FMF/KTM’s Mike Brown took on a fast, tough track as well a field of fierce riders to win his first race of the 2010 WORCS season in Adelanto, California. Brown came from a top-five start and had to battle with Bobby Bonds, Robby Bell, Ricky Dietrich, Kyle Summers and his teammate Kurt Caselli to achieve a well-earned victory.
“When you’re racing against guys like these, you never know when you’re going to score a win,” said Brown. “But I won here before and you always like tracks where you’ve won. Everything worked out today, for sure. My FMF/KTM performed perfectly and I just kept riding my pace until I got to the front.”
Brown moved into the lead late into the second hour and was out of reach until the checkered flag. Taking second was Brown’s teammate Caselli who gated mid-pack and put on his usual second-hour charge to move through the field and into second at the white flag.
“I’m happy with second today,” said Caselli. “I’ve got my eye on the WORCS Championship and staying consistently on the podium is what I’m looking for. I love to win, but the title is the important thing.”
The day ended in heartbreak for Valli Motorsports Yamaha’s Kyle Summers, who had run up front early in the race. Summers was clinging to a steady third place heading into the final lap, but a mechanical issue prematurely ended his race, handing the final podium position over to Dietrich.
The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider also spent a good amount of time leading the charge, but started to fade late in the second hour when bleeding, blistered hands slowed his pace. “As bad as my hands feel, I’m surprised I got third today.” said Dietrich. “I just couldn’t hang on the last couple of laps, so I’m happy to be on the podium.”
Eli Tomac finished just off the boxes in fourth – his best WORCS finish to date. Just behind him was Justin Soule with a hard-fought fifth, with Gary Sutherlin sixth.
Seventh place went to coastal exchange rider Josh Strange. The Makita FMF Suzuki Off Road rider, who is currently undefeated in the GNCC Series, crashed hard early on but refused to retire and came steadily through the pack to score seventh. Bobby Garrison put his Husqvarna into eighth, with Husaberg-mounted Nathan Woods in ninth and JP Davis rounding out the top ten in the Pro class.
In the Pro 2 division, Kawasaki-mounted Ryan Abbatoye celebrated this third-straight win and also managed to break into the top-ten overall, finishing eighth. Lucas Oil Kawasaki rider Colton Haaker claimed his first podium of the season with a strong second-place finish ahead of Yamaha rider Cole Martinez who rounded out the Pro 2 podium in Adelanto.
Brown’s victory moved him up to third in the championship with 70 points and one win. Caselli still holds the lead with 87 points and one win while Dietrich is second in the title chase with 81 points and one win after four rounds.
