Cycle News Staff | October 25, 2021
After finishing fourth in the last race, Taylor Robert did what he does best, bounce back and dominate the Rocky Mountain ATV-MC WORCS Series Presented by Polaris RZR and Dirt Bike Pro 450 motorcycle event at Mesquite MX in Mesquite, Arizona. Chance Hymas won the Pro 250 race and Evan Stice was first in Pro-Am.
Taylor Robert kept his championship hopes alive by scoring a big win at the Mesquite round of the WORCS series. Photos: Harlen Foley
The event was held on a brand-new off-road course combined with Mesquite’s motocross track. Series officials set up the course in the deep sand to be more technical, slowing the pace, and making for an exciting and challenging race.
In the Pro 450 race, Dante Oliveira (FMF/KTM) took the holeshot, but teammate Robert out-dueled him in the pavement section and took the lead.
From there, Robert maintained his gap and scored his fourth win of the season, equaling Oliveira’s season win record.
Honda rider Cole Martinez eventually finished second, ahead of Oliveira.
Cole Martinez has been surging late in the championship. He worked his way up to second and was challenging Robert at the end and settled for second.
“I had to prove a point after the last race,” said Robert. “I went out there, did what I know how to do best, made some passes, and rode my own race. I maintained my gap and then let my fitness show in the last few laps. The new track was awesome. It was much tighter, and that really slowed down the race. That was cool to add some variety.”
Martinez earned his second consecutive podium with his second-place finish. He fell on the second lap, but found clear track ahead of him, allowing him to pick his own lines. Though he caught up to Taylor at the end, he settled for second.
“We’ve definitely picked up some speed,” said Martinez. “I had a good battle with Taylor at the end, but he wasn’t giving it up, so I settled in for second.”
After taking the holeshot, Oliveira and Martinez diced it up throughout the race, with Oliveira eventually finishing third. The third-place finish, combined with Taylor’s victory, sets up a final race winner-take-all shootout between the KTM teammates.
“These guys just wanted it today,” said Oliveira. “Taylor got around me on the road section on lap one and a couple of laps later Cole and I had a great battle and he got around me. I got out of the pits before him, and we battled until there were 48 minutes left and he just kept going. It’s coming down to the wire for the championship, so the final race is going to be exciting.”
Chance Hymas won the Pro 250 race.
In Pro 250, outdoor motocross rider Chance Hymas showed off his new factory Honda ride with a victory. It marks his third win of the season in his four starts. Points leader Tallon Lafountaine (Honda) was second, ahead of the RPM KTM of Mateo Oliveira.
Despite having issues with setup on his Honda, Lafountaine used his characteristic smooth riding style to finish second and pad his points lead.
“My bike was setup for a faster track and this Mesquite was a lot tighter and slower,” said Lafountaine. “I just couldn’t find the flow and that made it tough. I just rode my pace, saved my energy, stuck to the plan, and overall, it was a good day.”
Mateo Oliveira struggled to stay upright during the race and found himself having to constantly charge after crashes. His athleticism shined though, and he finished third.
“I charged the whole two hours because I kept ending up on the ground,” said Oliveira.
Evan Stice came away with the Pro-Am victory.
In Pro-Am, Evan Stice beat out Cameron Horner to score his fifth win of the season. Stice took the lead late in the race on his Honda and ended up with the victory.
Horner (Honda) was second, followed by Brandy Richards (KTM).
“I followed Cam for a while, got past him and took the win,” said Stice, who extended his points lead in the class. “This was definitely good for the championship.”
Horner’s runner-up effort marked his best finish of the season for the up-and-coming rider.
“I was pacing myself off of Evan for the first few laps,” said Horner. “Evan and I found a flow in the sand and we just went. It was a fun battle.”
Richards used the big downhill step-down section of the track for the first time in the Pro-Am event and it resulted in her earning her sixth podium of the season.
“I didn’t hit the big downhill yesterday, so I got into position today and just sent it,” said Richards. “It got a little sketchy toward the end, but I still made it.”
Richards also won the Women’s Pro race, beating out Kaitlyn Jacobs’ KTM and Ava Silverstri’s Yamaha.
Harlen Foley
PRO 450
1. Taylor Robert (KTM)
2. Cole Martinez (Hon)
3. Dante Oliveira (KTM)
PRO 250
1. Chance Hymas (Hon)
2. Tallon Lafountaine (Hon)
3. Mateo Oliveira (KTM)
PRO-AM
1. Evan Stice (Hon)
2. Cameron Horner (Hon)
3. Brandy Richards (KTM)
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