Cross Road Adventures (C-RA) is organizing the six-event World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS).  The series will be held at Hare Scramble and Grand Prix Courses in the U.S. with 5 to 15 mile per lap racecourses.  Unlike most races of this type, the series is using venues that facilitate spectator viewing, and that my friends, makes for some up close and in your face race action.   

Destry Abbott

Here?s something to stuff in your gear bag; all of the best off-road motorcycle racers are competing in one series for the first time!  Pro racers scheduled to race at the time of this writing are: Ty Davis, Destry Abbott, Rodney Smith, Shane Watts, and  Husaberg's newly signed Ryan Terlecki. One other interesting rider that will be attenting is Martin Lind, of which was a member of last month's second place finishing Swedish Trophy Team. We?ve heard rumors of other big name riders putting fourth an effort but they are unconfirmed at this point.

Seeing that there is $10,000 up for grabs at each event, you can bet your chest protector these guys will be bar to bar, bashing for the checkered flag.  

The track layout seems to run the gamut of terrain, containing everything from tight wooded sections to wide-open desert.  This is a fantastic format to test a rider?s ability in various terrains.  That being said, by the end of the series we should know who the best off road motorcycle racer is, hands down!

Kurt Caselli

This is the first year of the event and the "buzz" around ORC is extremely high.  In fact, it wouldn?t surprise us to see the World Off Road Championship Series grow to a "Supercross" level.  Supercross and Off Road Racing don?t usually have a large cross over fan base, but the promoters of WORCS are banking on it, by setting the Glen Helen opener up on the same weekend as round one of the '01 Supercross series.  Dave Hamel from C-RA has told us that everyone in the industry is already in So. Cal., so crossover attendance should be high, to paraphrase Dave.  One thing is for sure; the diligent ORC staff will be on hand to inform you of the happenings in the new Ride-Net section of Off-Road.com. 

Joe Average racer also stands to win cash and prizes by getting in on some of the contingency programs.  Take a look at http://www.c-ra.com/contingency.htm for details.

We are going to do our best to try and have someone at each event.  Be sure and check back frequently for race updates!

Until then,

Mike Hobbs
at your service