Offroad Motorcycle and ATV Nationals 2009 OMA Racing Series Round #1 - Nashville, TN Hangman XC April 11-12th, 2009

Photos and Story By: John Gasso

OMA ATV Racing Links Round 1 - Moose Run XC Shawn Hess Honda Kyle Martin Honda Taylor Kiser Yamaha Craig Reed Honda Shane Gaunt Honda

Race Winner, Shawn Hess

Round one of the Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals Series took place just outside Nashville, Tennessee on the heels of devastating tornados and some extreme weather nearby on Friday afternoon. Track conditions were muddy for the start of the Maxxis Hangman XC, but the track held up well for the KORHS co-sanctioned event. According to race winner Shawn Hess “it had a good mix of tight, open, and open and fast stuff. The tight stuff was great. I mean, you had a little stuff where you’d bump your tires and then you had some open stuff where you could make some good passes.” The Texas based Houser Racing Honda rider emerged from the muck with a narrow victory over the Dirtworks Performance Pro Armor Honda of Missouri racer Kyle Martin. Taylor Kiser picked up the last podium slot aboard his Fort Myers, Florida based GT Thunder Hyper Wheels Yamaha. Fourth place went to Craig Reed riding a Honda, while Shane Gaunt completed the top five with his Aupperle Racing Honda machine.

Holeshot Winner Kyle Martin followed by Bryan Husley

Reigning series champion Bryan Hulsey started the race on a mission behind fellow Missouri racer and holeshot winner Kyle Martin. The number one plate bearing machine appeared to be headed for a podium finish with a string of laps under eleven minutes, each running within seconds of Martin. Unfortunately for Hulsey, his Washington, Missouri based Dirtworks Performance Duncan Racing Honda suffered a tie rod end failure just three laps from the end of the event. The dnf of Hulsey set the stage for a battle to the checkers that ended with Hess, Martin, and Kiser finishing on the same minute after ten laps of the muddy course in just over two hours.

ATV Racer Bryan Husley	Holeshot Winner Kyle Martin

After Hulsey dropped out it appeared Kyle Martin would take the top spot. “I started with the holeshot, the best way to start a race,” stated Martin. “The OMA Champ Bryan Hulsey was running up front for quite a while until he had a mechanical issue, so that was fun.” But, according to Martin, “a track like this, with it being muddy out there, you really don’t know what’s going to happen, especially when lappers come in to play.” And lappers, including the Hess Motorsports Honda of Glenn Hess from the plus thirty class, did come in to play. “I didn’t even know Shawn was that close behind me,” said Martin. “We hit a lapper, and it happened to be Shawn’s Dad. We got through that deal, but Shawn was able to pass me clean out there in the woods when we came to a section and lappers came in to a little bit of play. He put a good pass, rode a smart race, and went through the checker with me and Kiser right on him.”

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