OMA: Rob Zimmerman pulls out a win at the 2006 Moose Run

Kevin Tinsley

Rob Zimmerman raced back from a last place start to win his fourth consecutive Moose Run at the Bike Barn in Fenton, Illinois. Zimmerman and fellow Honda rider Kevin "Tin Man" Tinsley sat on the starting line and watched everyone else race off behind Todd Krupinski who took the holeshot. When they finally got underway, the two put on a charge toward the front of the pack. Zimmerman would still have some trouble as he recalled, "I got in to a whoop section, collect this one and it spit me right over the bars. I went the entire way dead last. Then I had to just keep working plugging my way up there."

Rob Zimmerman

An alternate switchback line across the first creek crossing proved a good choice for Zimmerman and he passed a number of riders who were stuck or struggling with the obstacle. He was soon past Tinsley at an open field and was on the hunt for the lead. Zimmerman caught a glimpse of Krupinski and pushed even harder to catch up. The two battled hard, trading positions as they dealt with creek crossings and traffic. Zimmerman was able to finally break away when Krupinski tagged a lapper on a high speed pass. The impact sent Krupinski into a ditch with a dead engine and a stuck kick starter. After struggling with the kick start and re-firing his ride Krupinski could not manage a pass before they rolled in to the final check point and the checkered flag.

Ryan Smith

A slightly frustrated Krupinski thought he was running in third place after stalling at a log crossing and was passed by Ryan Smith who was running at a blistering pace. Krupinski said, "He (Smith) was just pounding through those whoops." Smith posted the fastest lap of the race at nineteen minutes and twenty nine seconds, but his Yamaha developed mechanical troubles and he pulled out after four laps. That was good news for Krupinski and also for Tinsley who rolled in about three minutes after the leaders for third place. Tinsley was happy with his race and said, "Everything was nice. You couldn't ask for a better track or better conditions today."

It was Zimmerman, Krupinski, and Tinsley making a Honda sweep of the Moose Run podium followed by Kenneth Staake on a Yamaha YFZ450 in fourth and fifth place finisher Ron Opper on a Polaris Outlaw. Forty eight riders slugged it out on a nine mile mix of peat whoops, timber, creeks, logs, and anything else Bill Gusse could find to throw at them. Only fifteen riders completed six laps of the race that is referred to as America's toughest race. It was a grueling course that provided a challenge for the racers and some great spectator viewing points along the way.

Todd Krupinski