Tempe, AZ (3/22/2017) -
Pro Motorsports’ Matt Hancock scored a pair
of runner-up finishes in the WORCS SXS races
in Lake Havasu City, AZ. With a doubleheader
weekend for the amateurs, teammate Gareth
Dihel continued to pad his points lead in
the SXS 1000 Stock class, winning one of the
two races held during the weekend.
|
| Pro
Motorsports’ Matt Hancock scored a pair
of runner-up finishes in the WORCS SXS
races in Lake Havasu City, AZ |
In the Pro SXS race, Hancock got off to a
great start, and he was in second when the
pack approached infamous lagoon jump. Choosing
the smart line, Hancock went around the jump.
Though he fell back as a result, he quickly
rebounded and was battling for the lead at
the finish in his non-turbo Polaris RZR. After
a rough start to the season, Hancock hit his
stride here and is now third in points.
“I skipped the lagoon jump on the first lap
and fell back to sixth, but that was the plan,”
said Hancock. “I wanted to see what everyone
did the first lap and not break the car. People
started dropping out, I gained some positions,
got right behind Davie and he was ripping.
And I’m just happy to be up here.”
| |
| After
a rough start to the season in Pro UTV,
Matt Hancock hit his stride and is now
sitting third in points |
Hancock was pleased with the performance
of his naturally aspirated car. Though the
turbos are faster, the season thus far has
shown their durability has given the non-turbos
the edge. In Hancock’s case, Curtis Sparks
gives him an even bigger advantage.
“One, two and three were all non-turbo cars
which is pretty unreal,” said Hancock. “This
track doesn’t provide a huge advantage for
the turbo cars. Curtis Sparks builds my motors
and he does awesome work, which shows. Doug
Roll with Elka Suspension had my shocks working
perfectly today. I could take any line I wanted
and drive it like it was on cruise control.
The Maxxis Tires ripped around in these rocks
and soft dirt.”
| |
| Matt
Hancock finished a season best 2nd Place
in Pro UTV Stock, which boosted him
into the top ten in points |
In Pro Stock, Hancock scored another second
place finish, which boosted him into eighth
in the points chase and only six points out
of the top five as he has continued to improve
his finishes with each passing round of racing.
“I needed the points. It’s still early in
the year and we’re looking for a championship.
Maxxis Tires, Tire Blocks, Elka Suspension…these
guys are the best in the business and my car
showed it today,” said Hancock.
Hancock also welcomed a new addition to his
family on Friday. His twin sister, Marissa,
had her baby on Friday. “So far it’s been
a great weekend,” said Hancock. “I’m excited
to get home and meet my new nephew.”
The amateur classes ran a doubleheader weekend.
Dihel won the first of the two SXS 1000 Stock
events on Saturday and finished 15th in the
second race Sunday. With three consecutive
wins and an additional podium, Dihel’s dominant
season continues and he now leads the championship
by 11 points.
| |
|
Gareth Dihel continued his points lead
in the SXS 1000 Stock class, winning
one of the two races held during the
weekend |
Dihel snagged the holeshot in Saturday’s
race, but lost the lead on the first lap after
being passed in the lagoon jump. He took back
over the lead for good when the leader blew
a belt.
“Everything went really well on Saturday,”
said Dihel. “A lot of people frown on this
course because it’s so rough, but I like Havasu.
It’s in a really cool area and I like that
people can see a lot of the course. This year,
I hit the lagoon jump a bunch. I got the holeshot,
got a great lead and someone jumped it and
passed me. So I jumped it the rest of the
time.”
WORCS officials had cautioned drivers to
take the lagoon jump at their own risk on
Sunday. With Saturday fresh in his mind, Dihel
elected to hit the jump on every lap he could.
He snagged the holeshot again and was leading
when a wheel bearing seized. He pitted and
his team got him back out to earn points.
| |
|
Gareth Dihel snagged the holeshot in
both races on the weekend |
“I got the holeshot, and I had to hit the
lagoon jump every time, which was really hard
on the car,” said Dihel. “Then I lost a wheel
bearing. I pitted, they got it back together
and got some finishing points. That will help
me out a lot. Any points are better than none.”
Hancock and Dihel will be back in action
as the series next heads to Las Vegas for
a special indoor race at The Orleans March
31-April 2.
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
