It was Maxxis sponsored, Kyle Martin taking the round 4 Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals "Wolverine XC" held in Mesick, Michigan and presented by Maxxis. The Dirt Works Motorsports podium sweep by Missouri racers Kyle Martin, Bryan Hulsey, and John Pitts would battle the heat and humidity with mechanical issues throughout the nine lap event. Martin (Maxxis / Dirtworks Motorsports (Willow Springs, MO) / Fly Racing / Quad Tech) would suffer from chain loss on the first lap, but after two previous podium positions, Martin would take his first OMA Overall putting him in the Series' points lead over Shawn Hess by two points. "I ended up with the chain coming off end of the first lap after leading and everybody got around me, so I had to work my way back to the front." After re-installing the chain it was clear that Martin was on a mission, and after nine grueling laps he took the checkers with a gap of two minutes and seventeen seconds over fellow Missouri racer Bryan Hulsey. "I'll take it," said Martin. "I had pretty good luck today." This would mark Martin's first OMA National win, taking the win with over two minutes to spare.
Former OMA Champion, Bryan Hulsey (Duncan Racing / Moose Racing / Dirt Works / Rekluse) would take the second place slot giving him his best finish of the year. Plagued with mechanical issues and just plain bad luck for the first three rounds, Hulsey would swap the lead throughout the event. "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. The motor was getting hot. It was 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."
Wrapping up the podium, John Pitts (Dirtworks Motorsports / Moose Racing / Duncan Racing) machine would begin to succumb to the heat and decided to make a call to pull off on lap eight. "It was hot out there, and then getting a little bit of the mud and sand, I guess it was clogging up the radiators a little bit." Even though he sat out the final lap, Pitts said "it was all in all a great day. The dust stayed down luckily from the rain we had yesterday. I had a great time."
Shane Gaunt (Maxxis / Moose Racing / GT Thunder) currently running fifth in the points would battle with the terrain, "After the first lap we were all out front and I hit a stump. It cracked my A arm and completely snapped my shock, so that put me out for the rest of the race." A broken front end brought an early end to race day for Gaunt
Texan Shawn Hess (Hess Motorsports / Elk Suspension / Maxxis / Tucker Rocky / Answer Racing / Houser Racing) "Something was popping like crazy over here in the rear end, I ended up having a log wedged in my chain. Unfortunately I had to pull over, and we got it out, and it was too late. We already broke some sprocket teeth. I thought, well, I'll go ahead and try to make up time the best I can. Well, trying to make up time I just started flying through those mud holes faster and faster to make up time, and I ended up overheating my bike. Fortunately enough some other riders had to drop out and I knew I wasn't going to gain or lose any positions so I chose to pull off before and save the motor."
This 2009 season has been a complete makeover of Pro ATV contenders, swapping wins and podiums, making it the most interesting OMA ATV event to date. For more information on future events see OMA online at omanationals.com.