Phoenix WORCS

The 2003 season came up quick with the first WORCS race taking place in Arizona.  I got my release from the doctor on Thursday and already had the box van loaded up ready to go racing.  Brian and I took Cuyler along to do some filming and keep us company.  We arrived late on Friday and had just a bit of time to check out the track.  After checking things out we went into Phoenix to meet up with Mike Demaree at the Hotel.  The Supercross was in town and Team KTM and Kawasaki were at the same hotel.  We were waiting for Derek to show up and saw a Limo out in front of the hotel.  We asked the driver what was going on and he said he was taking Team Kawasaki to an autograph session.  That being the case we thought it was appropriate to put a couple of G Brothers posters in the Limo for their session.  When we got everyone together we headed out to a freestyle exhibition going on downtown by the stadium featuring Dustin Miller and Robert Distler.  The show was entertaining and its always neat to see peoples reaction that aren't familiar with freestyle motocross.  

This year at the WORCS series a qualifying format is being used to seat riders in the Pro Race.  The top finishing rider in the biggest class gets first pick, then first place in the second biggest race, first place in the third biggest race, then second place in the first biggest race and so on until everyone is lined up.  Brian and I both were riding in the 250-open race that was the last race of the day.  With just minimal time on  the bike before this race I was just planning on getting familiar with racing conditions and staying out of trouble.  Lance Smail jumped out front early in the race ahead of Destry Abbott and east coast rider Josh Mclevy.  Brian had just passed Josh for third when his rear tire went flat forcing him to pit.  I was having a bit of trouble with armpump but was having a good time at least being in the race instead of watching.  The course was four miles in length which had a hard packed moto track with a couple table top jumps, a couple of watered fireroads with some rocky sections in them, a rocky creekbed, then we did the other half of the moto track before going off to some winding fireroads, three quarters of a lap around a flattrack, and back to the motocross track.  Brian got the flat changed and charged up through the pack.  He caught and passed me and I gave him a good race for at least a corner before he was gone.  After the race we loaded up the van and headed off to the supercross compliments of KTM.  The supercross was awesome and its amazing how fast those guys go.  Ezra Lusk and James Stewert both took the wins undoubtedly because of the posters we gave them the day before.   

There was a big turnout for the Pro Race even though defending champion Mike Kiedrowski and the rest of Team Suzuki are not participating this year.  Another change this year is that the top ten amateur racers are invited to race the pro race.  Total there were over sixty racers in the Pro Race.  I didn't do too hot in qualifying and was stuck with a second row start.  The outside of the starting line looked better because you could keep the gas on and not get pinched off.  I started behind Dave Neumeister and Shane Watts both riding 200's.  Dave didn't get his bike started on the first kick so I swerved over in behind Wattsy.  He had a top three start going before getting clipped and went down.  Russ Pearson took the holeshot ahead of Joey Lanza, Ty Davis, and Lance Smail.  Brian was next in line getting a good start on the 450 4-stroke.  He used Lafferty's technique, kicking  the bike over at the same time as hitting the electric start button for a quick strong start.  I only made it a few laps in the race.  I am still not strong enough to handle the square edge bumps of the course and hitting them in the dust didn't help so I pulled off and hope to in fighting shape for the first Hare Scramble at Hollister.  Ty Davis took control of the lead ahead of Lance Smail and Russ Pearson.  They pulled away from the rest of  the field.  Destry Abbott had a good race going with Nathan Woods for fourth, then Robert Naughton.  Next there was a good race going between Kurt Caselli, David Pearson, Brian, and Shane Watts who moved through the field from his first turn crash.  Lance Smail took over the lead for a few laps until Ty and Russ ran him down.  Russ was riding great just about ten seconds behind Ty and it looked like he might be able to make the pass.  In the race for sixth Kurt pulled a little lead on the rest, jumping over Brian on the moto track.  David crashed on the cliff in front of the pits letting Brian get by.  Watts was in seventh with just a lap to go when he came in with reported rear brake problems.  He called for pliers to straighten  his disc but then we realized that his sprocket bolts were all ready to fall out.  We gave them a quick tighten and got him to the finish but he dropped back to 11th.  Ty Davis took the win but unfortunately he had problems with dehydration and had to get an IV after the race to replace his fluids.  Russ Pearson was second, followed by Lance Smail, Destry Abbott, Robert Naughton, Kurt Caselli, Brian, Nathan Woods, and David Pearson. 

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