Mike Sloan Takes Buffalo Bill’s WORCS Pro ATV Win

Primm, NV – Mike Sloan scored his second consecutive victory in the Pro ATV portion of the Rocky Mountain ATV MC WORCS Series presented by Polaris RZR and Dirt Wheels event Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino. Thirteen-year-old Brian Jackson netted his first ever Pro-Am victory during the event.

The race was held on a combined off-road desert and motocross track in the Nevada-California border town. Rock sections were added for the Pro races, adding some technicality to the choppy sandy course.
In Pro ATV, it appeared as if Sloan’s race was over just after it started. Sloan took the lead at the start but tried to make it between two poles on the course. He misjudged the width of the poles compared to his Yamaha and he got stuck…hard.

While Sloan attempted to free his stricken ride, Baron took the lead. After getting his quad free, Sloan was at the back of the field. From there, he drove a near perfect race on the rough course to take the lead and the eventual victory. Baron finished second on his Honda ahead of the Yamaha of Logan Huff.

“I buried it into that pole,” said Sloan. “Luckily, I got the bike unstuck but by that time I was all the way in the back of the field. So, I tried to remain calm, rode my laps and let the race come to me. I kept my lines going. It was brutal, but I kept it pinned and we got it done. I passed Beau and kept my charge on. I’m pretty stoked. It’s been an up-and-down year. I’m just trying to knock out these wins and see what happens.”

Baron saw Sloan coming late in the race and, taking the points battle into account, wisely let him pass. Though he took a minor hit in points, Baron still owns an eight-point lead going into the final race of the season. He needs only to finish in the top five there to clinch the title. “I didn’t have a good pace,” said Baron. “I had a hard time hitting my lines. Then, about three quarters through the race, once Mike got past me, I started feeling in the zone. I was really happy for that even though I didn’t win.”

Huff came out of the start fourth behind Jarrett Curley and charged hard behind him. After passing Curley in the rocks, he went around Sloan’s stuck quad on the outside. He got stuck in the rocks. Once he got moving again, he charged hard to score the final spot on the podium and remain third in points. “I was on a mission from there,” said Huff, “I’m stoked to be on the box today and this is a big deal because it keeps on the podium in points. The rock section was great and I liked how rough the course was.”

In Pro-Am, teenager Brian Jackson put on a show for some of the older riders in the class. After starting second on his Yamaha, Jackson took the lead from Kenny Sanford on the first lap and gapped the field from there. It marked his first victory in the class. Noah Harris was second on his Honda, ahead of Sanford, who clinched the title on his Honda with the podium.

“I started off pretty well in second and I tried to stay close to Kenny,” said Jackson. “I saw him on the side of the track so I made the pass. I rode my own race from there to first place. I am so ecstatic with this win.”

Harris made a charge at the end but couldn’t catch Jackson and finished second. Not all was lost, though, as it marked his first ever WORCS podium. “I tried to close in on him but he is stupid quick so I just did everything I could,” said Harris. “The course was really chewed up and that’s how I like it. I thought the rocks would be tough but it was pretty good. I’ve never had a podium so this feels pretty good.”

Sanford got an excellent start in the lead but noticed his throttle was sticking. After winning six consecutive races prior to this weekend, he wisely backed it down and rode in third to clinch the championship.

“I had a good lap and then all the sudden it felt like my thumb was getting stuck under the throttle arm,” said Sanford. “I played it safe and still salvaged a podium. This has been a dream for a long time and now it’s time to move up to the bigger class.”
The ATV classes will finish out the 2020 season December 4-6 in Lake Havasu City, AZ.
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