WORCS RD#7 Glen
Helen Raceway
The overall winner Jeremie Warina, jumping the road
crossing and way out front.
The current point leader
crossing the larger pedestrian bridge.
Beau Barron would finish second overall |
Ironman John Natalie charging
off the asphalt sections and headed to
the tunnel on the fast paced grand prix
course. |
The record breaking temperatures were just
one of the obstacles for the second to last
round. The other obstacles were the rough track
and tight points race. Weeks prior
California had a major heat wave roll through,
and it was still lingering. Temperatures were in
the 113 range- plus. It was extremely hot! I had
ridden in an amateur race on Saturday and had to
pull off half way through the race because of
the heat. I was so drained and dead tired, I
couldn’t imagine running a race that was twice
as long, like the Pros.
Now to the points race that was heating up!
Cafro Racing’s Beau Baron came into this round
with the points lead; right behind last year’s
champ Josh Frederick aboard his Motoworks/Can-Am
Machine. Frederick was coming off an injury that
happened at the ITP Quadcross early this year,
and was looking great out on the track during
practice. Also spotted at practice was former
GNC Champ John Natalie aboard his Can-Am ride.
John was looking in top form. He must have
been out west doing some training for the up
coming GNC season. Also, rumors were out that he
was there to create a buffer between himself and
points leader Barron along with teammate
Frederick to help with points. John had a bit of
bad luck in practice on Friday. Somehow he and
Polaris rider Doug Eichner ran into each
other head-on over a tabletop. I didn’t witness
it, but others who had said it didn’t look good
for either rider. John and Doug both were sent
to the hospital and released. John had broken
ribs, but showed up for practice the next day.
Is that why they call him Iron man??
Unfortunately, Doug was less fortunate with a
broken arm and other internal injuries. Doug is
not expected back this season.
Well, as the gate dropped, the machines
roared to the first turn, where Yamaha’s Dustin
Nelson would take the holeshot and take home
$100 for doing so. Dustin was followed by the
French rider Jeremie Warnia in a very close
second. Warnia would make quick work of Nelson
to pass him in the first lap. Nelson would fall
back in the pack all the way back to finish
fourth. Beau Barron got off the line in fifth
and had some catching up to do if he wanted to
stay the point’s leader. The reigning champ
Josh Frederick started just in front of Beau and
charged hard the whole race to finish a solid
third. Beau would ride a solid race and keep his
points lead by finishing second overall. The
overall win would go to Jeremie Warnia and now
will bump him up in the points race. Jeremie has
been having a really strong season and now was
right behind teammate Frederick in third. As for
Keith Little he would start the race, but would
only make it half way till he had some issues
and had to drop out. Also, Jarrod McClure would
also DNF but only got about two and a half laps
in before having trouble.
The Ironman John Natalie would finish fifth.
Even after the bad luck he was dealt earlier in
the week he still had a solid finish, broken
ribs and all. The fifth round Chris Borich
showed up and is rumored to show up in the final
round in Nevada. Now on this round John Natalie
and Keith Little showed up to throw their hats
in the ring. Looks like the WORCS series is
really starting to grow in popularity and is
showing great potential for growth. Even with
the economic turn down, the racer turn out has
still been really strong and with big named pros
like that showing up, it’s only going to get
better.
Keith Little made the trip out
west and ran into trouble to not finish
with an hour to go. |
Josh Frederick playing catch up
after an injury early in the season. He
is trying to win his third WORCS
championship. |
Overall, it was an awesome weekend of racing,
even though the weather could have been a little
nicer. The heat got not only to the racers, but
machines as well. This is also the first time
the WORCS series was back at its home track
where it all started. The series has gone to
more of a grand prix style course and tends to
use the larger tracks with open space. This year
Glen Helen opened/combined both tracks and some
other parts of the surrounding property to
support this larger grand prix style course.
Thanks to the good folks at Glen Helen raceway
for putting together a great track. Alsoc big
thanks to the whole WORCS crew for another great
race.
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