The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC WORCS Racing series rolled into Northern Nevada for the Biggest Little City Grand Prix, set against the rugged backdrop of Reno at a new venue for the series at Stead MX Raceway, April 10-12. KTM rider Mason Semmens ran off with the overall win, taking the checkers 21 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, Beta’s Dare DeMartile.
Story & Photos by Connor Moore
With a course stretching just over four miles, the track delivered a perfect WORCS blend, short motocross bursts mixed with fast, flowing hillsides that wound through trees and natural terrain. While Saturday brought cold conditions and a ripping wind, Sunday’s Pro motos turned into a full-on survival test.
As the green flag flew, riders were immediately met with a snowstorm that hammered the course for nearly the first 20 minutes. Then, almost as quickly as it arrived, the snow vanished, and sunshine broke through, drawing cheers from riders and spectators alike. But the relief didn’t last long. Clouds rolled back in, and roughly an hour and 20 minutes into the two-hour moto, the skies opened again, this time with hail, adding one final layer of chaos before the checkered flag could finally end the madness. Reno delivered every season in a single race, and the racers had no choice but to adapt.
The Pro 450 class delivered great racing because the course layout, which was more technical than an all-out sprint, allowed riders to stay closer together, and the lead changed hands at key moments as weather and track conditions continued to evolve.
Off the start, it was Tyler Lynn on the SLR Honda grabbing the holeshot and leading the field through the first corner. But it didn’t take long for DeMartile, aboard his Liqui Moly Beta USA machine, to make his move. DeMartile wasted no time applying pressure and made quick work of the opening lap, taking over the top spot and immediately stretching his rhythm into the technical sections. With the course still slick and unpredictable from the snow earlier, DeMartile rode with confidence and control, holding the lead for roughly the first hour and 10 minutes of the two-hour battle.
As conditions improved and the track opened up, Semmens, riding his FMF RPM KTM, turned up the intensity. With traction returning, Semmens found speed, closed the gap, and launched a hard charge in the second half of the moto. Once he made his pass for the lead, Semmens never looked back, keeping the pace high and staying mistake-free through the rough late-race chop and deepening ruts. He rode it home for the victory in one of the hardest-fought wins of his season.
DeMartile held strong in second after leading most of the moto, while Lynn stayed consistent and tough to round out the podium in third. Just off the podium, Giacomo Redondi rode his Pro Circuit Off-Road Kawasaki and claimed fourth after another steady, calculated ride, managing the tree sections and rough terrain well, despite constantly changing conditions.
In fifth was Hayden Florez, grinding out a solid finish on a day when simply staying upright and mistake-free became a battle of its own.
The Pro 250 race was pure intensity from start to finish. The ongoing rivalry between Cole Zeller, piloting his FMF RPM KTM, and Sam Pretscherer, aboard the SLR Honda, heated up in Reno as the two traded blows all moto long in one of the weekend’s closest battles. From the opening laps, Zeller and Pretscherer pulled away from the rest of the field, swapping the lead multiple times as they pushed the pace through the hills, trees and whooped-out sections. Neither rider gave an inch, and even as course conditions shifted dramatically, from snow to sunshine and eventually hail, the gap between them stayed razor thin, with both riders running within a few seconds of each other for much of the race.
In the end, Zeller’s ability to stay smooth and calculated through the roughest sections proved decisive. He held his composure late in the moto as visibility dropped and the track turned unpredictable again, locking in the lead when it mattered most and sealing a hard-earned victory in a race that could have easily gone either way. Pretscherer remained relentless until the final moments, settling for second but once again proving he has the pace and grit to challenge for wins every weekend. Behind the front two, Dustyn Davis charged to a strong third-place finish, continuing to show his versatility and speed across multiple classes.
KTM-mounted Noah Gordon fought through the chaos for fourth, while Colton Aeck (Kawasaki) rounded out the top five. Jake Alvarez secured sixth after enduring the full range of Reno’s weather swings, proving that consistency still pays dividends in a race where simply surviving is a challenge.
Saturday’s races may not have seen snow or hail, but the cold wind ensured the day was still a challenge.
In Women’s Pro, Tarah Gieger put on a show on her JCR Honda, taking the win with a strong, composed performance. Lauren Woods (GasGas) followed with a solid ride for second, while Rachel Burton (Kawasaki) completed the podium in third.
The Open Pro class saw Husqvarna’s Dustyn Davis double down on the weekend with a victory, proving he had the pace to dominate regardless of conditions. Giacomo Redondi secured second in the class, while Colton Aeck grabbed third, both on Kawasakis, marking a strong showing for the green machines in Reno.CN
2026 WORCS Round 4 Results
Pro 450 (Top 5)
- Mason Semmens (KTM) 1:59:30.913
- Dare DeMartile (Bet) 1:59:51.217
- Tyler Lynn (Hon) 2:02:06.189
- Giacomo Redondi (Kaw) 1:59:52.346
- Hayden Florez (Yam) 2:01:58.012
Pro 250 (Top 5)
- Cole Zeller (KTM) 2:00:57.536
- Sam Pretscherer (Hon) 2:01:07.829
- Dustyn Davis (Hus) 2:02:53.001
- Noah Gordon (KTM) 2:03:26.282
- Colton Aeck (Kaw) 2:03:29.298
