Caselli Steps Up at WORCS Round Six
Dietrich Returns
5/20/17 Zaca Station, California: Kurt Caselli (Team Red Bull KTM) stepped up to the top of the podium for the first time in the 2007 WORCS series with a decisive victory at Zaca Station in California. Caselli, who has been a bridesmaid on the victory stand for most of the series is the forth rider to win a WORCS Pro class race in six rounds so far this season.
The Zaca course was set in the rolling hills inland and just north of Santa Barbara. The normally pristine location is suffering under a drought and it took its toll on the racing. Despite valiant efforts by the promoter and the use of six water trucks, the riders had to race against each other and through blinding clouds of silt and dust. Still, if it isn’t tough then it isn’t off road racing, so the event flagged off on time and on course Sunday afternoon.
Defending WORCS Champion - Ricky Dietrich (Team Monster Energy Kawasaki) came back from his devastating injury which he suffered at round two and showed the Pro’s why he had the #1 plate by getting the holeshot and leading most of the first lap. He was caught and passed by Bobby Garrison (Team Zip-Ty Racing Yamaha) who was unstoppable for the first hour of the event. Nathan Woods, Tim Weigand and Ryan Hughes followed.
The two-hour Pro main evolved into a speed marathon interrupted by various mishaps among the leaders. After building a lead of more then 60 seconds, Garrison would go down and then burn himself out kicking his big 4-stroke. He’d get back on the track still holding the lead, but the charging Caselli quickly caught the Yamaha rider and left him literally eating his dust. Hughes put on a charge, stalled his Suzuki and dropped back to seventh before racing back up to the third slot before the races end. Dietrich also had a stall out and Woods clipped a hay bale at the end of the Pro Pit and rejoined the race covered in banner tape.
In the end it was Caselli crossing the finish line almost 1/1/2 minutes ahead of Garrison in second and Hughes taking the final spot on the podium. Caselli who stands second in the points race gained 30 digits for the victory while point’s leader Hughes garnered 21 for third for a total of 136 with Caselli closing in with 128. Woods rallied back to forth with Dietrich fifth, Weigand sixth, Robby Bell seventh, Scott Simon eighth, Mike Kiedrowski ninth, and Kyle Summers tenth.
1. Kurt Caselli (KTM)
2. Bobby Garrison (Yam)
3. Ryan Hughes (Suz)
4. Nathan Woods (Kaw)
5. Ricky Dietrich (Kaw)
