(Left to right) Justin Jones, Robby Bell and Ryan Abbatoye made up the WORCS podium in Taft. Photography by Harlen Foley.
Honolulu Hills in Taft, California, hosted round five of the 2013 Rocky Mountain MC World Off-Road Championship Series, presented by Motoworks and Dirt Bike Magazine, May 12, and for the second time in a row, Precision Concept’s Robby Bell claimed the Pro-class, win with Moose Racing’s Ryan Abbatoye and RPM/KTM’s Justin Jones rounding out the podium.
Once again, Robby Bell had a midpack start, but he quickly charged his way through the pack and caught Pro 2-class racer, Eric Yorba, who grabbed the holeshot and led the first lap, but in lap two, Yorba had problems, which opened the door for Bell to make the pass and take over the lead.
Bell would go on to claim his third win of the year, which now has Bell holding a 31-point lead over second place, Bobby Garrison, in the Pro points race.
“It feels awesome to get another win today,” Bell said. “It feels good for me personally, but also for my team – Precision Concepts racing, Kawasaki, all my sponsors really help me out and I really appreciate it.”
Ryan Abbatoye claimed his first ever WORCS Pro podium with the second-place finish. Abbatoye just missed the podium a couple of times in 2012, but everything came together for him at Honolulu Hills when he made the pass on Justin Seeds in the WORCS-cross section to take over the second spot, which he held to the checkered flag.
Justin Jones claimed the final spot on the podium after holding the third spot for the majority of the race, but in the final laps, he was feeling the pressure from both Justin Seeds and Bobby Garrison, but Seeds would drop back in the final lap, with Garrison moving into the fourth spot, but a mechanical issue would take Garrison out of the running in the final stretch.
RPM / KTM”s Eric Yorba grabbed the holeshot and held the Pro 2-class lead from start to finish to claim his fourth win of the year. Starr Savage and Ty Tremaine rounded out the Pro 2 podium for a KTM sweep.
WORCS newcomer, Johnny O’Brien claimed the Pro 2 Lites class win, followed by Alex Morgan and Tristen Morris.
