Race Report
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WORCS ROUND 1
January 23/24, 2010
Surprise, AZ
Pro & Pro/Am Race Reports by Mark Williams
PRO COVERAGE
Round 1 of the 2010 WORCS 10th year anniversary season seemed to be in jeopardy in the days leading up to the event due to an epic winter storm that left most of the west coast either under water or heavy snow. The WORCS staff however was determined to hold the event as scheduled, and made a mid-week decision to relocate the track to higher ground on the other end of the Speedworld MX park. They spent the latter part of the week building bridges to traverse the flowing washes that ran through the desert sections of the course, and pumping out water from the infield sections of the track. The hard work by the staff, and some help from mother nature all came together to make racing conditions near perfect by the weekend for the nearly 500 entrants who made the difficult trip.
2009 defending Pro Class Champion MCR Racing’s Beau Baron, had spent the off season honing his MX skills. While the #2 plate Can-Am Motowork’s rider Josh Frederick concentrated on his Desert endurance. When the green flag dropped however it was the MX specialist, Yamaha’s Dustin Nelson grabbing a typical Nelson style holeshot followed by Baron and #13 Tim Shelman. Frederick was pinched off in mid-pack, but by first laps end would by right in the mix holding third spot. Nelson appeared as the early favorite, running the first 3 laps ahead of Baron, but on lap 4 Baron grew tired of the rear view on Nelson’s YFZ 450, and made the pass for the lead. Nelson didn’t let Baron out of his sight, and rode the next 3 laps within striking distance. Nelson’s luck would run out however on lap 7, as a derailed chain ended his hopes of a first round win.
While Nelson and Baron were pushing each other out front, Frederick was not gaining much ground and sitting about 20 seconds back. After the pitting for fuel, and finding himself in the second spot, Frederick began to chip away at Barons lead. Frederick basically ran out of time, and when the white flag waved was still 15-20 seconds back. The Can-Am Team got a bit of a scare when the call went out on the PA system that Frederick had stalled out with less than a half a mile to the finish. Fortunately for Frederick GNCC Pro rider Jeff Pickens stopped and push started Frederick’s Can-Am, enabling him to secure the second place spot.
With arms in the air, the defending champion Beau Baron crossed the finish line after the 2 hour sprint victorious in round 1. The race of the day however was still on the track, as MCR Team Owner # 12 Mike Cafro had his hands full with a hard charging privateer #14 Robbie Mitchell. The two were at war for several laps trying to claim the final podium spot. In the end it was the “Brett Favre” of the WORCS Series Mike Cafro taking his first ever, and well deserved podium spot. Cafro’s third place finish put 2 of the MCR Hondas on the podium for a stellar first round by the team. The privateer Mitchell got his best finish in nearly 2 years with a respectable 4th, and the Motoworks Can-Am rookie pro rider Dillon Zimmerman rounded out the top 5.
PRO AM COVERAGE
With the 2009 Pro-Am Champion Dillon Zimmerman promoting to the Pro ranks , 22 riders began the Journey to claim the 2010 Title. David Haagsma who finished up the 2009 season a close second to Zimmerman was back, but wearing different colors for 2010. Haagsma was now a member of Mike Cafros MCR Honda venture turning in his Kawasaki green for Honda red. Dillon Zimmerman was replaced on the Motoworks Can-Am Team by ATVA 450B MX rider Cole Henry who will be riding the DS450 in 2010. MCR Racing has also enlisted the services of 2009 privateer and up and coming rider Keith Johnson for 2010. Garrin Fuller the Duncan Racing rider is back in Honda red and will be trying to put his name on the title as well.
The 22 riders left the start about 1 minute behind the Pro pack, with #249 Mike Kelly taking the holeshot . Kelly would lead the race briefly, but the hard charging youngster from Virginia, Cole Henry was quickly getting comfortable on the Can-Am and made a charge to the front. Kelly would have mechanical problems and drop out, while #45 Garrin Fuller made up a ton of time moving from 8th to 2nd to challenge Cole Henry for the bulk of the two hour event.
In the end it was the newly signed Motoworks Can-Am pilot Cole Henry riding a wheelie down pit lane, and through the Scoring Chute for the win in his first ever WORCS event. Garrin Fuller held on for 2nd, followed by MCR Racing’s Keith Johnson. David Haagsma and Javier Robles rounded out the top 5.
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