Robby Bell Takes Over At Viewfinders Big 6 Grand Prix

Mark Kariya | October 6, 2014

Robby Bell won the Viewfinders Grand Prix. Photography by Mark Kariya

Robby Bell thought he’d show up at the Viewfinders Big 6 GP and show everyone how it’s done. Photography by Mark Kariya

Though it’s been more than a year since Robby Bell last rode a Big 6 GP and he didn’t decide to do this one until 7:00 o’clock on race morning, everything fell into place nicely for him at the 41st Annual Viewfinders Grand Prix, round six of the AMA District 37/GPR Stabilizers Big 6 Grand Prix Series in Ridgecrest, California, on October 4. (Besides serving as a round of the featured AMA West Coast Grand Prix Series, it also marked the ninth and final round of the AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series, the Viewfinders Motorcycle Club designating the 90-minute race the Classic Scramble.)

Precision Concepts Kawasaki-mounted Bell actually had a poor start, unlike teammate Justin Seeds who nailed the holeshot and led the first three laps around the 10-mile-long course on the south side of this desert community.

But Bell picked his way through the pack and made the pass for the lead when Seeds dived into the pits for his planned fuel stop, Bell opting to go another lap and try to put as much time as he could on his teammate.

That was all Bell needed and he eventually stretched his lead to almost a minute at the finish, the pair of KX450Fs going 1-2.

Bel-Ray/FMF/Moose Racing Husqvarna’s Jacob Argubright rode a strong race to third. Having wrapped up the AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship at the previous round last month, this was just icing on the cake.

Nick Stover, on the 3 Brothers Husky, chased new 250cc rider Dalton Shirey for most of the race until Shirey simply couldn’t hold on to his YZ250 effectively, surrendering to Stover with two laps to go. That gave Stover the class win and fourth overall, Shirey second in class and fifth overall some 42 seconds behind.

Big 6/WCGP Pro points leader Eric Yorba finished sixth overall followed by Brandon Prieto, WCGP Vet Expert winner Morgan Crawford, WCGP Heavyweight Expert winner Damon Tackett and WCGP Heavyweight Intermediate winner Josh Nunes.