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Robert Prevails At Utah
WORCS
Taylor
Robert stretches out points lead with another win.
By:
Joe Colombero
Taylor Robert took home another victory.
Monster
Energy Kawasaki's Taylor Robert continues
to dominate the 2012 WORCS Series after scoring another win, this time at round
seven at The Edge Raceway in Central, Utah, June 23-24. Robert pretty much led
the whole way during the first race on Saturday, taking the checkered flag by
more than a minute over Kawasaki rider
Robby Bell and RMP/Maxxis KTM rider Josh Strang.
Robert
struggled off the start in Sunday's race two, but he came from last place to
finish second, which was more than enough for him to take the overall win.
"I
crashed a few times and went swimming twice," said Robert of the many
stream crossings. "But it was a good weekend. I really like these pure
off-road tracks like this and I was able to extend my points lead for the
championship. That's my main focus this year, to finally win the WORCS
Championship."
Josh Strang finally put it together going 3-1 for the weekend on his RPM KTM450SX
Strang,
the former GNCC Champion who has been sidelined with an injury since last year,
stepped up and surprised everyone with a stellar performance. After taking
third in race one, Strang battled his way into the lead in race two and then
pulled away for the win. His 3-1 score for the weekend placed him in second
overall.
Gary
Sutherlin may have had the most fun of all the Pros. He was involved in a
race-long dogfight with Strang on Saturday and then led for most of the first
hour of Sunday's race before battling with again Strang and then Robert. His
4-3 finish was good enough for third overall.
Bell
took fourth overall followed by Ryan Abbatoye. Bobby Garrison, riding injured,
managed sixth overall to stay mathematically in the hunt for the 2012
Championship.
The Sutherlin Strang battle was intense on Sunday.
In the
Pro 2 class, Corey Graffunder put his Husky to work and took another win.
Graffunder led from the first lap and stayed well ahead through the tight woods
and stream crossings.
"This
is the best course we've had all year," said Graffunder, "great
off-road racing and lots of obstacles. My Husky handled it all and I took
another win."
Second
place went to Ivan Ramirez who kept Graffunder in sight for the whole 90
minutes. Ramirez's RMP/KTM/FMF/Maxxis teammate Travis Coy took a well earned
third. Robert Underwood was fourth with Justin Seeds fifth.
Eric
Yorba Took the Pro 2 Lites victory. Yorba battled all race long with Evan Kelly
and took the win by making fewer mistakes. Kelly suffered a flat tire and a few
soil-samples but hung on for second. Fourteen-year-old Cody Fendly took third.Point's
leader Brandon Lieth took fourth with Clint Miglia rounding out the top five.
Kacy
Martinez took another win. The three-time WORCS Women Pro champ was stellar on
the tough off-road course and won by a large margin. Tatum Sik came through
despite frequent falls to make a last-lap pass for second. Nicole Madsen
finished third. Sik holds the points lead with three rounds still to go.
RESULTS
PRO OVERALL
1
Taylor Robert (Kaw)
2.
Josh Strang (KTM)
3.
Gary Sutherlin (Kaw)
4.
Robby Bell (Kaw)
5.
Ryan Abbatoye (Kaw)
6.
Bobby Garrison (Kaw)
PRO 2
1. Cory Graffunder (Hus)
2.
Ivan Ramirez (KTM)
3.
Travis Coy (KTM)
4.
Robert Underwood (Kaw)
5.
Justin Seeds (Kaw)
6.
Justin Jones (TM)
7.
Killian Woder (Kaw)
8.
Tallon Taylor (Kaw)
9.
Tanner Tremaine (Kaw)
10.
Tim Warner (Kaw)
PRO 2 LITES
1.
Eric Yorba (KTM)
2.
Evan Kelly (Yam)
3.
Cody Fendley (Hon)
4.
Brandon Leith (Kaw)
5.
Clint Miglia (Yam)
6.
Richard Dean Mannschreck (Hon)
7.
Dylan Osborne (Kaw)
8.
Starr Savage (KTM)
9.
Ryan Sandoval (Yam)
10.
Dustin McCarthy (Kaw)
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