Irvine, Calif. (March 2, 2011) –Monster Energy Kawasaki’s off-road racing team continued the WORCS series for the second round in Primm, Nev. Over the course of the two-day race weekend, Taylor Robert secured second-place finishes both race days, battling hard with Kawasaki rider Bobby Garrison for the top of the podium. The weekend’s efforts left Taylor in second place in the points standings, only five points behind the leader. Justin Soule battled the ever-changing track conditions to finish fourth Saturday and fifth on Sunday. Destry Abbott also got off to a great start both days, but ran into some technical difficulties landing him in 12th place on Saturday and 13th place on Sunday.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Under the Tent

Kawasaki Battle for First

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Robert led a majority of both races during the two-day race weekend. He found himself battling with fellow Kawasaki rider Garrison for the top of the podium all weekend. On Saturday, Robert pulled out front early and was able to maintain the lead until the last lap of the race when Garrison slipped past him. On Sunday, Robert got another good start, getting out front early, but on the third-to-last lap he made a mistake allowing Garrison the lead. Robert fought hard to regain the lead, but ended up finishing in second place, only four seconds behind the leader.

“Both races I led almost the entire time,” said Robert. “On Saturday, Garrison and I got pretty far out in front of everyone. We had a solid minute lead out in front of the rest of the field. Garrison passed me near the end of the race while I was pitting. Sunday I got another good lead off the start, and was leading the majority of the race. My KX™450F was really dialed in, but Garrison found some of my lines and caught up to me, and ended up passing me on the third to the last lap. I kept trying to charge back past him, but kept making small mistakes in a hurry attempting to pass. I ended up finishing in second place, just four seconds behind him. ”

Keeping Up a Fast Pace

With a wet and roughed up track on Saturday, Soule was able to get a decent start, and came around the first turn in sixth place. He steadily improved his lap times as he loosened up and found better lines in the ever-changing conditions. He finished in fourth place on Saturday, with a solid gap between himself and the rest of the field. Sunday’s dry and dusty track, made visibility a limiting factor on the second day of the race weekend. Soule finished in fifth place on Sunday, despite a crash he endured while trying to make a pass.

“The track was pretty unpredictable all weekend,” said Soule. “On Saturday, it was wet and rainy. On Sunday it was the complete opposite, dry and dusty. The track was pretty fast, with lots of sand and square-edged whoops. On Saturday I caught up to (Kurt) Caselli, but just couldn’t find a place to pass before the race finished. On Sunday I was trying to put a pass on (Mike) Brown, and I went down pretty hard on a turn. I was sweeping an outside line while he was inside, and ended up tucking the front wheel and getting pitched off. I hit pretty hard, but I was able to get up and still put on a charge to finish in fifth.”

Solid Starts

Abbott got off to a great start on Saturday, grabbing the holeshot, but towards the end of the lap he got tangled with another rider and went down. When he got back on his bike he found himself in 12th place, and despite a couple more crashes ended up finishing in 12th place. On Sunday, Abbott got off to another great start, finding himself in third after the first couple turns. Just before the end of the first lap his chain derailed, leaving him outside the top 15. He was able to work his way past several riders to finish in 13th place.

“Saturday I grabbed the holeshot,” said Abbott. “But then I got taken out by another rider. When I got up I was in 12th. I didn’t have my suspension set up as good as I would have liked either, and went down one more time. I had a really tough time finding my flow after Saturday’s mishaps. The next day we changed up my suspension, and my KX450F was really feeling really good. I got another good start, and was in third place when a rock derailed my chain. It was actually pretty scary because I almost went over the bars. I just had too many small incidents which ended up costing me.”

Kawasaki Dominance

The WORCS series saw a sea of green dominate the top 10 at Primm. On Saturday, six of the top finishers were riding Kawasaki bikes. On Sunday, seven of the top ten rolled through the finish line on a KX450F. Along with Garrison, Robert, and Soule, other Kawasaki riders who comprised the sea of green included Gary Sutherlin, Brenden Ritzman, Robby Bell, and Mark Samuels.

Sandy Days Ahead

At the end of March, the Monster Energy Kawasaki off-road team heads to Round 3 of the WORCS series in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Only five points from the leader, Robert looks to take control of the WORCS championship in his home state of Arizona. In the meantime, Abbott will compete in two rounds of the AMA Hare and Hound series, first in El Centro, Calif. and then Melba, Idaho.

Race Results

World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS)
Buffalo Bills – Primm, Nev.
February 26-27, 2011

Pro Class Results (Sunday)
1. BOBBY GARRISON, HESPERIA, CALIF., KAWASAKI
2. TAYLOR ROBERT, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
3. Kurt Caselli, Palmdale, Calif., KTM
4. Kyle Summers, Discovery Bay, Calif., Yamaha
5. JUSTIN SOULE, VICTORVILLE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
6. GARY SUTHERLIN, SUN CITY, ARIZ., KAWASAKI
7. BRENDEN RITZMAN, PORT ORCHARD, WASH., KAWASAKI
8. ROBBY BELL, SUN CITY, CALIF., KAWASAKI
9. Ryan Abbatoye, Ridgecrest, Calif., KTM
10. MARK SAMUELS, YUCCA VALLEY, CALIF., KAWASAKI
13. DESTRY ABBOTT, PEORIA, ARIZ., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI

Pro Class Results (Saturday)
1. BOBBY GARRISON, HESPERIA, CALIF., KAWASAKI
2. TAYLOR ROBERT, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
3. Kurt Caselli, Palmdale, Calif., KTM
4. JUSTIN SOULE, VICTORVILLE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
5. Mike Brown, Bluff City, Tenn., KTM
6. BRENDEN RITZMAN, PORT ORCHARD, WASH., KAWASAKI
7. GARY SUTHERLIN, SUN CITY, ARIZ., KAWASAKI
8. ROBBY BELL, SUN CITY, CALIF., KAWASAKI
9. Colton Udall, San Clemente, Calif., Honda
10. Kyle Summers, Discovery Bay, Calif., Yamaha
12. DESTRY ABBOTT, PEORIA, ARIZ., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI

WORCS Points Standings
1. BOBBY GARRISON, HESPERIA, CALIF., KAWASAKI, 92
2. Kurt Caselli, Palmdale, Calif., KTM, 87
3. TAYLOR ROBERT, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 84
4. Kyle Summers, Discovery Bay, Calif., Yamaha, 73
5. BRENDEN RITZMAN, PORT ORCHARD, WASH., KAWASAKI , 62
6. ROBBY BELL, SUN CITY, CALIF., KAWASAKI, 61
7. GARY SUTHERLIN, SUN CITY, ARIZ., KAWASAKI, 61
8. JUSTIN SOULE, VICTORVILLE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 57
9. Mike Brown, Bluff City, Tenn., KTM, 55
10. DESTRY ABBOTT, PEORIA, ARIZ., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 51