FMF/KTM’s Kurt Caselli showed the entire field why he wears the WORCS number-one plate after finishing 1-1 for the overall victory of WORCS round five in Payette, Idaho, over the Memorial Weekend. This was no easy feat, as Caselli had to contend with FMF/KTM teammate Mike Brown, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Taylor Robert and Justin Soule, as well as privateer Bobby Garrison.
In race one, Brown took the holeshot and held the lead for several laps before Caselli made the pass. Brown made several attacks but was unable to close on Caselli until the final lap. Meanwhile, Brown had a battle of his own with Robert, who was taking a beating from “Brownie’s” KTM 450 roost. At the checkered flag Caselli took the win followed by Brown and Robert. Just a few seconds back. Garrison finished fourth.
Race two was even better, this time Garrison got the holeshot and tried to pull away and gap the all-star field, but he was soon displaced for the lead by Brown and found himself in a battle with Caselli for second. Brown held the top spot until he was forced to pit which dropped him to fourth. Caselli took over and extended his lead with every lap. Behind him, a 30-minute dog-fight took place among Robert, Brown and Soule. This trio traded paint and ate a lot of roost as the laps ticked by.
Caselli took the flag for a perfect 1-1 score and the overall win. Soule passed Robert for second in the WORCS-Cross section and then bobbled over the wood-chips just before the finish and Robert went by to take the number-two spot. Soule finished third and Brown, having tangled with a lapper, finished fourth. Garrison took fifth.
“It’s good to have the points lead at the halfway point in the season, but there is still a lot of racing to do,” said Caselli.
The overall was all Caselli with 1-1, Robert took second with a 3-2, Brown third with 2-4, and Garrison took fourth overall and the Top Privateer Award with a 4-5 score.
After five rounds Caselli holds the points lead with 217 points, followed by Robert with 207, Garrison with 201, Brown with 176 and Soule with 152.
