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Offroad Motorcycle
and ATV Nationals
2008 OMA Racing Series
Round #3 - Rio Grande, OH
Coal Miner XC
May 25, 2008 |
By: Andy Lagzdins |
Andy Lagzdins OMA Pro
ATV Race Report
The course was holding up well, and new lines were
forming around some of the muddy sections. I was
trying to keep Crane and Zimmerman in sight, when
late in the race, I came into the checkpoint and
saw Zimmerman pulling into his pit area. I caught
a glimpse of Rob getting off his quad and pulling
his helmet off, so I knew he was going to be a while.
He had come in to change his front sprocket after
shearing the teeth off of it. With Rob being my
main rival for the series title, I concentrated
on finishing at all costs, and trying to keep as
many riders in between us as possible.
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| Sixth
place in the Coal Miner XC went to Andy
Lagzdins, shown here blasting one of the
numerous small remaining mud holes on the
course, and Andy is now tied with Rob Zimmerman
for the 2nd spot in the pro points race
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Three
time OMA Nationals champion, Rob Zimmerman,
rounded out the Pro ATV top ten with eleven
laps. Zimmerman's machine did not complete
the final lap due to the loss of his transmission
drain plug, which lead to loss of fluid
and a massive failure in the transmission |
During the last lap, while doing my best to stay
out of trouble, I got hung up in a set of ruts
behind a lapper. I was doing the standard “off
the side, throttle pinned, pushing on the bars
with everything I got” method and not really
going anywhere. Then out of nowhere comes my buddy
Gabe Young to my rescue. Who better to have around
when you’re stuck on the last lap in 2 foot
deep ruts than a guy who once held the world record
for squats by lifting 1100 lbs over his head!
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Donnie
Ockerman was on the heels of Brandon Sommers
the entire race, and after 2 hours the gap
remained at only seven seconds with Ockerman
claiming 2nd Overall |
Yamaha's
Brandon Sommers picked up his second consecutive
Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals win at the
round three event and takes over the points
lead |
Needless to say, I got out quickly and rode to
the finish without getting passed. Sommers and
Ockerman battled to the end, with Brandon coming
out on top. Mark Notman finished third to round
out the podium ahead of Jeff Pickens and David
Crane. I finished sixth ahead of Shea Dickson
and Josh Beavers. Rob Zimmerman held on to finish
ninth ahead of Tom Wright. The next round of the
series takes place in Waukon, Iowa in two weeks.
See you there!
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Pro
ATV Top Three Overall (left
to Right)
Donald Ockerman, Brandon Sommers, Mark Notman |
photos
by John
Gasso
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