honda TRX450R
ATV
(photo credit: Kinney Jones)
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Johnson Valley, CA (1/28/2012)
- Andy Lagzdins gave DirtFirst Racing its first
race win of 2012 at the first round of the National
Hare and Hound Series held in Johnson Valley, California
on January 22nd. It was a great start for the current
NHHA champion's title defense, and showed that Lagzdins
was not only racing the series again in 2012, but
looking to repeat last year's dominant performance
on his DirtFirst Racing Honda TRX450R.
"It feels good to
come back after the long break and find that I
still have what it takes
to win," stated Lagzdins after the race.
The 40 mile, single loop
race was held in dusty conditions, making a good
start on the 3-mile
bomb run an important advantage. Andy's Duncan
National Kit equipped
motor fired instantly, and powered him into the
lead pack of quads by
the banners. After taking over the lead, Andy
missed a turn which
allowed Keith Carlson to get past. Keith is a
top ProAm rider in the Big 6
GP Series, and was making his debut in the NHHA
Series at this race.
Andy overtook Carlson on a rocky downhill before
the halfway point and
built up a 6 minute lead by the end of the 2 1/2
hour race. "I got up to
the top of a ridge and noticed that I hadn't seen
markers in a while. I
turned around and saw Keith making the turn that
I should have made on
the previous ridge. I stepped it up a notch to
get back into the lead,
and carried the momentum to the finish,"
recalled Lagzdins.
Carlson would end up third on the day. Yamaha-mounted
Bill Markel, who won
the last race of the 2011 season,
battled his way into second place at the finish.
"My race went well. I
got the holeshot and was first to the bomb. Had
a good battle all day
with Mark Ornellas and Chris Dobbins, and ended
up second," said
Teixeira Tech-sponsored Markel after the race.
Backing this year's DirtFirst Racing Team are
the familiar sponsors that
have helped the
team riders win championships all across the United
States and Mexico.
These include Duncan Racing, Roll Design, Elka
Suspension, ITP Tires,
RPM Axles, TireBalls, and IMS Products. Andy's
personal relationships
with Moose Racing, Alpinestars, and ATVRiders.com
will continue through
the 2012 season, basically arming Lagzdins with
the same successful
package that he has enjoyed since his days racing
the GNCC's in the
East.
Round Two of the NHHA Series takes place in Ridgecrest,
California on February 12th. For more information
check out www.Nationalhareandhound.com.
www.nationalhareandhound.com |
