The AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship headed to a brand-new venue in Orofino, Idaho, for Round 5 at the inaugural Timber Beast Hare Scramble, where Kawasaki riders Ricky Russell and Layton Smail delivered standout performances. Russell returned to West Hare Scrambles competition in winning fashion with the overall victory, while Smail continued his dominant Pro 250 campaign by capturing his fifth consecutive class win and finishing third overall.

Set on a private ranch outside of Orofino, the Timber Beast Hare Scramble featured a challenging mix of flowing singletrack, technical terrain, elevation changes, and natural obstacles across an approximately eight-mile course. The new venue quickly became a favorite among riders and provided a demanding test for the over two hour race.

Making his first West Hare Scrambles appearance in two years, Russell wasted little time putting his KX™450 at the front of the field. After running near the lead during the opening laps, he found an opportunity to take over the top spot and steadily built a comfortable advantage over the remainder of the race. Russell maintained a consistent pace through the demanding conditions to secure the overall win and claim victory in the Pro/AA class.

Starting from the Pro 250 row, Smail once again proved why he has been one of the series' most consistent performers in 2026. After working his way to the front of the Pro 250 field, the KX™250 rider set his sights on the riders ahead in the overall standings. Despite an early mishap, Smail quickly regained momentum and continued charging forward, eventually climbing to third overall against the combined overall field. The result marked his fifth consecutive Pro 250 victory and kept his perfect class win streak intact through five rounds of competition.