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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128401
,& Rocky MountaIn ATV/MC World Off-Road Ch.mplonshlp ... ~ ng challenger Kurt Caselli emerged triumphant after his late-race charge finally broke him free from former series champion Mike Kiedrowski and defending champ Nathan Woods at EddieYllle Motorsports Park, site of round 10 of the Rocky MountaIn ATV/MC World Off-Road Championship Series, presented by Pro Orcult. It marked the third victory this season and the fourth of his career for the GPRlMooseIBrotherhood Industries-backed KTM 450 MXC-mounted racer, solidifying his hold on second In series points. Suzukl's Kiedrowskl finished second on his FMF/Dunlop/O'NeaJ RM-Z4S0, while Woods settled for third on his Montclair Yamaha/Zip-Ty RacingIMoosebacked YZ450F. "We came out of dinner last night and it was raining, and I was like, 'Oh man, this Is going to be tough, n, Caselli said. "Luckily, the dirt out here Is just awesome. They dlsked It up and they did a great job prepping this thing. It wasn't very rough, but the IOO-yard-Iong telephone-pole section definitely made It difficult. I think that determined who was strong at the end and who wasn't. I just stayed consistent. I got pretty bad arm pump at the beginning - I still haven't ridden too much since my tendonitis at the ISDE - but I kind of relaxed." Kiedrowski, motocrosser and WORCS first-timer Mike Corder, John BeaJ, Jim Bryant and Danny Brocker got the best jumps out of the gate, but Caselli swept through the scoring lane in front at the end of the first lap, followed closely by Kiedrowski and Corder. Woods was back a bit in fourth, with Bobby Garrison another couple of seconds behind in fifth. On the next lap. Kiedrowski cut past Caselli for the lad and tried to sprint away. with Woods following suit about 10 seconds behind. "Nathan and Kiedrowski got out front, and they were going pretty fast, so I was sitting in third." Caselli said. That lasted for most 01' the race until Kiedrowski suddenly went down. "I just came around a tum and kind of hit a rock or a bump, and it popped my front wi-' eN« the benn and I went down just slid down and scraped up my ann," the KIedrowski said. "I got up and still had the lead over Woods; then he got around me. Just before gas, I passed him back. Then we got gas and he went by me again. It was a good race for the speclatoi'S!" As it turned out, Kiedrowski and Woods pitted a lap after Caselli, a situation that Caselli believes benefited him. "Luckily, [Mike] Chaves and my dad decided to pit me early, which was really good, a smart Idea," Caselli said. "I wasn't sure if It was halfway or what, but they brought me in, pitted me, and Kiedrowski and Nathan did another lap from what I did. It was good because usually I ride a lot better when I'm behind somebody or when I can see somebody, and it worked out perfect." Woods just couldn't keep in front this day. He'd lead for a bit but then Kiedrowski would go by. Finally, he fell for the second time in the two-hour race, but this time he stalled and had trouble getting it to relight qUickly. "I think I was just trying to push myself a little too much and I made another mistake, fell, and then I just couldn't get that thing started," Woods said. "I was struggling with getting it started, but that's racing. I rode my butt off and I did everything I could to gain