| Offroad
Motorcycle and Atv Nationals
Nationals 2006 Series
Round #5 - Morrison, IL
Moose Run
June 3, 2006 |
|
| OMA
Nationals
Round #5 - Results |
1
Rob Zimmerman Hon
|
| 2
Todd Krupinski Hon |
3
Kevin Tinsley Hon |
4
Kenneth Staake Yam |
5
Ron Opper Polaris |
6
Ian Pavelonis Yam |
7
Justin Shepard Hon |
8
Ryan Smith Yam |
9
Adam Reed Hon |
10
Jason Schrock Hon |
|
| |
Todd
Krupinski |
Rob Zimmerman pulls out
a win at the Moose Run: XC ATV Racing
OMA Round 5:
OMA Nationals regular Rob Zimmerman returned from his
honeymoon to defend his Moose Run title and clinched victory
for the fourth consecutive year at a race that is referred
to as America’s toughest race. Zimmerman started
from dead last with a Honda that does not seem to like
dead engine starts but goes like lightning once it starts.
The first long straightaway after the start gave Zimmerman
a chance to pass a number of riders, but a miscalculation
on a whoop section sent him flying over the bars and back
to dead last. Zimmerman began pushing again and passed
a number of stuck riders at the first creek crossing using
a switchback line over the creek. After passing more riders
in the woods Zimmerman finally saw Todd Krupinski’s
chest protector flashing ahead of him and he pushed harder
to catch the leader. They came to the first creek crossing
again but Krupinski took a great line and left Zimmerman
behind in his dust. The next creek crossing turned the
tables on Krupinski as he was stuck for a bit and Zimmerman
got by him for the lead. After he “spent everything
to get in front of Todd”, Zimmerman held on to win
and said “I have never had to work that hard at
the Moose Run. Todd ran awesome.”
 |
Rob
Zimmerman |
Second place finisher Todd Krupinski took the hole
shot and had the lead until stalling his Honda at a
log crossing. Ryan Smith rode his Yamaha past the stalled
Krupinski and took off. “He (Smith) was just pounding
through those whoops. I was like, dear lord, you go
boy. He was riding good” recalled Krupinski. Smith
ran a nineteen minute and thirty nine second lap which
was twenty nine seconds faster than anyone all day but
developed a mechanical problem and he stopped after
four laps. Zimmerman and Krupinski battled hard to the
end with Krupinski clipping a lapper about one half
mile out from the final checkpoint. The impact sent
Krupinski in to a ditch with a stalled motor. His kick
starter was stuck in and it took some effort to free
it up and get restarted. The delay getting his quad
restarted took away Krupinski’s last chance for
the win.
 |
Kevin
Tinsley |
Kevin Tinsley rounded out the all Honda podium with a
ten second advantage over fourth place Yamaha rider Kenneth
Staake. Tinsley also had a bad start. He was sitting on
the line with Zimmerman and “everybody seemed to
be gone.” After getting started he ran with Zimmerman
passing the pack along the way. Tinsley was passed by
Zimmerman in a field, but ran strong and steady all day
for a well deserved third place finish. According to Tinsley
“the creeks were refreshing, the open fields were
refreshing, tight woods in the shade were refreshing.
Everything was nice. You couldn’t ask for a better
track or better conditions today.”
 |
Ryan
Smith |
The Moose Run 2006 was a tough nine mile course through
a mixture of terrain that tested man and machine. Forty
eight atv riders started the two hour race and fifteen
managed to complete six laps. Sixteen year old Jake
Berner was running in fourth place on the second lap
when his Honda ate a chain following a jump over one
of the nasty creek crossings. His day was done along
with about ten others who did not finish. This race
has a well deserved reputation for being difficult and
it stood up to expectations. Spectators and participants
were treated to a special brand of racing. This is off
road racing.
Article and
photos by John
Gasso
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