Story by Seth Fargher
WORCS Pro ATV racers are among the toughest athletes in the world. To battle a 350 plus pound machine for two hours in high temperatures and some of the most rugged terrain imaginable takes stamina. Racers at the 8th round of the World Offroad Championship Series, held at Glen Helen Raceway, would do just that and the brutal conditions would take there toll on many racers who challenged the course.

The 4.5 mile course made full use of the entire Glen Helen moto complex. Racers would leave the starting line and make their way around the infamous Talladega turn before climbing and descending Mount St Helen twice. The pro racers would then make their way up the notorious Yamaha Hill and back into the hills before returning to the motocross track.

The motocross track, while not overly technical, featured some insanely large jumps which proved to separate the men from the boys particularly later on in the race. The track included a 115 foot triple and a lofting 105 foot step down. Riders were easily 15 to 20 ft off the ground before down siding the monster step down.

Racers would then snake there way through a large man made canal and back up Mt Whitney before descending to the WORCS cross section. This challenging portion of the course wreaked havoc on man and machine as riders were forced to scale logs and tractor tires. The final portion of the course was run on the LOORRS truck track where the riders could open it up and were allowed a brief moment to let their aching arms rest while pinning it around the wide sweeping corners.

At the drop of the Pro gate it was Can-am Motoworks’ Dillon Zimmerman who was on the gas and the first to leave the long sweeping Talladega turn to claim the Pro holeshot. Zimmerman has had an impressive rookie season in the pro class and while he’s never found himself on the podium, consistent finishes have kept him just two points away from the top five.

Dustin Nelson and Beau Baron made quick work of Zimmerman and the first few laps looked as if the race was going to be the Baron/Nelson show. The two riders were neck and neck with Baron eating Nelson’s dust for the first lap and a half with 3rd place nowhere in sight. Nelson found himself squirly on one of the course’s many uphill sections and Baron was able to get by and check out. There is a reason Beau Baron wears the number 1 plate as last years WORCS Pro Champion.

Nelson hasn’t claimed a victory since Round 4 at Racetown 395 where he led the entire race. Mechanical problems have been an issue for the Factory Yamaha rider but his speed and four podium finishes have him sitting solidly in fourth place behind Cafro Racing’s Josh Row.

Series points leader Josh Frederick receives the iron man award of the day for charging all the way back from last place to third just before running out of gas. After a first lap mishap on the offroad truck track, Frederick found himself in the back of the pack and starter problems would plague him the rest of the day. On two separate occasions Frederick had to receive a bump start from a kind racer who helped him get his quad going. By the halfway point of the race he had already passed up to 6th place, continued charging and would pass Josh Row for the third place position. It seemed as though he salvaged a podium finish however he ran out of gas only moments later. Row would regain third place on the same lap and hold it all the way to the finish for his third podium of the year.

The Can-am pit crew flagged down Zimmerman who attempted to carry fuel to his stalled teammate and was later disqualified as per WORCS rules, however Frederick managed to salvage an 8th place finish after pushing his quad to the pits and refueling. Frederick has dominated much of the season, swapping wins with last year champ Beau Baron. While both riders sit comfortably ahead of third place, Frederick’s misfortune cost him valuable points and Baron would regain the lead in the overall series points standing.

In the Pro Am ranks it was Garrin Fuller out of El Cajon California who would claim top honors. Fuller has been absent from the Pro Am ranks since the 5th round in Milford California. With a second place finish in Surprise Arizona and a first at Lake Havasu as well, Fuller definitely has the speed to win. This win at Glen Helen moves him into 7th place in the overall points standings.

Javier Robles Jr took second with Keith Johnson rounding out the Pro Am podium in third. In the overall standings Robles is holding onto the third position while Johnson is in second behind David Haagsma. Haagsma wrapped up the Pro Am Championship with rounds to spare so he opted to try his luck in the Pro class at Glen Helen. The triple digit temps would cut his day short due to heat stroke but after winning the Pro Am championship by a landslide this year, we’re confident he’ll be a contender in the Pro class next year.

Everyone loves an exciting race and the final round at Mesquite Nevada is shaping up to be a decisive one for the entire Pro class. This weekends setbacks for Frederick could ultimately cost him another championship. Baron has only to finish in 5th place or better to claim the 2010 season Championship even if Frederick wins the final round.

Mike Cafro Racing’s Josh Row has had a consistent season finishing in the top five, six out of eight races this year and has established himself in the third place position ahead of Yamaha’s Dustin Nelson in the overall standings. With only five points separating the two, you can be sure Nelson and Row will both be gunning for a win to decide the third and fourth place point standings.