Lunde Leads the Way at Waukon OMA

Since Rob Zimmerman clinched the Pro-class championship at round seven, he decided to take a break and skip the Motion Pro Coyote Cross-Country, round eight of the Parts Unlimited Off-road Motorcycle and ATV Nationals in Waukon, Iowa.

That suited Patrick Lunde just fine, as he made the race his own to best Curt DeMay and Ryan Smith for top-of-the-podium honors, only his second win of the season. It was, however, no runaway.

"I think three of the five Pro riders had the lead at one point those first two laps—back and forth, back and forth," Lunde said. "Then I just had an opportunity and got by Curt in the grass section. From there I just tried to ride easy and just take it easy the rest of the day."

DeMay confirmed that the first laps were a battle: "I got the holeshot and led the first lap, then got passed. Then I got in the lead again and got passed, then I just followed Patrick the [rest of the] race."

Recounting Lunde's final pass, DeMay admitted, "I had problems turning [in the grass track section]; that's where Patrick got by me. My [Gieson Motorsports/Moose/Mom & Dad YFZ450 doesn't] have very much bottom end so he just motored right by me on the hill. That's all it took."

Lunde admitted to a little change in strategy as well: "Just staying up with everybody early, trying not to be stupid, not trying to ride too fast out of the gate, trying to be consistent." He added that parts of his PEK Performance/Pro Source Motorsports/Mom-backed YFZ450 are showing wear as the season winds down. "Engine-wise, the thing's running awesome, but [there are] some front-end/steering/$3000 components that are starting to get old."

Kevin Tinsley ran in third for a while, but he couldn't hold off Ryan Smith's yellow Yamaha. "Tinsley was pulling on me, and I was giving it everything I could to get in front of him," Smith said. "Finally I got around him and tried to stay behind Curt, but Curt pulled away so I just tried to ride safe and not break anything." It marked his best series finish to date.

Waukon Pro Results

1. Patrick Lunde, Yamaha YFZ450
2. Curt DeMay, Yamaha YFZ450
3. Ryan Smith, Yamaha YFZ450
4. Kevin Tinsley, Honda TRX450R
5. Kevin Bejegerdes, Honda TRX450R