12.09.2021
CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Pro 450 championship standings saw yet another swing in momentum on Sunday as FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Taylor Robert overtook his teammate Dante Oliveira at Round 6 of the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS). After delivering another 1-2 podium sweep for the KTM brand, only two points separate Robert and Oliveira for the 2021 title as they each possess three victories so far this season.
Fresh off a positive run for Team USA at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Italy, both riders came into the weekend with great momentum. It was Oliveira who secured the holeshot but Robert quickly established his KTM 450 XC-F out front, making the pass about a mile into the opening lap. He held off a hard-charging Oliveira through the first half of the race but after a mid-way pit stop, Robert was able to put the hammer down and claim victory by 32 seconds.
Robert: “We rode super hard for the first hour and had a pretty good race going on, we weren’t more than two seconds apart the whole time. We pulled away from the rest of the pack pretty good and after charging super hard, we were finally able to settle down and I was able to pull a little bit of a gap on him after we pitted. I just kind of maintained at the end and we just brought it on home from there.”
With a great holeshot aboard his KTM 450 XC-F, Oliveira hung tough in the lead battle for the first hour of racing as he sat only one-second behind his teammate out front. Oliveira kept the pressure on Robert for the first eight laps but he pulled back the reigns as the race wore on. Finishing strong but not quite on Robert’s pace, he secured a solid second overall where he now sits just two points back in the championship standings.
Oliveira: “I smashed a holeshot and led the race for about a mile before Taylor greased by. I had a good ride going, just chasing him down and eating his roost for the first hour, but I ended up slowing down later in the race because of some blisters on my left hand.”
KTM-Supported rider Brandy Richards had another great ride in the Pro Am division, where she claimed a second-place podium finish in the highly-competitive class. KTM-mounted rider, Angus Riordan, raced his way to another podium finish in the Pro 250 class with third.
Rounds 7 & 8: Devore, California – September 24-26, 2021
Results – Round 6
Pro 450 (MC) Results
1. Taylor Robert, KTM, 14 laps
2. Dante Oliveira, KTM, +32.3
3. Cole Martinez, HON, +59.763
Pro 250 (MC) Results
1. Tallon Lafountaine, HON, 14 laps
2. Mason Ottersberg, YAM, +43.157
3. Angus Riordan, KTM, +42.877
Pro Am (MC) Results
1. Evan Stice, HON, 13 laps
2. Brandy Richards, KTM, +48.054
3. Alex Morgan, HQV, +03:15.527
Championship Standings – After Round 6
Pro 450 (MC) Standings
1. Taylor Robert, 141 points
2. Dante Oliveira, 139
3. Cole Martinez, 104