WATTS WINS WORLD OFF-ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER

Australian Shane Watts was untouchable in the inaugural round of the WORCS at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. The race was a cross between a west-coast GP and an eastern-style GNCC and had a full contingent of factory riders from Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha and KTM. The 65-rider Pro field had a motocross-style start with Craig Davis pulling the holeshot. But things got strange right away–Davis cut off a section of the track thinking the course had been rerouted (no one followed), so even though he led the event for the first 10-minute lap, he was black-flagged the first time across the start/finish line. From there on, it was Watts and his 200 KTM all the way. The riders who made the most impressive charges through the pack were Ty Davis, who finished fourth, and Steve Hatch, who caught up to sixth after a miserable start then ran out of gas within sight of the checkered flag. Destry Abbott was a victim of Davis’s charge; the two collided in the middle of pit row, sending Abbott sprawling to the ground. Abbott just smiled afterward, ‘There’s always payback.’ The next round of the series will be in Arizona, in February.

RESULTS, GLEN HELEN WORCS, ROUND 1

1 Shane Watts (KTM)
2 Mike Kiedrowski (Suz)
3 Rodney Smith (Suz)
4 Ty Davis (Yam)
5 Destry Abbott (Kaw)