Defending WORCS Champion Robby Bell breaks through with first win of the season at WORCS round five.
Reigning Rocky Mountain MC World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) number one plate holder Robby Bell claimed his first win of the season and finally put a stop to Gary Sutherlin’s four-race win streak at round five of the series at the Ridgecrest Fairgrounds in Ridgecrest, California, on Sunday. The Monster Energy/Precision Concept/THR Motorsports Kawasaki-backed Bell also claimed his first race win of the season.
The Ridgecrest Fairgrounds featured a surprisingly valid mixture of obstacles, ranging from high-speed, desert-style sections to more technical rock, dirt, and log sections. The course also used the fairgrounds’ motocross track. Mother Nature threw in a little challenge of her own with gusting 30 mph winds that reduced visibility during the two-hour race.
John Burr Cycles Kawasaki’s Justin Seeds grabbed the holeshot and led the first two laps of the Pro race, but Bell was going strong, and he moved into the lead as he posted the fastest lap time of the day on lap three. Once out front, he maintained a comfortable lead all the way to the finish to secure a crucial win that keeps his hopes of defending his title alive.
“I needed the win today, just to keep Gary [Sutherlin] honest,” Bell said. “I think that brings it back to within a race as far as the points spread, so all I can do is just to try to keep him honest. It’s just more about winning races and showing that I earned that number one plate last year, you know. However the year pans out, I know how it’s been for myself, so I think just to represent myself the way I want to, all my sponsors, all my supporters, my family, my friends, my wife, just from here it’s about racing the way I know I can, pushing my body the way I know I can, and representing everybody behind me well.”
NTS KTM rider Sutherlin was busy battling with Bobby Bonds early on in the race while trying to shake off some early arm pump. Sutherlin passed Bonds and attempted reel-in Bell in the final laps of the race, but it was too little too late. Sutherlin finished in second place after winning the first four rounds of the season. The streak was over.
“I put on a charge, but it was just too little too late and my hands got tore up a little bit,” Sutherlin said. “But it’s all good. The championship is the goal, winning races is great and hopefully we can get back on top of the box at the next round, so we’ll just go back, do our homework, and come out swinging the next round.”
After leading for two laps, Seeds dropped back to fourth when his shoulder started to give him issues, but he got some help when Bonds pulled out of the race, which allowed him to move into third place and collect his second consecutive podium finish. The R&D Motorsports-backed Bonds had broken his tail bone at the Sand Hollow WORCS race nearly a month ago, and he was still experiencing pain. After over an hour of racing, Bonds couldn’t handle the discomfort any longer, and he pulled out of the race with three laps to go. Bonds was credited with sixth place.
RPM KTM’s Justin Jones ran in the sixth spot for most of the race, but he also moved up in the final laps of the race to claim fourth place, keeps himself in the top three in the WORCS points standings. Fellow RPM KTM racer Eric Yorba completed the top five.
Maxxis’ Travis Coy claimed his third straight win to extend his points lead in the Pro 2 class after reeling-in Justin Morgan in the final laps of the race to make the pass for the lead. Morgan was second, and Brandon Prieto was third.
Yamaha-mounted Michael Del Fante claimed his second win of the season in the Pro 2 Lites class to extend his points lead to 20 points over Jesse Lundin who finished in the second spot after leading the majority of the race, only to crash late in the race and hand the lead to Del Fante. Local racer Jordan Gamboa finished third in the Pro 2 Lites class.
Round six of the Rocky Mountain MC World Off-Road Championship Series Presented by Motoworks and Dirt Bike is scheduled for Pala Raceway, July 10-13, but the track is currently closed, leaving the race in doubt. More information, including news of a possible venue change, is expected to be released later this week.
Rocky Mountain MC World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) Presented by Motoworks and Dirt Bike
Ridgecrest Fairgrounds
Ridgecrest, California
Results: May 11, 2014 (Round 5 of 9)
Pro
1. Roby Bell-Kaw
2. Gary Sutherlin-KTM
3. Justin Seeds-Kaw
4. Justin Jones-KTM
5. Eric Yorba-KTM
Pro 2
1. Travis Coy-KTM
2. Justin Morgan-Kaw
3. Brandon Prieto-KTM
4. Eric King-Kaw
5. Matthew Maple-Hon
Pro 2 Lites
1. Michael Del Fante-Yam
2. Jesse Lundin-Yam
3. Jordan Gamboa-Hon
4. Travis Damon-Hon
5. Mitch Anderson-Yam
Rocky Mountain MC WORCS Point Standings (After 5 of 9 rounds)
Pro
1. Gary Sutherlin-122/4 wins
2. Robby Bell-103/1 win
3. Justin Jones-94
4. Eric Yorba-81
5. Justin Seeds-72
Pro 2
1. Travis Coy-97-3 wins
2. Erik King-78
3. Matthew Maple-77
4. Steve Gibson-72/2 wins
5. David Broderick-62
Pro 2 Lites
1. Michael Del Fante-110/2 wins
2. Jesse Lundin-90/1 win
3. Logan Chambers-85
4. Travis Damon-72
5. Alex Morgan-65
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