The 10th and final round of the 2026 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC WORCS Series brought the championship battles to a fitting close at the La Paz County Fairgrounds in Parker, Arizona, November 7-8. A brand-new track, unridden by the field before race day, offered a true head-to-head test. After the points shifted at round nine in Mesquite, the stage was set for a title showdown, and the Pro 450 race delivered a wild one.
Story & Photos Connor Moore
Mason Semmens arrived at Parker with a championship to defend and momentum to reclaim after mechanical trouble at Mesquite. The FMF RPM KTM rider grabbed the holeshot, but the lead changed hands early as Justin Hoeft surged past on his Hatch Racing Kawasaki. Dare DeMartile, aboard his Liqui Moly Beta USA machine, was also in the mix. The trio traded the lead during the opening hour, turning the race into a three-way fight and giving each contender a chance to set the pace.
Hoeft showed impressive speed throughout the day, while Semmens and DeMartile kept the pressure on. The new course left no one with a familiar line to rely on; every lap was a fresh test of pace and precision. With the championship still at stake, the early lead changes made it seem as though the race might remain a dogfight all the way to the flag.
Then, around halfway, the race and the title picture changed dramatically. DeMartile encountered a minor issue and had to slow considerably. With a four-point swing needed to take the championship, his hopes suddenly looked in jeopardy. Semmens had been fighting to stay in the hunt, but then disaster struck again. For the second race in a row, a mechanical failure slowed his charge. This time, he got the bike moving again and pushed on to the finish, salvaging seventh place and valuable championship points.
When DeMartile spotted Semmens ahead, he picked up the pace. The win was out of reach, but the championship was still possible if he could climb into third. He fought forward through the field, passing Tristun Alvarez in the closing laps. Alvarez, now aboard a Purvines Racing Yamaha, looked poised to contend and held a strong position in the late stages.
DeMartile’s late charge put him in position, and a further twist settled the outcome: Ruy Barbosa was forced to pull over with a blown tire. That opened the door DeMartile needed. He secured third place and enough points to claim his third consecutive 450 Pro championship, capping a comeback from his mechanical setback. Hoeft’s speed carried him to the race win, while DeMartile’s resilience and Semmens’ determination to finish shaped the title drama behind him.
The Beta rider, DeMartile, officially finished the championship with 214 points, followed by Semmens with 212 points. Tyler Lynn, who didn’t start the race, finished third with 192 points.
Second-placed Giacomo Redondi finished fourth in the final standings with 120 points in front of the round winner, Hoeft, fifth on 103 points.
The 250 Pro race brought its own championship stakes, though Sam Pretscherer entered Parker with a simpler path: finish the race, and the title would be his. He did exactly what the moment required, taking second place and clinching the 2026 Pro 250 Championship. It was a measured ride under pressure, rewarding the consistency that had carried him through the season.
Cole Zeller made sure the day belonged to him, too. The KTM rider won the overall and showed that he will be a contender next year. Zeller and Hoeft came into the finish line bar to bar for the physical lead, a fitting snapshot of the close competition across the Pro classes. While Pretscherer could celebrate the championship, Zeller left Parker with the race victory and a strong performance. Pretscherer finished on top with 227 points, followed by Zeller with 218 and Colton Aeck with 174.
The season finale also gave the series a chance to recognize two more champions. Aeck won the Open Pro Championship, while Travis Damon claimed the Vet Pro title.
Looking ahead to 2027, WORCS kicks off in Taft, California, January 8-10, and the 10-round schedule will include the return of the Stateline race at Primm, along with established venues such as Washougal and Glen Helen.CN
2026 WORCS Round 10 Results
PRO 450 OVERALL (Top 5)
- Justin Hoeft (Kaw) 01:58:43.388
- Giacomo Redondi (Kaw) 02:04:04.226
- Dare DeMartile (Bet) 02:06:32.168
- Tristun Alvarez (Yam) 02:06:42.155
- Ruy Barbosa (Hon) 01:59:20.443
PRO 250 OVERALL (Top 5)
- Cole Zeller (KTM) 01:57:47.523
- Dustyn Davis (Hus) 01:57:58.643
- Sam Pretscherer (Hon) 02:01:12.819
- Noah Gordon (KTM) 02:03:05.236
- David Fry (Kaw) 01:58:59.251
