North Adams, MA (12/5/2011) - Team Southside riders Cody Paolella and Bruce Gaspardi Jr., had the special opportunity to fly out to Phoenix Arizona to compete in the final round of the WORCS Series which was held at Speedworld MX in Surprise.

Neither of them had ever raced in something like the WORCS competition before and so it was a big unknown how they would fare on their Polaris Outlaw ATVs. Spending Friday night and Saturday morning getting the quad dialed in and up to par for what it was about to encounter was no small feat, and we’d like to thank the Williams’ & Stevens’ families, along with the Motoworks & National Guard Polaris camps, and a fellow Polaris owner who allowed us to borrow the front hub off his families pit vehicle because without all of them, the story would end here.

We finished the quad with less than five minutes to spare before it was time for Cody to run the Production B class. With 16 riders in his class alone including one fellow NEATV rider Jake Bradway, their class would be one of 5 classes on the track at one time for their 40 minute moto. Cody who was lined up all the way on the inside would get out 3rd as they headed off into the desert for the first time.

About 6 minutes later he would reappear on one of the motocross sections. Soon after he went past the pit area and back into the desert, he would stay in 3rd for another lap and half making his way through traffic of other class riders. Then on the 3rd lap he would come out of the desert in 1st and never looked back. As he was finishing his 4th lap, he went through the checkpoint with 8 seconds to go on the clock which allowed him to do a 5th lap. He was the only B rider to do so. He would win the B class and finish 8th overall well inside the ranks of some of the A riders. His time qualified him for Pro-Am the next day but because he was a B rider he was not eligible.

The team had a couple hours of break before Bruce was to go out in the Open B class in the afternoon. He would be on the gate with 10 in his class, and would have a total of 3 classes out there with him including Open A. Bruce would also be lined up on the inside but get pinched going into the first corner and have to check up. He would head off into the desert 8th making a quick pass for 7th as he went out of sight. As he came back into view he made a great pass for 4th going into the tight “s” section.

Then between the check point and pit area he would make the pass into 3rd as he headed back into the desert. He reeled in what is thought was 2nd but was actually 1st (2nd broke), crewing up a 14 second lead to reemerge from the desert right behind him and would make the pass in the tight section after the trophy truck track to come through the check point in 1st, but wouldn’t realize it till he saw Bob giving him the #1 / be smart signal. Which he would do, making smart moves and playing it safe, as he would go on to win the race, his finish also qualified him for Pro-Am but wasn’t eligible because of running the B class.

He beat 2nd place by 8 seconds and when they came off the track the rider told Bruce “I knew I was getting close when I saw the smoke”. As you can see by the picture it was smoking but we talked to Dee at Rage and he said not to worry, it would last, and last it would a day of practice, and not one, but two 40+ minute motos both ending in wins.

We would also like to thank all our sponsors and the WORCS Series for putting on a great event; we really enjoyed it and will be back next season.