WORCS
Round 12: Taft, CA
November 4, 2007

Honda CRF450R rider and 2007 SCORE International #1 Robby Bell concluded his first-ever WORCS championship season by placing an impressive third in the series championship, just behind eventual winner Kurt Caselli and series runner-up Nathan Woods. 

“What an amazing year!” exclaimed the Team Honda rider. Robby came into the year having never seen a WORCS podium, and now, with his sixth-place finish at the final round, finds himself third in the Championship standings. “Kurt [Caselli’s] misfortune at Pismo [a blown motor in the power-sapping sand] was a huge win for Nathan [Woods] and me. It really put us back into it.”

The race for the 2007 World Off-Road Championship Series title came down to the final event of the season at the Honolulu Hills Raceway in Taft, California. Caselli went into the final with a slim points lead over Nathan Woods; if Caselli finished third or better he’d take home the number-one plate. Honda-mounted Robby Bell had already wrapped up third place in the series before the Taft round even started, allowing him to finish conservatively at Taft without risking his season’s podium finish. 

Nathan Woods had suffered a broken hand at the Oklahoma EnduroCross round and was forced to ride hurt with it at the previous round in Pismo Beach. But he was on top form at Taft, taking the win with Kurt Caselli directly behind in second.

Neither of the two top riders got off to a great start, but they immediately found each other in the middle of the pack, Caselli looping a virtual tow line to Woods’ bike as they worked their way to the point. Caselli was content to follow Woods home to wrap up Caselli’s first WORCS title.

Third place at Taft went to defending WORCS champ Ricky Dietrich, who caught and passed Bobby Garrison on the last lap. Garrison, who led much of the race, ended up fourth, and Damon Huffman finished fifth in his first-ever WORCS race.

Race Results, 2007 WORCS MX
Taft, CA

1. Nathan Woods (Kaw)
2. Kurt Caselli (KTM)
3. Ricky Dietrich (Kaw)
4. Bobby Garrison (Yam)
5. Damon Huffman (Kaw)
6. Robby Bell (Honda)
7. Justin Soule’ (KTM)
8. Jamie Lanza (Kaw)
9. Scott Simon (Kaw)
10. Daryl Ecklund (Honda)

Series Points after 12 of 12 Rounds:

1. Kurt Caselli (KTM) 226
2. Nathan Woods (Kaw) 222
3.Robby Bell (Honda) 198
4. Ryan Hughes (Suz) 157
5. Bobby Garrison (Yam) 144
6. Justin Soule’ (KTM 142
7. Ricky Dietrich (Kaw) 135
8. Matt Karlsen (Kaw) 123
9. Kyle Summers (Kaw) 122
10. Destry Abbott (Kaw) 114