Cycle News Staff | April 9, 2018
Hilltoppers Grand Prix Big 6 WCGP Results – Thank fast. That’s what you have to do to be in the right frame of mind when you line up for the start of the Hilltoppers Grand Prix in 29 Palms, California. It’s one of the fastest racecourses on the AMA Big 6 West Coast Grand Prix (WCGP) circuit, and no one was better prepared for it than Zach Bell (3 Bros./STI Husqvarna).
Hilltoppers Grand Prix Big 6 WCGP Results
For the second round in a row, Bell claimed the WCGP victory and with it moved into the championship lead. Bell rode fast at the start but saved his best for the last; that’s when he flipped on the afterburners and reeled in and passed leader Dalton Shirey (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Off-Road Team)—who successfully resisted Bell’s earlier attacks in the race—for the lead and the eventual win.
“I knew if I took a couple laps to regroup that it would work better [for me] in the end instead of going hard for [the whole race],” Bell said, “so I just took my time, let [Shirey] go by, regrouped to wait for that white flag then kind of put the hammer down again because I know I’m fit, I know what I can do, I know what I’m capable of. These guys are fast! I’ve got to give it up to these guys; I really respect them a lot.”
Shirey said, “Once I got the lead, I got a little gap and I was like, ‘All right, I’m going to try to control this as much as I can!’ But I couldn’t do it; I was cramping up. You can’t relax your hands on the bars because it’s so choppy; there’s no break!”
Trevor Stewart (JCR Honda) took third, crossing the finish line 29 seconds behind Shirey.
The Chaparral Motorsports/Precision Concepts Kawasaki duo of Blayne Thompson and Justin Seeds rounded out the top five.
Clay Hengeveld (Chaparral Motorsports/Precision Concepts Kawasaki) extended his unbeaten record in the WCGP Pro II class to three.
Brandy Richards topped the WCGP Women’s Pro class.
Hilltoppers Grand Prix Big 6 WCGP Results
29 Palms, California
RESULTS: April 8, 2018
WCGP PRO
- Zach Bell (Hus)
- Dalton Shirey (Hus)
- Trevor Stewart (Hon)
- Blayne Thompson (Kaw)
- Justin Seeds (Kaw)
- Justin Jones (Hon)
- Mason Ottersberg (Bet)
- Nich Burson (Yam)
- Nick Lamberton (Hon)
- Justin Wallis (Unk)
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