With riders facing an extremely tough track and less than perfect race conditions, due to the ongoing drought in California, it was Red Bull KTM racer Kurt Caselli with the victory over the Zip Ty Yamaha of Bobby Garrison. Taking third was series point’s leader Ryan Hughes aboard his Factory Suzuki followed by the Monster Energy Kawasaki’s of Nathan Woods and last years series champion Ricky Dietrich to rounding out the top five.
With the wave of the green flag and riders thundering to the first turn it was the number one plate of Ricky Dietrich and his KX450F at the front of the pack. Dietrich, who was making his return to racing after an injury at round two, had a narrow lead over Garrison. Caselli and Hughes were trying not to get dusted out by the front runners and the rest of the pack was trying to avoid a downed Destry Abbott. The lead would change before the riders left the motocross track as Garrison shot his YZ past Dietrich and into the lead as they headed for the off-road sections. As Garrison stretched his lead in the dust-free air, it was Caselli who was on the charge getting by Dietrich and using the power of the KTM to keep him in the hunt.
“I knew that today I was going to try to run at the front of the pack and not just wait until the last half of the race to make a bid for a win,” Caselli said.
Behind Caselli, Hughes was working on passing Dietrich and made the pass for third before the end of the first lap.
As the riders came through the scoring shoot at the end of lap one it was Garrison, Caselli, Hughes, Dietrich and Woods pulling away from the rest of the field. Garrison continued to put time on Caselli in the early part of the event and Ricky Dietrich was able get past Hughes after he stalled the RM-Z450 in one of the canyon sections.
As riders neared the half-way point, Caselli closed in on Garrison and Hughes was able to get around Dietrich for third. Scott Simon moved into fifth when Woods was forced to pit with a bent shifter.
As riders made their pit stops it was still Garrison in the lead, but Caselli had made up over a minute on “Bobby G” and was now running a much faster pace than the Zip Ty racer, who had been sick for the past three days and was doing all he could to stay on the pace. Hughes was riding a very controlled race pace and was taking no chances in the brutal conditions the riders were now facing.
With forty five minutes left Caselli moved his Red Bull KTM into the lead and set the fastest lap times of the day to secure his first WORCS victory of 2007. Garrison continued to go with his “never give up” philosophy and was able to take second, followed by the Suzuki of Ryan Hughes filling out the podium positions.
A determined Nathan Woods, who overcame bike problems, finished forth and Ricky Dietrich made his successful return to WORCS racing, rounding out the top five.
In the Pro2 class it was Jamie Lanza and his KX250F taking the top spot followed by Nick Brozovich and Ryan Abbatoye. The Pro2 class continues to showcase the stars of the future in off-road racing and is providing a great training ground for all of its participants.
PRO CLASS OVERALL:
1. Kurt Caselli (KTM)
2. Bobby Garrison (Yam)
3. Ryan Hughes (Suz)
4. Nathan Woods (Kaw)
5. Ricky Dietrich (Kaw)
6. Tim Weigand (Hon)
7. Robby Bell (Hon)
8. Scott Simon (Kaw)
9. Mike Kiedrowski (Suz)
10. Kyle Summer (Kaw)
PRO2 CLASS OVERALL:
1. Jamie Lanza (Kaw)
2. Nick Brozovich (Yam)
3. Ryan Abbatoye (Kaw)
4. Jonathan Davis (KTM)
5. Ryan Powell (Yam)
6. Taylor Robert (Kaw)
7. Brad Goolsby (Kaw)
8. Tracon Kirk (KTM)
9. Brody Humphries (Suz)
10. Justin O Seeds (Hon)
