Cypress, CA (11/14/2011)
-Yamaha’s Dustin Nelson closed out the ATV pro racing calendar with an impressive win in the grueling WORCS finale at Speedworld Motocross Park in Surprise, Ariz. on Sunday, Nov. 13. Aboard his YFZ450R, Nelson led nearly the entire 10-lap, 1 ½-hour race and took the checkered flag an amazing 25 seconds ahead of rivals Jeremie Warnia and Josh Frederick. After having already clinched the 2011 Yamaha Quad-X ATV motocross title, Nelson’s first WORCS victory of the year puts him fourth in the WORCS Pro ATV championship points.
The long WORCS racecourse featured about 80% desert trails, sand-washes and hard-packed clay, and 20% Speedworld motocross track. Nelson was third fastest in timed qualifying practice on Saturday, giving him a good gate pick for Sunday’s race. But rainfall on Saturday night and race morning added a significant amount of mud to the course, making getting the holeshot critical for visibility during the opening laps. When the gate dropped, Nelson and his YFZ made a perfect launch, grabbing the holeshot and immediately benefiting from a clear track. He took full advantage of the chance, building up a lead of nearly six seconds by the end of the first long 10-minute lap.