Offroad Motorcycle
and ATV Nationals
2009 OMA Racing Series
Round #4 - Mesick, Michigan
Wolverine XC
June 20-21, 2009 |
Photos and Story
By: John Gasso |
Show me the Podium –
Michigan ATV Racers Sweep OMA Round Four
Kyle Martin, Bryan Hulsey, John
Pitts Podium
OMA
ATV Racing Links
Round 4 - WolverineXC
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Round four of the
Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals proved to
be Kyle Martin's day. A chain problem
early in the race slowed the first lap,
but Martin poured it on to win the event
with a two minute and seventeen second
cushion over Bryan Hulsey.
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The last day of spring saw round four of the
Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals series roll in to
the Twisted Trails riding area in rural Mesick,
Michigan. Rain on Friday night left the track
in great shape, keeping dust to a minimum and
providing soil conditions that race winner Kyle
Martin called “perfect.” Racers were
presented with a course that included tight woods
trails, brush piles with hidden tree stumps, and
some sandy four wheel drive truck test areas that
were something out of the ordinary.
The temperature climbed during the event, and
many of the machines faced overheating issues
before their two hour adventure was complete.
Low speeds and dense woods kept airflow down,
and cooling was problematic for most of the contestants.
The checkers fell for the Dirtworks Motorsports
Honda of Kyle Martin with only two other racers
on their ninth lap of the difficult course. Reigning
OMA Nationals champion Bryan Hulsey rolled the
Duncan Racing Rekluse Honda through scoring two
minutes and seventeen seconds after Martin, while
Chris Wansted clocked in nine minutes later to
take the A ATV class win and capture third overall
in the event.
Meanwhile, John Pitts, who finished his eighth
lap six minutes before Martin completed the event,
chose to not take his ninth lap, as the Duncan
Racing Moose Honda 450R was significantly overheated.
Pitts was assured of third place in the pro class
due to attrition, so saving his brand new motor
was the highest priority. When the results were
tallied Dirtworks Motorsports and the state of
Missouri had total ownership of the Maxxis Wolverine
XC podium.
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Brian Hulsey finally made it to the podium
at round four of the Parts Unlimited OMA
Nationals series held near Mesick, Michigan.
The Dirtworks Motorsports Honda held the
lead early, but he ended the day with
second place.
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An overheating machine left John Pitts
at the finish line one lap early and set
the Duncan Racing Honda in third place.
Pitts could not improve his position on
the final lap, so he chose to save his
new motor and come back to fight another
day.
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“I’ll take it,” said Kyle Martin
after two hours of battle in the Michigan back
woods. “It was very hot out there. The track
was good for the most part.” But, he said
“I didn’t care much for the land mine
things out there, those holes,” referring
to the sand pit holes dug out of the terrain.
The holes resembled bomb blasts out of the ground,
and the loose sand at the bottom made it difficult
to keep any momentum through them. “The
track held together pretty well for all the rain.
It was perfect conditions as far as the soil,”
stated the Maxxis Fox Shocks Honda rider. “I
got a good start,” recalled Martin. Unfortunately,
the sand was messing with his chain. “Ended
up with the chain coming off end of the first
lap after leading and everybody got around me,”
he said, “so I had to work my way back to
the front.” Reinstalling the chain was not
a big issue for Martin, and he battled back past
everyone to take his first OMA Nationals victory.
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Maxxis Wolverine XC winner Kyle Martin
blasted through the rural Michigan woods
to claim his first OMA Nationals victory
on a day when many were suffering from
overheating. Martin's Dirtworks Motorsports
machine had no trouble with the hot, humid
conditions.
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Bryan Hulsey made his first trip this season
to the podium after leading the first two laps
on his Moose Racing Quadtech Powermadd Honda.
Hulsey said “on the first lap people were
just kind of making mistakes. I think Kyle lost
his chain or something. I ended up coming through
at the end of the first lap in the lead. I lead
for a couple laps and just rode out there. Kyle
came up behind me about the fourth or so lap and
went by me and I just settled in for second.”
Hulsey maintained his position, but was becoming
concerned about the health of his motor also.
“The motor was getting hot,” he recalled.
“The last couple laps I was smelling it
and hoping it was someone else all the time, but
it was me,” he said with a smile. “Survival
of the fittest, I guess, as far as the bikes today.
I’m happy to finish in second and get on
the podium for the first time (this year).”
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