OFF-ROAD
2018 AMA DISTRICT 37/ FMF BIG 6 GRAND PRIX SERIES
ROUND 8 / DECEMBER 8-9, 2018
CRAZY HORSE CAMPGROUND / LAKE HAVASU CITY, ARIZONA
P40
Despite going down
in the first turn and
restarting last, Zach
Bell managed to work
his way through the
pack to win for the
fourth time this year.
Dante Oliveira ran up
front for much of the race
but had trouble getting
around a few lappers
in the latter stages,
ultimately finishing
second.
miles long), Bell finally passed Maxx-
is/FMF/RPM Racing KTM's Dante
Oliveira who led most of the first hour.
"It was a good year," Bell contin-
ued. "We had some ups and downs
but definitely a lot of ups. The downs
made us stronger so we'll come back
next year strong."
Having grabbed the lead on the
second lap from Precision Concepts/
Chaparral Motorsports Kawasaki's
Justin Seeds, Stewart found himself
in a bit of a quandary, the Lucas Oil/
Pro Circuit/Fly Racing CRF450RX-
mounted rider saying, "I wouldn't say
I was in panic mode—I know how to
lead races and stuff like that—but at
the same time I was like, 'I don't need
to do this!' As awesome as it'd be to
win the last race of the season, that's
not the point. The point is the champi-
onship; that's why we're here.
"Yeah, I started making a couple little
mistakes and whatnot but Zach, he was
just riding on another level. He knew
what he had to do, obviously, so he was
a man on a mission and that just wasn't
me today; I didn't have that mindset. I
had a championship mindset!"
Thus, Stewart backed it down, set-
tling for a safe fifth for the day, more than
enough to earn the number-one plate.
After a run-in or two with lappers
late in the race, Oliveira managed to
bring it home in second followed by
Precision Concepts/Chaparral Motor-
sports Kawasaki's Blayne Thompson
with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Fac-
tory Racing Off-Road Team's Dalton
Shirey fourth.
Trail Jesters KTM's Ben Kelley,
Seeds, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's
