Team JCR Honda
2009 WORCS Team JCR Honda
The battle has begun with the best WORCs racers in the world going head to head this past weekend with one race down and nine to go The JCR/Honda team is set to have a banner year.
"The first race of the season is so important because you get to see where everyone else is at and where your racers, bikes and staff are at. The JCR/Honda racers, bikes and staff are stronger than we've ever been it's a long series and I want the Championship for the JCR/Honda team so we will make some changes but over all we are in good shape. Next round we will have Nick Brozovich back and I am certain he will make his presence known as well. - Johnny Campbell"
Timmy Weigand
Timmy had a phenomenal race starting with a massive Holeshot. He had a bobble at the half way point that sent him back to around 9th place from there he charged hard and got back into the top pack. He had caught up to only seconds 2 behind the 3rd place rider when a loop in the EnduroCross section sent him back to a 16 second gap on the last lap. Timmy charged hard and made up 13 of those 16 seconds in one lap but with a 3 second gap left at the checked flag his hard fought race would end in 4th place.
Colton Udall's lap times were just a tick off the top guys and he proved to his team and himself that he has what it takes.
"I had a good race, I spun on the gate but my Pro Circuit suspension and Dunlop tires really worked well and I still got the Holeshot, I hit a tree in the desert section that almost took me out (Laughs) and after cleaning the EnduroCross section all race it got me on the last lap I was pissed. My JCR/Honda team had me on a great bike I missed it by seconds so I know I can be there at the next round. - Timmy Weigand"
Kendall Norman
Kendall looked strong all weekend, he has been working hard to start the 2009 WORCS series strong and is in amazing shape. He had a mid pack start off the gate and started picking off guys right away. He was in heavy traffic and his lap times were consistent with the top guys however he suffered a twisted knee and was unable to finish the race after lap 2. Kendall was visibly disappointed.
"I am super bummed on how my race went unfortunate things happen when you are racing. I look forward to being back at it soon. - Kendall Norman"
Colton Udall
Colton had the race of his young career and if you have ever seen a race where the racer gives 110% you know the felling the JCR/Honda team had during Colton's race. His lap times were just a tick off the top guys and he proved to his team and himself that he has what it takes. Colton finished in 11th place
"I know exactly what I need to do and I am going to work harder than ever to do it. - Colton Udall"
Team FMF Suzuki
Team FMF Suzuki Off Road Starts Strong
Team FMF Suzuki Off Road came to round one of the WORCS Series and went home with two Pro podium finishes for thestrongest start of the season.
In the Pro 1 class FMF Suzuki Off Road’s Nathan Woods took his best-ever season openingfinish by charging his way to a third place podium. Woods, a2-time WORCS Champion, usually starts slow and comes on strong inthe second ½ of the series, but for 2009 Woods decided it was timeto start of swinging. “I’ve been training with Rodney Smith andwe’ve got the RM-Z450 working really well thanks to Team ManagerMike Webb. This is my best finish in the season opener ever, butI’m ready to win races right now. So I’m happy with a podium, butwe’re just going to keep moving up from here,” said Woods. Nathanearned his podium with a come from behind charge late in the racewhere he posted some of the fastest lap times on the track to moveinto third at the checkered flag.
In the Pro 2 class,Jonathan Davis took his FMF Suzuki Off Road Team RM-Z to a secondplace finish. Davis got the holeshot and battled with a toughfield of Pro 2 riders all day, dropping back as far as fourth andthen charging back into the lead several times. In fact, it lookedas though Davis had it won until late in the race when a bobble inthe Endurocross section dropped him temporarily and allowed thesecond place rider by. Davis put on another charge, but ran out oftime and had to settle for second. “I thought I had it won, but Iknow I can beat these guys. It’s a long season and I’m real happyto start off with a second.”
Plus, West Coast TeamCoordinator, Coach, Trainer, and Mechanic Rodney Smith entered twoclasses – the 30+A and 40+A (Rodney is 44) and won them both. So,Rodney (Suzuki’s 5-time GNCC Champion) is now leading two classesof the WORCS Vet Series.
Team FMF Suzuki Off RoadSeason Highlights
NathanWoods–3rdPlace, Pro 1; WORCS Round 1
JonathonDavis–2ndPlace, Pro 2; WORCS Round 1
RodneySmith–1stplace, 30+A; WORCS Round 1
RodneySmith–1stPlace, 40+A; WORCS Round 1
Monster Energy Kawasaki
Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Bikes.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ricky Dietrich started the WORCS season much better than 2008 with a win during the opening round at Speedworld MX Park. The track was rough and proved to separate the riders who had better fitness. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green rider Ryan Abbatoye also demonstrated his fitness with his Pro 2 class win on his Kawasaki KX™450F. Dietrich’s teammates Destry Abbott and Damon Huffman rode an intense race to finish seventh and ninth, respectively, to place all the Monster Energy Kawasaki bikes in the top-10.
Monster Energy Kawasaki Under the Tent
Starting Strong
Finishing runner-up in the series last season, Dietrich claimed he lost the championship in the first race and was determined more than ever to not let that happen again. He moved into second on the second lap and continued to push the entire race.
“Coming into the race I really wanted to win,” said Dietrich. “I went out of the season last year willingly admitting that I lost the championship in the first race. I told myself that day when I lost the championship that I wouldn’t let that happen again. I kept my training up every day and I am really happy with how my day went. I feel pretty good considering I just rode a two-hour race.”
Good Run
Abbott did well despite some illness during the race and managed a seventh place finish.
Abbott rode a strong and hard race and was consistently in the top-five at his home track. During that last two laps, he started to feel nauseas and was sick for the remainder of the race. Abbott was still able to manage a great result in seventh.
“Coming into the race I was really confident,” said Abbott. “We did a lot of testing and this is my home track so I was hoping to do a little better. I’ve been sick all week and I ended up getting really sick and throwing up with a few laps to go. I basically just wanted to keep it on two wheels and finish. I’m not thrilled with my result, but it also could have been a lot worse.”
Come From Behind
In his second year of WORCS racing, Huffman has put high expectations on his racing. He knows he can battle for the podium and he wants to be there every race. Despite a bad start, Huffman continued to push and eventually moved up over a dozen positions to finish ninth. His endurance and fitness definitely showed, as he was able to continue pushing to gain better position.
“Last year I ran strong here but today I had a few problems at the start so I had to come back through the pack,” said Huffman. “It took a little bit to get going and I went from 31st to ninth. I know I have it in me to be up with the front-runners so next race I’ll be looking to get a better start and be on the podium.”
Not Third Anymore
Abbatoye had been dubbed “third-place” last year since he was consistently a third-place finisher, but that did end up paying off when he finished second overall in the Pro 2 class. He earned his first career Pro 2 win in Arizona and was ecstatic about it.
“It feels really good to win,” said Abbatoye. “I was really hoping not to get third. I rode my butt off to get up here so it definitely a great feeling. I got a bad start but I knew it was going to be about fitness and I felt good.”
Ricky Dietrich started the WORCS season much better than 2008 with a win during the opening round at Speedworld MX Park
With a new year comes a new bike, and this season the Monster Energy Kawasaki team headed out during the off season to do as much testing as possible for the all-new Kawasaki KX™450F.
“This year we did a lot more pre-testing for the new bike and I think its paying off,” said Dietrich. “We can always improve, but this year we definitely got a good headstart.”
New Numbers for Everyone
Last year was good to the Monster Energy Kawasaki team in the WORCS series and with good results come better numbers. With his runner-up finish last year, Dietrich will be running the number two, while Huffman put in consistent performances for the number four slot. Abbott will be running the lucky number 12 (he earned 13, but was able to run the number 12).
The Stache Continues
Even though it’s been almost three months since Halloween, Huffman is still rocking the “cop” mustache. Originally grown for a Halloween costume, it is now become a part of the Huffman look.
New to Team Green
Coming aboard this year to race in the Pro 2 class is Corey Floyd. He started the weekend in style when he claimed his first victory aboard the Kawasaki KX™450F in the 450 A class on Saturday.
How did the WORCS riders spend their vacation?
Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ricky Dietrich took a tour of the WORCS pits in Phoenix to see how people spent their short "winter" vacation.
Click here to view the video
