Home state rider Ricky Russell claims his first career WORCS Pro win at Straddleline Park in Washington.
AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell put together a strong performance in his home state and bagged the overall win at round seven of the 2015 Rocky Mountain MC World Off-Road Championship Series presented by Maxxis and Dirt Bike at Straddeline ORV Park in McCleary, Washington, Sunday.
The WORCS Series returned to action in the Pacific Northwest after its two-month summer break, but the usually cool and moist race conditions at Straddeline Park were anything but, as the racers did battled in hot, dry conditions with record temperatures hovering in the 90-degree range. Dust was a major factor in the race, making the start crucial. Besides the normal Pro main event on Sunday, racers also competed in a special WORCS X race on Saturday night, which also counted toward the WORCS championship.
Justin Seeds got the all-important holeshot in Sunday’s Pro race and jumped out to the early lead followed by Russell, but Russell was able to pass Seeds for the lead in the woods section and put a decent gap on the rest of the field. No one was able to match Russell’s pace, and he went wire to wire for his first career WORCS Pro win.
Reigning WORCS Champion Gary Sutherlin had a difficult weekend, though he finished second in both Saturday’s WORCS X, as well as Sunday’s event. Sutherlin went down at the start of the Pro main on Sunday, which dropped him to the rear of the field. The KTM-backed Californian had his work cut out for him, but he rode well and charged all the way back up to finish second.
Ater a two-year hiatus from WORCS racing, Jacob Argubright returned and claimed third place in Sunday’s Pro main. Argubright has spent most of 2015 nursing a wrist injury that has kept him from racing, but the wrist clearly didn’t seem to bother him as he came out on top of a race-long battle with Justin Morgan to claim the final podium spot.
One of the big stories of the weekend was the plight of former WORCS Champion and current series points leader Robby Bell, who was returning to competition for the first time since suffering a brutal crash three weeks ago at a Glen Helen off-road race in Southern California. The crash knocked out nine of Bell’s teeth and fractured his jaw, but despite not riding since the accident, Bell salvaged critical points this weekend by finishing seventh on Saturday night and eighth on Sunday. His gritty performances have allowed him to hold a 39-point lead with two WORCS races remaining.
Eric Yorba finished a respectable ninth on Sunday, but he was the man to beat during Saturday night’s WORCS X race, and he netted his first WORCS Pro win by keeping Sutherlin at bay through the finish. Ty Tremaine finished third in the WORCS X race, giving KTM a podium sweep, and he was in the running for another podium finish on Sunday when he crashed and damaged his motorcycle. Although he escaped injury, Tremaine was forced to drop out of the race.
Dalton Shirey claimed both Pro 2 wins during the weekend, and that fortified his points advantage over Justin Wallis, who carded a second-place finish on Saturday and a third-place finish on Sunday. Dustin McCarthy was able to edge out Wallis on Sunday during the Pro2 main event to claim the second spot on the podium.
Logan Chambers dominated Saturday’s Pro 2 Lites action during Saturday’s WORCS X race, but Dante Oliveira snatched the win on Sunday, followed by Carson Giles and Mitch Anderson.
The Rocky Mountain MC World Off-Road Championship Series presented by Maxxis and Dirt Bike now takes another break of nearly two months before round eight takes place at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California, September 26-27.
Rocky Mountain MC World Off-Road Championship Series
Straddleline Park
McCleary, Washington
Results: August 2, 2015 (Round 7 of 9)
Pro
1. Ricky Russell-Yam
2. Gary Sutherlin-KTM
3. Jacob Argubrigh-Hus
4. Justin Morgan-Yam
5. Justin Seeds-Kaw
6. Travis Coy-KTM
7. Robby Bell-Kaw
8. John Beal-KTM
9. Eric Yorba-KTM
10. Jesse Lundin-Yam
Pro 2
1. Dalton Shirey-Hus
2. Dustin McCarthy-KTM
3. Justin Wallis-KTM
4. Tyler Kinkade-KTM
5. Kale Elwrothy-Hus
6. A.J. Lehr-KTM
7. Robbie Segrest-KTM
8. Michael Del Fante-Yam
9. Brett Sage-KTM
10. Travis Damon-Hon
Pro 2 Lights
1. Dante Oliveira-KTM
2. Carson Giles-Kaw
3. Mitch Anderson-KTM
4. Cole Conatser-KTM
5. Ryan Turner-Yam
6. Zachary Burrell-KTM
7. Logan Chambers-KTM
8. J.T. Baker-KTM
9. Brady Hoover-Hus
10. Max Parker-KTM
Your Privacy Choices