Primm, Nev. - Monster Energy Kawasaki's Justin Soule and Ricky Dietrich showed their speed on the rough and sandy track as each rider took his first podium spot of the season, finishing second and third, respectively, at the second round of the WORCS series at Stateline in Primm, Nev. Teammate Destry Abbott finished ninth after a hard month battling the flu. Along with the team riders finishing in the top-10, Kawasaki grabbed six of the top-10 spots with Jonathan Davis in sixth, Gary Sutherlin in seventh, and Robby Bell in eighth. Pro 2 class rider Ryan Abbatoye demolished the competition the whole weekend with a dominating victory in both Saturday’s 450A race and Sunday’s Pro 2 main event.

Dead-Engine Holeshot
With no gates at the start of the track, the riders faced a rare dead-engine start. Soule made it look easy as he came around the first turn with the lead, and although there isn’t a holeshot award, he won a $100 bet he made with his father-in-law.

"It was nice to get the holeshot here because the course was very one-lined," said Soule. "After I got passed, I was actually able to key off Kurt (Caselli) and get some more good lines from him."

Podium Boys
The race for second was a teammate battle, with Soule and Dietrich both running a fast pace throughout the race. In the end, Soule finished in the runner-up spot, while Dietrich rounded out the podium.

"Ricky put on a mid-race charge and caught me just after the pit," said Soule. "We went back and forth for a while, but I was able to pull out second in the end. I want to be on the podium every weekend and my first race didn’t really go to plan."

Feeling the Two Hours
Dietrich returned home from a tough sand race in Argentina on Tuesday, and felt the effects of the race at Round 2. Even with a mediocre start, Dietrich pushed hard the first few laps to make up ground and break into the top-10. Right before the pit stop, he made it all the way up to third and although he was right up with Soule in second, he finished out the day in third.

"My start wasn't great, but I think I'm used to it now," said Dietrich. "Once I got around the traffic, I was able to put in some good laps and catch up to Soule. I did go down and I think that was where everything turned for me. I was really tight after the race in Argentina and I got a few massages last week. I think that really dehydrated me and in the last 30 minutes I wasn’t feeling good at all."

Recovering
Abbott has been sturggling with illness since the start of 2010 and is finally coming around two months later. Since he's been on doctor’s orders to rest, he hasn't been able to train, and with a rough track at Stateline, it was a long and tough race for Abbott.

"It is a little frustrating knowing I have the speed to be up there," said Abbott. "At the same time, it's good to know I have the speed so when I get back to my program, I will be able to up there. In the past, I’ve struggled with the first few rounds, so this is a pretty good start to the season, all things considered."

Big Pro 2 Winner
Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green rider Ryan Abbatoye got off to a great start with a dominating win in Saturday’s 450A race, winning by 1 minute and 54 seconds. He used that momentum in Sunday’s main event to win his first Pro 2 race of the season and take the points lead for the class.

"My race did not start out like I had hoped and I had to come from mid-pack," said Abbatoye. "When I was in traffic, I was pushing really hard to get around everyone, but wasn't going anywhere. Instead, I settled into my pace and started passing people a lot easier. When I got into second, I saw Cole (Martinez) and I was hoping to have a good battle with him, but he went down. I ended up cruising and finished in front."

Kawasaki Racers
The Kawasaki KX™450F motorcycle was the bike to beat this weekend as the green riders filled out the top-10. Northland Motorsports/Precision Concepts/Kawasaki riders Davis and Bell finished sixth and eighth, while privateer Sutherlin claimed the seventh spot.

"It's really good to see the Kawasaki KX450F doing well in the WORCS series," said Jason Smigel, Off-Road Supervisor. "The bike is a proven winner and it's continuing to show its strengths on the tough courses that we face on this circuit."

Another Sandy Race
The next round brings the Monster Energy Kawasaki crew to sunny Lake Havasu City, Ariz. The race has been good to Dietrich in the past, and he’s looking to continue the tradition.

"Last year I won and in 2008 I got second," said Dietrich. "I enjoy that race and I am really hoping I can keep moving forward in my results. The first race wasn't what I was looking for, but if I remain consistent, I think the wins will start coming my way."

Results
World Off Road Championship Series
Buffallo Bills at Stateline - Primm, Nev.
February 28, 2010

Pro Results
1. Kurt Caselli, Palmdale, Calif., KTM
2. JUSTIN SOULE, RENO, NEV., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
3. RICKY DIETRICH, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
4. Tim Weigand, Santa Clarita, Calif., Honda
5. Bobby Garrison, Hesperia, Calif., Husqvarna
6. JONATHAN DAVIS, MARTINEZ, CALIF., KAWASAKI
7. GARY SUTHERLIN, SUN CITY, ARIZ., KAWASAKI
8. ROBBY BELL, SUN CITY, CALIF., KAWASAKI
9. DESTRY ABBOTT, PEORIA, ARIZ., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI

Pro Standings
1. Kurt Caselli, Palmdale, Calif., KTM, 45
2. RICKY DIETRICH, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 36
3. Tim Weigand, Santa Clarita, Calif., Honda, 36
4. JUSTIN SOULE, RENO, NEV., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 33
5. DESTRY ABBOTT, PEORIA, ARIZ., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 27
6. Bobby Garrison, Hesperia, Calif., Husqvarna, 26
7. ROBBY BELL, SUN CITY, CALIF., KAWASAKI, 26
8. Taylor Robert, Scottsdale, Ariz., Yamaha, 25
9. Mike Brown, Bluff City, Tenn., KTM, 23
10. GARY SUTHERLIN, SUN CITY, ARIZ., KAWASAKI, 22