24.01.2021
Round 1 - WORCS - January 24, 2021
HAVASU, Ariz. – The 2021 World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) got underway this weekend in Havasu, Arizona where FMF KTM Factory Racing teammates Dante Oliveira and Taylor Robert went head-to-head for the overall win in the Pro 450 class. It was factory team newcomer Oliveira who edged out the three-time WORCS Champion of Robert but it wasn’t without an exciting battle throughout the day. FMF/RPM/KTM Racing Team Maxxis rider Mateo Oliveira added icing on the cake as he joined fellow KTM riders atop the overall podium in third with an impressive victory in the series’ new Pro 250 division.
With rainfall coming down sporadically in the days leading up to the race, track conditions shaped up to be very rough as riders were ultimately separated by the physicality of the course. With a dead engine start, both FMF KTM Factory racers were a bit slow off the line as they rounded out the top five after the first lap of racing. It was Robert who made the early charge aboard his KTM 450 XC-F and he quickly moved into second by lap two. He made the pass to take over the lead on lap three and from there he ignited a charge with Oliveira close in tow by lap six. Robert positioned himself at the helm early on but it was Oliveira who moved into the lead on lap 10. The FMF KTM duo came in for a pit stop just a few laps later and they managed to set sail from the rest of the field, ultimately lapping all the way into the top-five overall.
Oliveira maintained a solid pace aboard his new KTM 450 XC-F and he did a spectacular job of holding off a hard-charging Robert from behind. Despite feeling some pressure heading into the final laps, Oliveira remained calm and collected to best his teammate by 3.5 seconds in his official debut with the factory team.
Oliveira: “My bike worked awesome, I have no complaints and I’m just excited to start the year off strong. I started cramping up halfway through the race, so once I got around those guys I was just trying to relax and breathe the whole time. I put in a sprint here and there and I just managed it. I tried to pull away but I couldn’t because Taylor was riding great and he kept on getting closer but I turned it up and got away. It was a great race and I’m happy to start off with a win, I can’t thank everybody enough.”
For Robert, his title defense didn’t go quite as planned with a crash later in the race but he was able to put on a solid charge at the end to bring a once 10-second deficit to within one-second of the race leader. The reigning champ put forth a good effort but he wasn’t able to make a pass before the checkers fell, claiming the runner-up position at Round 1.
Robert: “Dante and I worked our way to the front and were able to ride our own race from there. We were going at it the whole time and aside from the one lap where I fell, we were separated by three to four seconds the whole time. It was a pretty tough race. Props to Dante, he rode really well and I was right on him the whole time and didn’t see very many mistakes out of him. It looks like it’s going to be a fun season!”
A new addition to the 2021 class lineup is the Pro 250 division, where FMF/RPM/KTM Racing Team Maxxis rider Mateo Oliveira had an outstanding race to claim the inaugural victory aboard the KTM 250 XC-F. Mateo led 23 of the 24 laps and despite experiencing a crash late in the race, he rallied his way to a remarkable third overall, besting all but two of the premier class riders.
Also new for 2021 is the Pro Am division, which qualifies the top-20 finishers from Saturday’s “A class” and Women’s Pro race to compete in an exclusive Pro Am class on Sunday. KTM-Supported rider Brandy Richards came out swinging on Saturday to win the Women’s Pro class and claim sixth overall on the day, where she earned herself a bid to compete on Sunday. With a valiant performance, Richards raced her KTM 350 XC-F onto the class podium with an impressive third-place finish.
Round 2: Blythe, California – February 19-21, 2021
Pro 450 (MC) Results – Round 1
1. Dante Oliveira, KTM
2. Taylor Robert, KTM, (12 laps)
3. Justin Hoeft, HQV
Pro 250 (MC) Results – Round 1
1. Mateo Oliveira, KTM
2. Chance Hymas, KAW
3. Tallon Lafountaine, HON
Pro Am (MC) Results – Round 1
1. Evan Stice, HON
2. Alex Morgan, HQV
3. Brandy Richards, KTM