| February 21, 2022
Hundreds of racers showed up for the Presidents Day Weekend edition of the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC WORCS Series at Glen Helen Raceway, February 19-20. Both days had gorgeous weather, and the WORCS crew built a fantastic track that featured a little bit of everything. After the dust settled, Dante Oliveira brought home the win in Pro 450cc class on his FMF Factory Racing KTM. His brother, Mateo, won the 250cc Pro class aboard his RPM Racing KTM.
2022 Glen Helen WORCS Round 2 Results
Dante Oliveira won round two of the WORCS Championship at Glen Helen. (Photos: Connor Moore)
In the Pro-Am class, Honda rider Collier Martinez came from behind to take the win.
When the gate dropped for the start of the two-hour-long premier race, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Austin Walton took the early lead ahead of Honda-mounted Cole Martinez and Dante Oliveira. Walton led the first three laps—each one taking approximately eight and a half minutes to complete—before Oliveira made his way to the front, with Walton slipping back to third behind the new leader, Oliveira, and second-placed Martinez.
The top three, however, stayed close until Martinez went down at the halfway point of the race and was forced to pit for new handlebars, putting him well back in the field. He would eventually finish out the race 13th.
From there, Oliveira opened a comfortable lead, at one point as much as 48 seconds over Walton.
But Walton wasn’t through yet. He put on a charge during the second half of the race that got him to within 16 seconds of Oliveira three laps from the end, but that was as close as he would get to the defending champ, Oliveira, who took the checkers 22 seconds ahead of Walton.
Dare Demartile gave Beta its first WORCS podium since 2014 with third, and it was the first WORCS podium ever for the rider from Lincoln, California. The factory-backed Beta rider started off in sixth but slowly worked his way up through the field. Three laps from the end, Demartile got around former hare and hound champion Dalton Shirey (Husqvarna) for third and held it there to the end, crossing the finish line a few seconds ahead of Shirey.
“My goal was to keep it on two wheels and give it all I got, and I couldn’t be happier with where we are today,” Demartile said.
Yamaha rider Trevor Stewart finished a distant fifth after starting the race in seventh.
Mateo Oliveira topped the Pro 250cc class.
In the Pro 250cc race, 3Bros Kilmartin Racing Husqvarna’s Kai Aiello took the early lead but surrendered the point position to Mateo Oliveira during the second lap and second place to SLR Honda rider Jack Simpson of Australia on the next lap.
Oliveira controlled the 250cc race the rest of the way, maintaining a cautious lead over Simpson throughout all 14 laps. At one point, Oliveira had a 48-second advantage over Simpson but let it get down to just under 10 seconds by the finish.
“I was able to settle in after making those passes and was able to hit my marks,” Oliveira said. “[That allowed] me to be smooth for most of the two hours.”
Aiello finished a distant third and was the last 250cc rider on the lead lap. It was Aiello’s first WORCS podium. “I went down in the creek which shuffled me back,” Aiello said of his race. “Jack [Simpson] passed me, and then the guys behind me caught up, which made for a hectic middle of the race but was able to smooth it out.”
Thomas Dunn (Yamaha) and Shane Logan (KTM) rounded out the top five in the Pro 250cc class.
Arizona’s Collier Martinez dominated the Pro-Am race. He started fourth, had the lead by lap two and went on to lap the entire Pro-Am field.
Mason Deecunzo (KTM), of Las Vegas, and Connor Eddy (KTM) filled out the podium.
Brandy Richards won the Women’s Pro class and was also third overall in the 250/450 A race.
Elite Racing KTM’s Brandy Richards ruled the Women’s Pro class. She led every lap and finished five minutes ahead of her nearest class rival, FMF/RPM/KTM’s Kaitlyn Jacobs (KTM). Richards also finished third overall in the 250/450cc A-class field.
For Jacobs, she was making her 2022 WORCS debut after recovering from a shoulder injury.
3Bros Kilmartin Racing GasGas’ Lauren Woods was third. CN
By Connor Moore
2022 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC WORCS Series
Round 2 / February 19-20, 2022
Glen Helen Raceway / Devore, California
RESULTS
PRO 450 (Top 5)
| 1. |
Dante Oliveira |
(KTM) |
| 2. |
Austin Walton |
(Hus) |
| 3. |
Dare Demartile |
(Bet) |
| 4. |
Dalton Shirey |
(Hus) |
| 5. |
Trevor Stewart |
(Yam) |
PRO 250 (Top 5)
| 1. |
Mateo Oliveira |
(KTM) |
| 2. |
Jack Simpson |
(Hon) |
| 3. |
Kai Aiello |
(Hus) |
| 4. |
Thomas Dunn |
(Yam) |
| 5. |
Shane Logan |
(KTM) |
