Phoenix, AZ (1/26/2017)
- Pro Motorsports’ Gareth Dihel scored an
overall win in the SXS 1000 Stock portion
of the SXS World Finals. Dihel's first WORCS
victory came in the season opener in Primm,
NV. Teammate Matthew Hancock experienced clutching
issues in the Pro Production race, but managed
a ninth-place finish overall.
|
Pro
Motorsports' Gareth Dihel scored an
overall win in the SXS 1000 Stock class
at the WORCS SXS World Finals |
The race was run as a doubleheader weekend
with a short course race on Saturday, followed
by a traditional off road race on Sunday.
Weather conditions hampered racers and organizers,
alike, with rain washing out qualifying on
Friday, beautiful blue skies and warm temperatures
on Saturday and winter weather with sleet
and rain on Sunday.
Gareth Dihel made the 2017 opener count.
He came out of the gate strong in the short
course race, finishing second. In Sunday’s
race, he grabbed the holeshot and scored the
win for the overall victory.
|
Gareth
Dihel came out of the gate strong, finishing
second in the short course race on Saturday
after getting the early lead |
“I was feeling really good this weekend,”
said Dihel. “I’m going for the championship
this year. It was really cold and rainy so
I took an extra pair of goggles in a bag duct
taped to my seat. It worked out well. A big
shout out to Maxxis Tires, Sparks Tuning,
Tireblocks, Pro Motorsports and ATVRiders.com.”
|
Gareth
Dihel took the win on Sunday in the
mud to score the SXS World Finals Overall
Win |
Matt Hancock had difficulties during the
weekend. He ran both the SXS Pro Stock and
Pro Production races and had mechanical issues
in both. Never one to hang his head, Hancock
will go back to his Tempe shop and get ready
to contend for the title this year.
“It was a rough weekend to start the year,”
said Hancock. “We had some clutching issues
and this is not the way we wanted to start
the season, but anything is still possible
at these races. Last year’s champion broke
in the first race. We have a lot of racing
left this season so we’re going to get the
cars back to the shop, get them fixed and
press on. I just can’t thank Pro Motorsports
and Maxxis Tires enough. I was ripping before
I had the problems.”
Though mechanical gremlins sidelined Hancock’s
charge, he was pleased with how his Polaris
RZR ran prior to the issues. A true competitor
at heart, Hancock will not be counted out.
|
Sparks
/ Maxxis' Matt Hancock grabbed the holeshot
in the Pro Production Class on Sunday |
“We have done a lot of testing with Doug
Roll and Elka Suspension and I feel like we
had the best cars out there,” said Hancock.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board with the
clutching and we’ll come back stronger.”
Dihel and Hancock will be back in action
as the WORCS series heads to Honolulu Hills
Raceway in Taft, CA February 17-19.
2017 Pro Motorsports
Team Sponsors:
Maxxis Tires, Pro Motorsports, LKH Farming,
Elka Suspension, Tireblocks, ROLL Design,
Sparks Racing, FLY Racing, K&N Filters,
Method Race Wheels, IMS Products, ATVRiders.com,
JR Publications, Finish Line Signs, VisionX
lights, RCV Axles, Fasst Co., Polaris Lubricants,
Dragonfire Racing
