David Haagsma Returns to Take Pro ATV WORCS Win

Cedar City, UT – H&M Motorsports’ David Haagsma returned to WORCS Pro ATV competition at Iron Mine Race Park and dominated, earning his first victory of the 2016 Rocky Mountain MC World Off-Road Championship Series presented by Maxxis and Dirt Wheels Series. CST’s Beau Baron finished second, extending his points lead to 30 going into the summer break. LMR’s Robbie Mitchell battled past Mike Sloan to finish third, ahead of Garrin Fuller and Matthew Hancock.

The ATV race started in the afternoon after a full program of motorcycle racing. With temperatures in the 80s and a slight breeze, the track dried out quickly and dust hampered visibility throughout the contest.

Sparks Racing’s Beau Baron took the holeshot at the gated start, but Haagsma was immediately on his tail. The two battled until Haagsma took the top spot for good on the second lap. From there he wasn’t seriously challenged.

Baron earned his seventh consecutive podium in as many races after the thrilling battle with Haagsma. His five victories this season, along with a third and the runner-up finish here will make him tough to beat when the series heads back to Glen Helen Raceway in September.

Mitchell fought off Sloan to finish third and nab his fifth podium of the season before Sloan had a mechanical issue at the end of the race and finished sixth. Mitchell sits second in points going into the break. Mitchell is from nearby Price, UT and he was happy to get a podium in front his family and friends.

Garrin Fuller battled dust, as well as stuck shifter to finish fourth. “I stuck with them as long as I could, but I was getting off track and hitting bushes so I backed off a little bit,” said Fuller. “Then I came into the pits and a rock got stuck between my shifter and the frame. The transmission was stuck in neutral then I kicked it into third and I had to kick it to get it loose. It was just a fluke thing.”

Hancock recorded his third consecutive top-five finish. He said he had trouble focusing during the race. “I just wasn’t there mentally,” explained Hancock. “The bike was great, but I just couldn’t focus today. I didn’t get the greatest start.  I started off in the back in the dust. I made it through it, and I’ll get my head better during the summer break.”

In Pro Am, Justin Waters continued his climb to the title with his third consecutive win. He now leads the points by a nearly insurmountable 48 points going into the summer break. Ricardo Gonzalez battled Waters early, but settled for second, followed by Tyler Benally.

“This was a tough one,” said Waters. “The last few rounds I was lucky. I was able to conserve and take it easy a little bit, but not in this one. Ricardo kept me pushing hard the whole race. He kept right on me, but I was able to pull it off and extend the points lead going into Glen Helen. We’re in a pretty good place going into the break.”

Gonzalez indeed dogged Waters throughout the race, but an injured foot put him back to second at the checkered flag.

Benally almost didn’t make the start after he had a mechanical failure in practice on Saturday. Riding a borrowed ATV, he finished third, marking his first podium this season.

The Rocky Mountain MC World Off-Road Championship Series presented by Maxxis and Dirt Wheels will return to competition after the summer break on September 16-18th at Glen Helen Raceway in Devore, CA.

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