Offroad Motorcycle and ATV Nationals 2009 OMA Racing Series Round #4 - Mesick, Michigan Wolverine XC June 20-21, 2009

Photos and Story By: John Gasso

OMA ATV Racing Links Round 4 - WolverineXC Race Results

Round four of the Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals proved to be Kyle Martin's day. A chain problem early in the race slowed the first lap, but Martin poured it on to win the event with a two minute and seventeen second cushion over Bryan Hulsey.

The last day of spring saw round four of the Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals series roll in to the Twisted Trails riding area in rural Mesick, Michigan. Rain on Friday night left the track in great shape, keeping dust to a minimum and providing soil conditions that race winner Kyle Martin called “perfect.” Racers were presented with a course that included tight woods trails, brush piles with hidden tree stumps, and some sandy four wheel drive truck test areas that were something out of the ordinary.

The temperature climbed during the event, and many of the machines faced overheating issues before their two hour adventure was complete. Low speeds and dense woods kept airflow down, and cooling was problematic for most of the contestants.

The checkers fell for the Dirtworks Motorsports Honda of Kyle Martin with only two other racers on their ninth lap of the difficult course. Reigning OMA Nationals champion Bryan Hulsey rolled the Duncan Racing Rekluse Honda through scoring two minutes and seventeen seconds after Martin, while Chris Wansted clocked in nine minutes later to take the A ATV class win and capture third overall in the event.

Meanwhile, John Pitts, who finished his eighth lap six minutes before Martin completed the event, chose to not take his ninth lap, as the Duncan Racing Moose Honda 450R was significantly overheated. Pitts was assured of third place in the pro class due to attrition, so saving his brand new motor was the highest priority. When the results were tallied Dirtworks Motorsports and the state of Missouri had total ownership of the Maxxis Wolverine XC podium.

Brian Hulsey finally made it to the podium at round four of the Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals series held near Mesick, Michigan. The Dirtworks Motorsports Honda held the lead early, but he ended the day with second place.	An overheating machine left John Pitts at the finish line one lap early and set the Duncan Racing Honda in third place. Pitts could not improve his position on the final lap, so he chose to save his new motor and come back to fight another day.

“I’ll take it,” said Kyle Martin after two hours of battle in the Michigan back woods. “It was very hot out there. The track was good for the most part.” But, he said “I didn’t care much for the land mine things out there, those holes,” referring to the sand pit holes dug out of the terrain. The holes resembled bomb blasts out of the ground, and the loose sand at the bottom made it difficult to keep any momentum through them. “The track held together pretty well for all the rain.

It was perfect conditions as far as the soil,” stated the Maxxis Fox Shocks Honda rider. “I got a good start,” recalled Martin. Unfortunately, the sand was messing with his chain. “Ended up with the chain coming off end of the first lap after leading and everybody got around me,” he said, “so I had to work my way back to the front.” Reinstalling the chain was not a big issue for Martin, and he battled back past everyone to take his first OMA Nationals victory.

Maxxis Wolverine XC winner Kyle Martin blasted through the rural Michigan woods to claim his first OMA Nationals victory on a day when many were suffering from overheating. Martin's Dirtworks Motorsports machine had no trouble with the hot, humid conditions.

Bryan Hulsey made his first trip this season to the podium after leading the first two laps on his Moose Racing Quadtech Powermadd Honda. Hulsey said “on the first lap people were just kind of making mistakes. I think Kyle lost his chain or something. I ended up coming through at the end of the first lap in the lead. I lead for a couple laps and just rode out there. Kyle came up behind me about the fourth or so lap and went by me and I just settled in for second.”

Hulsey maintained his position, but was becoming concerned about the health of his motor also. “The motor was getting hot,” he recalled. “The last couple laps I was smelling it and hoping it was someone else all the time, but it was me,” he said with a smile. “Survival of the fittest, I guess, as far as the bikes today. I’m happy to finish in second and get on the podium for the first time (this year).”

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