Cycle News Staff | January 10, 2024
Just one week into the new year, and the Rocky Mountain ATV-MC WORCS Championship is already underway. The series returned to Honolulu Hills in Taft, California for round one. A stark contrast from the final round here last year, racers were greeted by cold weather and a sprinkling of rain that kept the dust down and the dirt tacky, yielding some amazing lap times. When all was said and done, Dare Demartile, aboard the Liqui Moly Beta Factory 480 RR, began his season on the right foot by claiming his first career 450cc Pro WORCS victory.
Dare Demartile captured his first career WORCS win in the 450 Pro class.
Last year, Demartile had four starts with two third-place finishes, one fourth and one second, resulting in an eighth place in the final 450cc Pro-class Championship. He’s obviously aiming higher for 2024.
In the 250cc Pro class, motocrosser and newcomer to the series Brock Bennett showcased his versatility by taking the win.
Brock Bennett went home (which literally was not far away) with the 250 Pro number-one trophy.
In the 450 Pro race, the top five were battling, and there were multiple lead changes during the two-hour moto on what was a cold and breezy Sunday afternoon. Ryan Surratt (Honda) shot out of the gate, grabbing the holeshot in front of Trevor Stewart and Tyler Lynn.
Stewart, aboard his Purvines Racing Yamaha, got ahead of Surratt, who was struggling with arm pump and a complaining shoulder from a past injury. Surratt would hold on but ultimately had to settle for fourth place.
Justin Hoeft kept Demartile honest en route to second place.
Demartile, meanwhile, had a rough start, as he was left behind in fifth place, but it didn’t faze him a bit, as he started to charge through the field. He and his Beta made quick work of the field, getting behind Stewart at the halfway point, which seemed to come quickly.
Stewart and Demartile went into the pits for fuel nearly nose-to-tail, but an ultra-quick refill by his new mechanic (his father) pushed Demartile into first as they left the pits nearly side by side.
Unfortunately for Stewart, he eventually experienced a mechanical issue that would take him out of the running before the race’s end.
Tyler Lynn completed the 450 Pro-class podium on his new SLR Honda.
Justin Hoeft, who was dealing with an illness all weekend, was determined to get as many points as possible. As the track developed, it allowed Hoeft to put down the fastest lap of the race in just a little over nine minutes. As hard as he tried, however, Hoeft could not reel in Demartile, who took the checkers with approximately 45 seconds to spare.
SLR Honda newcomer Tyler Lynn also fought hard, finishing in third place on his new ride, approximately two minutes behind Demartile. Rounding out the top five were Ryan Surratt and 450cc rookie Jack Simpson, who took the checkers approximately 45 seconds behind Surratt.
450 Podium: Demartile, Hoeft, Lynn.
Twelve riders lined up for the 250 Pro division, and the 2024 class title is definitely up for grabs this year, with Simpson (last year’s 250 championship runner-up) moving up to the 450cc class.
Aboard his 3 Bros Husqvarna, Kai Aiello showed his speed down the start straight, sliding into the first spot as the field behind him heated up.
GNCC rider Mason Semmens, riding the FMF RPM KTM, came to play with the West Coast riders, as he made quick moves to find his way into the lead, slowly putting a gap over the rest of the field. A small mistake caused him to blow the back tire out, and he was forced to push the bike back into the pits and lose a significant amount of time, but he was able to fight his way back to seventh place for his first WORCS race.
250 Podium: Bennett, Aiello, Aeck.
Bennett, who hails from Bakersfield, California, and calls Honolulu Hills his home track, came to put his mark on his home turf. He kept his eyes on Aiello and Semmens. Bennett picked them both off and took the win just three seconds ahead of Aiello.
Colton Aeck had quite the battle with Cole Zeller as they were fender to fender for multiple laps. At one point, they went through the rhythm section side by side, but Aeck sealed the deal with a pass that stuck, landing on the podium’s final step.
Zeller had to settle for fourth and Jake Alvarez rounded out the top five on the FMF RPM KTM.
Tristun Alvarez got the jump in the 125 class. Photo: Harlen Foley
For the 2024 season, FMF has partnered with WORCS Racing to bring a $1000 cash purse for the winner of the 125 Pro class. When the gate dropped, Tristun Alvarez got the jump and nabbed the holeshot.
Behind Alvarez, Travis Damon and Justin Seeds were flowing, as they worked the fast, wide-open layout of Honolulu Hills. Alvarez put down the quickest lap of the weekend in the 125cc class at just over nine minutes and 10 seconds.
125 Podium: Alvarez, Damon, Seeds.
Seeds had a late charge on his Purvines Racing Yamaha as he steadily knocked down the gap between him and Damon. Still, it was too late, as Damon used all of his Perry Concepts Racing Engine to finish in second place.
Kaitlyn Jacobs looked to defend her number-one plate with the Women’s Pro win.
Also, on Saturday, the Women’s Pro class lined up as Kaitlyn Jacobs looked to retain her championship plate. She battled former WMX Pro Nicole Madsen en route to victory aboard her FMF RPM KTM, with Madsen finishing second.
Pro Am podium: Glathar, Hardy, Dorsery.
The Pro-Am class had a whole group of fresh faces, with many riders from last year jumping into the Pro ranks for 2024. Jackson Glathar put on a show coming down from St. George, Utah, winning the Pro-Am division by a 40-second gap over the Keegan Hardy, who rode a 125cc two-stroke. Alex Dorsey finished out the top-three, making it an all-KTM podium.
450 Pro
- Dare Demartile (Bet)
- Justin Hoeft (Yam)
- Tyler Lynn (Hon)
- Ryan Surratt (Hon)
- Jack Simpson (Yam)
250 Pro
- Brock Bennett (KTM)
- Kai Aiello (Hus)
- Colton Aeck (Kaw)
- Cole Zeller (Kaw)
- Jake Alvarez (KTM)
