The 2025 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC WORCS series got underway at Shorty’s MX Park in Blythe, California, January 25-26. The WORCS crew put together a 6.5-mile track, as Dare DeMartile begins the defense of his number one plate in the 450 Pro class and Mason Semmens in the 250 Pro ranks.
Story and Photos By Connor Moore
DeMartile excelled early on the motocross portion of the track. He grabbed the holeshot on his Liqui Moly Beta Racing machine in front of 450 Pro rookie Hayden Florez and veteran racer Giacomo Redondi on his PC Off-Road Kawasaki. Florez showed his speed on his Berkeley Yamaha early with the SLR Honda Team riders Ryan Surratt and Tyler Lynn in tow. Lynn had a slight mishap off the line. As a result, he trailed the field.
The Pro section sent the riders up a raw sand hill climb that had a hard left turn at the top, which then opened up to a variety of lines entering a canyon and then chicaned to connect back to the main track at the bottom.
DeMartile had a small tipover early in the first lap, allowing Redondi to capitalize and take the lead, but it was short-lived as DeMartile and Lynn both put the hammer down and separated from the pack to battle it out as the race progressed. DeMartile gained time through the moto section, but in the long sandy sections, which Shorty’s has no shortage of, Lynn was on fire as he moved to capture the lead around the race’s halfway point.
Once Lynn made the pass, he could settle in and hit his marks, gaining a steady lead lap after lap. He finished the race with a lead of one minute and 23 seconds over DeMartile, followed by Redondi.
Ryan Surratt, who is battling a knee injury sustained at the first round of the NGPC series, gritted through the race to take fourth. Florez finished in fifth despite having a fall in the canyon and breaking his collarbone.
FMF/RPM Racing KTM rider Mason Semmens blasted into the 250 Pro-class lead, with Tristun Alvarez (KTM) and SLR Honda Jace Allred right behind him. Gordon and Jake Alvarez started in the back, but it wouldn’t be long before they were hot on Semmens’ tail. Jake made a move on Semmens heading into the uphill section, but a small mistake gave the lead back to Semmens as he got up in fourth.
On the same lap, Semmens put down the fastest 250 lap time of the race and gave himself a buffer of almost 30 seconds over his teammate, Gordon.
The battle for third heated up between Tristun and Allred. Allred made a pass stick on the third lap. The FMF/RPM Racing KTM team made a statement early this season as it dominated and went 1-2 on the 250 Pro podium with Semmens and Gordon. Allred was third on his Honda machine.
Tristun Alvarez battled with his brother till Jake’s chain faltered during the final laps, and they finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
On Saturday morning, the FMF Racing Pro 125 class lined up. Tristun and Jake battled heavily for most of the race, as Tristun looks to make three titles in the class. Jake made the pass as they headed onto the final lap, but disaster struck in the sand as he ran out of gas and was forced to get a tow, allowing Travis Damon to bump himself into second place and Jake to finish in third.
SLR Honda’s Carter Klein came from last to win the Pro-Am class, finishing first ahead of Racer Fry (Yamaha), with newcomer Andrew Schulz (Husqvarna) taking third in his first Pro-Am race.
In Women’s Pro, Lauren Woods returned to WORCS racing and captured the win on her Reezen Racing GasGas, with Dana Raynor (Husqvarna) finishing in second.
2025 WORCS Round 1 Results
450 PRO (Top 5)
- Tyler Lynn (Hon)
- Dare DeMartile (Bet)
- Giacomo Redondi (Kaw)
- Ryan Surratt (Hon)
- Hayden Florez (Yam)
250 PRO (Top 5)
- Mason Semmens (KTM)
- Noah Gordon (KTM)
- Jace Allred (Hon)
- Tristun Alvarez (KTM)
- Jake Alvarez (Kaw)
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