Mark Kariya | March 21, 2005
After a disappointing finish due to a mechanical problem at round three, Montclair Yamaha’s Nathan Woods bounced back yesterday to win round four of the World Off Road Championship Series yesterday at the Crazy Horse GP in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. In doing so, the defending series champion became the first repeat winner this season and also regained the number-one spot in points for the series.
Physical conditioning on the warmish, sunny day played a key part on the short but extremely rough course, which was comprised of both deep, sandy whoops on the shore of Lake Havasu and hard-packed, dusty, rock-filled terrain on the motocross track on the plateau overlooking the water. Woods spent most of the time in the lead after a mediocre jump off the dead-engine start.
The winner here last year, YZ250-mounted Woods said, “I love Havasu, I like the track – it’s really demanding and brutal on the body, but to be honest with you, I’m not that tired right now. I’m really not.”
Neither was runner-up Tim Wiegand who made his return to the series aboard his CRF250R a very successful one. He stayed with the lead group the entire race but couldn’t chip away at Woods’ lead, finishing about a minute and a half back and 17 seconds in front of third-place Mike Kiedrowski.
Early leader Russell Pearson ended up third on his YZ450F after crashing twice, while motocrosser Bobby Garrison claimed fifth on his CRF450R. KTM’s Kurt Caselli, the points leader going into the race, ended up seventh after a broken pipe slowed him down. He now trails Woods in points, 88-76, unofficially, with Pearson third at 68.
Mark Kariya | Contributor
Kariya spends way too much time in the desert, but we’re glad he does as he’s the man who gets us our coverage of all things sandy.
