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Offroad Motorcycle
and ATV Nationals
2010 OMA Racing Series
Round #3 - Coal Miner XC Race
May 30, 2010 |
Photos and Story
By: John Gasso |
Brandon Sommers Dominates
Coal Miner XC OMA ATV National Race
2010 Parts Unlimited OMA
ATV National Racing Series
| OMA
ATV Racing Links
Round 3 - Coal Miner XC
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Brandon
Sommers made his 2010 OMA ATV Nationals
appearance & came away with a commanding
victory
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Rio Grande, OH - Round three of
the Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals series was run
on the unofficial first weekend of summer. It was
a hot and humid day in the rolling hills of rural
Rio Grande, Ohio on the Fallon family farm. While
the grass track areas appeared a bit dry, the dirt
in the woods was near perfect.
After nine
laps of another grueling Bill Gusse race course
Brandon Sommers took his GYTR Maxxis Yamaha to
a convincing victory with a gap of four minutes
and nineteen seconds over the Dirtworks Motorsports
Maxxis Honda of reigning series champion Kyle
Martin.
Josh Beavers rolled his Performance Super Cycle
Johnny Signs KTM through the Moto-Tally scoring
loop two minutes and nine seconds later to claim
third place in the Maxxis Coal Miner XC and move
himself into the series points lead.
John Pitts had a great start aboard his Duncan
Racing Rekluse Honda, narrowly losing out on the
K&N Filters $100 holeshot to fellow Missouri
racer and traveling buddy Kyle Martin. Unfortunately
a loose bolt caused Pitts to lose his exhaust
header early in the race. That mechanical issue
cost valuable time performing repairs to his machine,
dropping Pitts to fourth place in the event.
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Brandon
Sommers warmed up as the race went on &
finished a full minute faster than what
he put down on the first lap |
Brandon Sommers did not have an opportunity to run
the practice lap, so he was a little slow in the
first lap. “I think the first lap we were
all together,” recalled Sommers. “Me
and Kyle Martin ran together for a little while.
Then, all of a sudden, I just started pulling away.
Once I got out of sight a little bit I just kind
of relaxed and started riding a little better.”
According to the GT Thunder Fasst Company Yamaha
racer “it took me a little while to warm up.
Once I got warmed up it was great. I just was able
to capitalize on a few mistakes on the other guys.”
Lap times show the GT Thunder Yamaha rider with
improving speed through the race, ending with
his ninth lap of eleven minutes and fifty five
seconds, a full minute faster than lap one.
Sommers has ridden this venue before, but he
said this layout was “I think the tightest
woods we’ve ever ran at this track that
I can remember. I loved it. He had some really
fast field sections, a little bit of water, some
real tight woods, and some good flowing woods,
which was my personal favorite.”
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| Kyle
Martin grabbed 2nd place on his Moose Racing
Rekluse Honda ATV after he also grabbed
the K&N Holeshot Award |
Second place went to Kyle Martin and the Moose Racing
Rekluse Honda. The Missouri based pro racer struggled
with a chain problem in round one and missed round
two due to a schedule conflict. This race started
well for Martin with the K&N $100 holeshot award,
and he reported “no big issues today. The
bike ran great, and no problems.” Martin summed
up his race saying “it was hot; hot and rough.”
He said “I felt pretty good. They laid a good
track us for us today. It’s nice and fast,
pretty open. I was able to lead for a little bit.”
Unfortunately for Martin his Rath Racing Kal-Gard
Honda would not lead the race for long. At the
end of the first thirteen minute lap he was in
second place by three seconds. “Brandon
Sommers put a good line on me and passed me,”
recalled Martin. “I was able to hang with
him for a while. Then he slowly just started to
pull away. I just kind of settled in to my pace
and ended up second place. We will go on to the
next one and try to get a win.”
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