WORCS Race Report: Round 1
January 20, 2008: Speed World MX Park, Phoenix, AZ
2008 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) got off to a great start this weekend at the Speed World MX Park in Arizona. The course incorporated the National Track featuring high-speed sections, technical sections, table tops, doubles, step-ups, rhythm sections, and excellent use of natural terrain as well as a long desert loop and a radical Endurocross section for the Pro classes.
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Meanwhile, Bonds had everyone on their feet as he moved into the lead and set a blistering pace that had him leading by more than 30 seconds when the race was only 15 minutes old. Hot on his heels was a pack that included Woods, Caselli, Abbott, Bell, Huffman, and Dietrich. At the finish of the second lap, the pros approached the Endurocross section for the first time and carnage ensued. Bonds danced through cleanly. Then Woods, who had moved into second, stalled in the tires and could not relight his RM-Z450 until 10 more riders had passed him. Then Weigand went down in the rocks, Abbot took over second by running the Endurocross gauntlet cleanly and Caselli came through in third. Kyle Summers, riding a privateer KTM, also cleaned the Endurocross section and joined the lead pack of riders.
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In the closing laps, Bonds was still running strong, but Caselli was whittling away at the gap. He made his move on the white flag lap, taking over the lead from Bonds just minutes before the checkered flag. Caselli took the season opener with Bonds second and Summers third. Huffman came in a strong fourth with Woods (who had suffered a flat tire and endured a two minute pit stop to change the rear wheel) fifth. Bell, Garrison, Abbott, Brenden Ritzman, and Dietrich rounded out the top ten.
Pro 2 action saw Taylor Robert open the new season with a hard fought victory over Nick Brozovich and Ryan Abbatoye.