David Haagsma Continues Win Streak at Lake Havasu WORCS

Lake Havasu City, AZ – David Haagsma continued his strong 2017 run in the Rocky Mountain ATV MC WORCS Series presented by Maxxis and Dirt Wheels, winning his second consecutive SXS Pro race, driving a non-turbo Polaris RZR. Matthew Hancock finished second, ahead of Corbin Leaverton. Cody Bradbury and Beau Baron rounded out the top five.

2017-04-pro-sxs-podium-worcs-racing

The annual Spring Break event is always a hit with competitors and the many spectators that turn out to participate in the event, held at the Crazy Horse Campground on the shores of Lake Havasu. With warm temperatures and high lake levels, as well as the return of the popular lagoon jump, the event was tough and exciting.

2017-04-david-haagsma-jump-worcs-racing

That jump proved to be pivotal as it played a large part in Haagsma’s victory. Haagsma took the lead from the start, but went around the lagoon jump on the first lap, handing the lead to Bradbury. Bradbury held the lead for four laps before Hancock and Haagsma capitalized when Bradbury was held up by lapped traffic and had to go around the jump. Haagsma pulled the fastest lap on the sixth lap and just held off Hancock for the win. Haagsma boosted his points lead to 19 on Bradbury. Hancock moved to third in points, another 12 points back.

Matt Hancock followed Haagsma’s lead at the start, avoiding the lagoon jump on the first lap, a move that paid off. Though retired from ATV racing, Hancock put all of his quad experience to good use on the tight track. After difficulties early in the season, Hancock has hit his stride in his Polaris at just the right time.

2017-04-matt-hancock-lake-worcs-racing

Corbin Leaverton, who missed the first two races of the season, started on the second row. He used his starting position to his advantage using the clear track in front of him to catch the first row and come away with his first podium this year.

2017-04-corbin-leaverton-worcs-racing

Cody Bradbury broke a front differential right at the start and ran the race in two-wheel drive. He led from the start, but lapped traffic combined with the tight nature of the Havasu circuit moved him back to fourth in the final tally after bogging down in the water several times on the lagoon jump.

2017-04-cody-bradbury-worcs-racing

Beau Baron started 13th and picked his way through the field to record the top five.

In Pro Stock, Yamaha’s Doug Eichner inherited the lead on lap six when Bradbury, who had dominated to that point, and Ray Bulloch fell back with issues. Hancock recorded his second runner-up finish of the weekend, while Sierra Romo made history becoming the first woman to podium in a WORCS Pro race. Bradbury recovered to finish fourth. Josh Frederick, who was paralyzed in a crash several years ago on an ATV at this track, was fifth, driving a HOLZ Racing’s Polaris RZR equipped with hand controls. Bulloch, who finished seventh, continues to lead the points. He is now five points ahead of Baron, who finished 13th.

2017-04-pro-stock-sxs-podium-worcs-racing

The victory marked Eichner’s first in WORCS modern era. The five-time WORCS Pro ATV Champion took the lagoon jump on every lap.

2017-04-doug-eichner-crowd-worcs-racing

β€œI got stuck behind a lapper in the scoring chute and that led Bulloch and Bradbury get away,” said Eichner. β€œI could see them in front of me, I came around a corner and they were gone. I didn’t know what was going on, so I just kept pushing. I had no idea I had the lead.Β  It’s a huge win for me. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been on top of the box.”

2017-04-doug-eichner-worcs-racing

Matt Hancock completed his breakout 2017 weekend with another second-place finish. After starting seventh, he drove a smooth race. β€œI had a bad gate pick and had to check up so I dropped to seventh at the start,” said Hancock. β€œI started picking people off and drove my own race. I needed the points. It’s still early in the year and we’re looking for a championship.”

2017-04-matt-hanock-pro-worcs-racing

Sierra Romo made WORCS SXS Racing history as becoming the first women to take a podium finish in a Pro SXS Class.Β  Β After starting sixth, she struggled when a rock jammed her steering early in the race before bringing home the podium finish.

2017-04-sierra-romo-worcs-racing

Cody Bradbury dominated the race and set the fastest lap of the day at 5 minutes, 10 seconds. Bradbury and Bulloch put on a clinic for the first five laps, before a stuck shifter slowed Bradbury’s charge.

2017-04-cody-bradbury-lagoon-worcs-racing

Josh Frederick scored a season best fifth place finish, and he has improved his results with each round this season, which now has him ninth in the points championship.

2017-04-josh-frederick-worcs-racing

The next race for the WORCS Series is the being held in a unique indoor track at the The Orleans in Las Vegas. That race is scheduled for March 31-April 2.

LEAVE A REPLY

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.