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Kyle Martin powered
through one of many river crossings
at the OMA Nationals event on the Royal
ATV Trails near Millerstown, Kentucky.
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Kyle Martin was not smiling when he finished the
race in third place just forty four seconds behind
Gaunt. “I sure didn’t want to go on
that last lap,” recalled Martin, telling
Darcy Gusse in the post race interview “you
might have noticed me shaking my head when you
told me it was one more lap to go.” According
to the Tire Balls HMF Honda rider “It was
just crazy out there. You didn’t know what
was going to be ahead of you. The next corner
there would be lappers, mud. The tree tops were
everywhere. It was tough out there.” Martin
was running well, but had some frustrating bad
luck on the last lap that sent him back to third
place. “I didn’t get stuck very much
all day until the last lap,” lamented Martin.
“I ended up sliding off one of the creeks,
right in to some bad ruts, and I was stuck there
for at least four or five minutes. About the time
I got out is when I noticed Shane Gaunt drove
right by me, just eased right by. That was kind
of aggravating. Then I got stuck not ten feet
later in the track, so the last lap was real tough
on me. I’m just glad to finish.”
Glasgow, Kentucky based privateer racer Chris
Moore finished the race in fourth place and
was excited to see his photo on the award plaques.
The Honda of Moore was in the lead pack all
day, and he said “I had fun.” John
Pitts rounded out the top five aboard the Duncan
Racing Rekluse VeeRubber Honda. “I got
stuck and carried the bike a whole lot; more
than I wanted to,” said the Missouri racer.
“Everything went good. The bike stayed
running. It was a good time.”
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Chris Moore took his
non-sponsored Honda to fourth place
at the OMA Nationals Rekluse Indian
Bluff XC. Moore hails from Glasgow,
Kentucky.
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The Duncan Racing Honda
of Missouri racer John Pitts picked
up finished fifth in a battle that included
some river runs along with the mud in
Millerstown, Kentucky.
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The ATV racers had a rough day in the woods
courtesy of Bill Gusse and Mother Nature. This
OMA Nationals event was co-sanctioned with the
KORHS, and a number of local racers showed up
to do battle OMA style. We are not sure some
of them knew what to expect from an OMA event,
but this was definitely an experience not soon
to be forgotten. The courses are always tough,
but the atmosphere is always fun and friendly
at the OMA Nationals. Two rounds are complete
in the ten race season, with Shawn Hess in a
solid points lead after two consecutive victories.
Last year’s champion, Bryan Hulsey, has
had some difficulties at the first two rounds,
but eight more races remain to be contested.
This series provides great competition on some
of the toughest race courses around, so anything
could happen in the coming rounds. Check out
omanationals.com for more information and a
schedule of upcoming events. If you like old
school single track woods racing, then this
series is what you have been searching for.
This is offroad racing.
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OMA Rekluse Indian
Bluff XC podium. (l to r) second place
Shane Gaunt, winner Shawn Hess, third
place Kyle Martin.
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