Cycle News Staff | October 24, 2023
The Rocky Mountain ATV-MC WORCS Series wrapped up the 2023 season at Honolulu Hills Raceway in Taft, California, October 21-22. Lap times hovered around the 10-minute range as riders followed the rolling hills with a Pro section through a virgin piece of the racecourse. Justin Hoeft put an exclamation on his season by winning the race and clinching the 450 Pro Championship. Jack Simpson took top honors in 250 Pro with Hayden Florez winning in ProAm.
Justin Hoeft finished the season with a win and the 450 Pro Championship. Photos: Connor Moore
On Saturday, Tristun Alvarez and Travis Damon battled closely for the 125cc Pro Championship. Alvarez came out flying as he pulled the holeshot and set sail early on. Mechanical issues caused him to fall back throughout the race, as he needed to conserve the bike to secure the championship. Damon came across the line first and noticed Alvarez pushing his bike towards the finish. In a great act of sportsmanship, Damon helped Alvarez move his bike across the line, which kept him in second overall. With a second-place finish, Alvarez clinched his first Pro title by just one point over Damon.
250 start.
Brandy Richards, once again, topped the Women’s Pro division with a big win on Saturday.
Brandy Richards won the Women’s division.
Hoeft needed a ninth-place finish or better to lock up his first WORCS Championship and second of the year for the Purvines Racing Team. Precision Concepts Kawasaki teammates Zach Bell and Tyler Lynn led early as they separated from the pack during the first hour of racing. Lynn abandoned his race, as he later pulled off near the halfway mark due to pain in his hand.
Dare Demartile worked his way to third after an early crash.
Hoeft kept his cool as he settled into third, which was more than enough to wrap up the title. On the ninth lap, he set the fastest time of the race by using a quicker line through the pro section. Hoeft closed a 40-second gap on Bell as he made the pass for the lead with just two laps to go. The win put a stamp on Hoeft’s championship season.
Hoeft (left) and Simpson (right) celebrate championships for Purvines Racing.
Bell salvaged a second with Beta Racing’s Dare Demartile finishing third after an early crash.
Tristun Alvarez clinched the 125 Pro championship.
In 250 Pro, Jack Simpson showcased the same speed that earned him the championship this year as he set sail early on. Simpson looked to end the season, and his 250 career, with a bang before he bumps up to the premier class in 2024 for the Purvines Team. He capped his season with victory of more than three-minutes over second placed Wyatt Matson, who improved one spot from his third-place debut at the last round in Mesquite, Nevada. Thomas Dunn came from the back of the pack to grab the final spot on the podium.
Pro Am start.
Hayden Florez came into Taft only two points ahead of Mason Decunzo for the ProAm Championship. Their battle reached a tipping point in the third lap as they traded the lead multiple times before Florez took off and set the fastest ProAm lap time. Behind them, David Fry and Matt Canepa went at it until the duo caught and passed Decunzo on the final lap. They fought hard all race and finished less than three seconds apart, with Fry in second and Canepa in third.
Connor Moore
450 Pro
- Justin Hoeft (Yam)
- Zach Bell (Kaw)
- Dare Demartile (Bet)
- Trevor Stewart (Yam)
- Mateo Oliveira (KTM)
250 Pro
- Jack Simpson (Yam)
- Wyatt Mattson (KTM)
- Thomas Dunn (Yam)
- Clayton Hengeveld (Yam)
- Brock Bennett (KTM)
