Offroad Motorcycle and ATV Nationals 2007 OMA Racing Series Round #9 - Morrison, IL The Race October 20, 2007

OMA Round 9 - Links ATV Class Results Overall ATV Results OMA Race Report Links Round 8 - Coyote XC Round 7 - Penn State XC

#12 Andy Lagzdins

Also held at the Morrison location is the notorious Moose Run, which annually tests the best riders in the country against the elements on a super tough and technical course. The ATV course totaled nine miles in length, and included open corn fields, tight woods, whooped out loamy sections, and even some motocross thrown in for good measure. Days of rain during the week before the event helped eliminate almost all dust, without creating any deep mud or standing water. The deep water crossings that have been a trademark of The Race could not be run this year due to access problems caused by late corn crops.

Matt Lindle Grabs the Pro Holeshot

After eight rounds of the series, I held a 16 point lead in the championship race over three-time champ Rob Zimmerman. We have been battling each other all season, and each of us has had our share of bad luck. Matt Lindle sat in third place for the overall championship, but would need a total meltdown by the leaders to improve his position. Twelve pro riders lined up in the large corn field used for the start of The Race. A total wide open affair, the first turn was a downshift into fourth and pin it type deal. I was on the inside thinking I had the holeshot when Lindle went by me so fast on the outside that I thought my rear tires had gone flat while sitting on the start line. I followed Matt through the motocross section, and then out into the first stretch of corn fields. We started going through the gears, and corn husks were blowing off his rear tires like a vegetable cannon. I think I tried to shift into sixth gear twice, hoping I had another gear. After crossing about three consecutive corn fields, the speed came down to almost a dead stop, as we went through a tunnel barely tall enough to fit through. Then it was back up to warp speed, blazing 70+mph again for what seemed like an eternity. As we were transitioning from one crop to another, we would hit kickers, mounds, and small ditches that bordered the fields. One crop had been disked in such a way that it made the quad stutter violently like the wheels were loose and getting ready to fall off! It was then that I saw Matt’s seat start to come off. He reached around and popped it back into place, still fully on the gas. Zimmerman got around me, and we started to pick up the pace in the woods, when Rob went a little wide in a turn and clipped a tree. I was too close behind and had nowhere to go. By the time we got going, I was back in sixth place. I put my head down and charged, not wanting to let Rob get to the front without me. I finished the first 25 minute lap in fourth place, seconds behind Zimmerman.

Andy Lagzdins	Rob Zimmerman