TYLER LYNN, COLE ZELLER CAPTURE WINS AT SHORTY’S BREAKOUT GRAND PRIX
The Rocky Mountain ATV-MC WORCS Series kicked off its 2026 season at Shorty’s MX Park in Blythe, California, with the WORCS Shorty’s Breakout Grand Prix, delivering a fast, demanding, and unpredictable opening round. With the return of the Regional AMA championship, the numbers increased, allowing for more competition and battles throughout the course of the weekend. The course featured a high-speed hard-pack motocross layout before plunging through a canyon into deep sand, rewarding riders who could adapt as conditions evolved.
Sunday’s two-hour Pro race introduced a true game-changer, a downhill pro-only section that provide to be the pivotal point of the racecourse.
PRO 450
In the Pro 450 class, early laps were led by Mason Semmens and Dare DeMartile. Semmens showed confidence in his first race in the 450 division after dominating the Pro 250 Championship in 2025. Tyler Lynn, aboard his SLR Honda machine, settled into third early, remaining patient as the leaders set the pace. The turning point came when Lynn attacked the downhill pro section with a creative approach. While much of the field dropped into the ravine, Lynn chose a bold alternative line, jumping down the hillside and carrying significantly more speed on exit. In a single lap, he surged from third to first, immediately putting distance between himself and the rest of the field.
Once out front, Lynn never relinquished control. He consistently gained time through the pro-only downhill and deep sand, laying down some of the fastest laps of the race in the 7:20 range as the course continued to break down. Semmens eventually adapted, finding the same downhill line and responding with pressure, even clocking a standout lap in the 7:18 range while pushing to close the gap. Despite the charge, Lynn remained composed, managing traffic and conditions to secure a decisive win.
Behind the lead duo, Justin Hoeft delivered one of the most consistent rides of the day. By minimizing mistakes and maintaining steady lap times, Hoeft capitalized on errors from DeMartile to move forward and lock in a strong result.
PRO 250
Now out from under the shadow of Mason Semmens’ domination, the Pro 250 class saw some heated competition. Early in the race, Sam Pretscherer set the tone with blistering pace, posting one of the fastest laps of the class at 7:26.588 and establishing himself at the front. Cole Zeller stayed locked in the fight until an early-race incident between the two sent Zeller to the ground, forcing him to remount deep in the field. Zeller methodically worked his way back through traffic, refusing to panic and maintaining a competitive pace as conditions worsened. He consistently posted laps in the 7:27–7:30 range, navigating the deep sand and canyon sections with precision and patience.
As the race approached its final stages, Zeller had clawed his way back to Pretscherer’s rear wheel. The decisive moment came just before the final lap, when Zeller capitalized on an opening and reclaimed the lead. Under intense pressure through the closing miles, he stayed mistake-free and controlled the pace to take the win, completing a remarkable comeback after the early setback. Pretscherer crossed the line in second while Colton Aeck rounded out the Pro 250 podium with a steady ride.
OPEN PRO
The Open Pro class, new for the 2026 season, gave riders an additional opportunity to compete for a win while gaining valuable extra seat time over the weekend. The format proved effective, with Cole Zeller taking home the victory. All three riders who filled the podium also compete in the Pro 250 class, with Harlem Nelson and Jordan Maas joining Zeller on the box.
WOMEN PRO
In the Women’s Pro class, the opening round delivered strong, competitive racing on the same challenging layout. Shelby Turner set the early benchmark with a class-fast 8:45.015 lap, leading the field to the checkered flag followed by defending champion Lauren Woods and Dayna Raynor.
PRO 450
- TYLER LYNN (HON)
- MASON SEMMENS (KTM)
- JUSTIN HOEFT (KAW)
- DARE DEMARTILE (BET)
- CHANCE FULLERTON (KAW)
PRO 250
- COLE ZELLER (KTM)
- SAM PRESCHERER (HON)
- COLTON AECK (KAW)
- NOAH GORDON (KTM)
- TRISTUN ALVAREZ (KAW)
WOMEN PRO
- SHELBY TURNER (TRI)
- LAUREN WOODS (GAS)
- DANA RAYNOR (HUS)
- RACHEL BURTON (KAW)
