Cycle News Staff | February 13, 2023
The Rocky Mountain ATV-MC WORCS series brought the action for round two to a new race track in Delano, California at American MX. Tallon Lafountaine brought home his first 450cc Pro victory, narrowly edging out Beta’s Dare Demartile for the win.
The WORCS crew built a 5.7-mile course that flowed up and down the hills of American MX, and for the Pro field, the race included a steep cliff drop-off and a tire section.
Demartile grabbed the early lead ahead of LaFountaine and Justin Hoeft, but with a few laps to go he got a little too “throttle happy,” as he put it. The Beta rider laid it down in a corner late in the race. This costly mistake allowed LaFountaine to get by and the SLR Honda rider went on to take the win. Demartile hung on on for second.
“I got off the line well and had the lead until the 1hr 40 mark,” said Demartile. “I, unfortunately, slid out on the exit of the corner towards the end of the race which knocked me back to second overall. I just have to keep pushing.”
Purvines Yamaha’s Justin Hoeft rode well throughout the race, keeping a hard-charging Zach Bell, on the Precision Concepts/Chaparral Kawasaki, at bay. It was Hoeft’s first podium since round four last year. Previous-round winner Tyler Lynn (Kawasaki) lost sight of the lead group after getting off to a bad start. He eventually took the checkers in fifth. FMF/KTM’s Mateo Oliveira crashed out of the race while running third.
In the 250cc Pro class, Jack Simpson set sail and found himself at the top of the podium. Kai Aiello, on his Husqvarna, blasted out of the start with a holeshot but overshot the second set of tires on the first lap in the Pro section. This mistake allowed Simpson to get around for the lead and he quickly got into a groove. Simpson went on to set a blistering pace, but Aiello managed to keep him honest. Colton Aeck started in the back of the field. He made up some ground on Aiello but had to settle for third.
In the Women’s class, favorite Brandy Richards was forced to sit this one out after suffering an injury earlier in the week. Kaitlyn Jacobs and Lauren Woods ended up battling hard for the win. The two swapped the lead often, with Jacobs finishing on top of the box aboard her RPM Racing KTM.
Tristun Alvarez held off the charging Travis Damon to get his first win in the 125cc Pro class, with Woods collecting third.
Connor Moore
RESULTS
450 Pro
- Tallon LaFountaine (Hon)
- Dare Demartile (Bet)
- Justin Hoeft (Yam)
- Zach Bell (Kaw)
- Tyler Lynn (Kaw)
250 Pro
- Jack Simpson (Yam)
- Kai Aiello (Hus)
- Colton Aeck (KTM)
- Kade Tinkler-Walker (Bet)
- Jake Alvarez (KTM)
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