Zimmerman wins Johnny Signs Indian Bluff XC
Article and photos by John Gasso

The 2007 OMA Nationals ATV Series closed with three time series champion Rob Zimmerman (Honda / Moose Racing / Maxxis) on top of the Johnny Signs podium. Andy Lagzdins (Honda / Moose Racing / ITP) finished behind Zimmerman in the race, but collected enough points to capture his first Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals series championship. Medora, Indiana pro racer Josh Beavers rounded out the podium aboard a Suzuki 450.

Saturday’s racing began with a small group of UTV racers doing battle. Rocky Ridge Racing, Embry Enterprises sponsored UTV pilot Ken Cornwell emerged as the victor. Cornwell put his Midstate Autobody ride in front after a battle with Dwight Emert. “I kinda hit a tree and Dwight Emert got by me and got away from me,” said Cornwell. I caught him and we was goin’ down the woods. He hit a tree and I hit him in the back and we kind of bottlenecked up there for a minute. We come out into the field side and it was a drag race. I won the drag race.”

The ATV’s lined up next for the start of their event. Rob Zimmerman finally put together a race without problems. However, the start was not his best. “The quad started fine,” recalled Zimmerman. “I was off in lala land. I started it and I just sat there, like, oh yah, I need to go.” The Honda pro rider quickly got with the program and began heading for the lead. “I got up to Lindle,” said Zimmerman. “I passed him in an open field section and I just braked a lot later than he did. That put me in third.” A rock hill after the long creek crossing gave Zimmerman his opportunity to pass second place and set his sights on Lagzdins. He said “the guy in second, I see he was sittin’ on the ground. I went up, got right by him, and started slowly catching up to Andy.” An open field section is where Zimmerman took over the lead from Lagzdins. “I was on the gas, I just kept on the gas, got past him, and then just kept chuggin’ away,” he said.

Baltimore, Maryland racer Andy Lagzdins ran his Duncan Dirt First Honda through the scoring checkpoint just fifty-two seconds behind Zimmerman to capture second place. Lagzdins said “I got the holeshot and was leading, just kind of taking it easy. I wanted to make sure I got a good finish in and wrapped up the championship.” After Zimmerman took over first place, Lagzdins “was content with stayin’ behind him and just checkin’ out his lines.” A lapped rider created a short delay on a big hill climb for Lagzdins. “I was sittin’ there for, like, a minute,” he said. “That put me back a ways. I never could reel him in for the finish, but I’m happy with second place and first place in the championship.”

Josh Beavers finished his ninth lap behind Lagzdins to earn the final spot on the podium. The gap was just forty-one seconds. “It was fast, open. I like open stuff,” said the pro racer who is looking for sponsors. Beavers was happy with the performance of his Suzuki, saying “that thing really run good in the open stuff. It’s got a pretty hot motor on it.” Unfortunately, he also discovered some hidden damage to the machine after the race was completed. Numerous rocky areas had taken their toll on the equipment. “My skid plate’s gone,” he said. “I didn’t even know it until after it was over. I started with one. It’s not there now.”

Bill Gusse and his crew of helpers created another classic OMA Nationals event near Millerstown, Kentucky that was enjoyed by spectators and racers alike. Rob Zimmerman won the battle, but Andy Lagzdins won the war in capturing his first OMA Nationals ATV Series championship. Another exciting event has been completed and the season has come to an end. The races were not easy, but that should be expected. The Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals series is contested on courses that are intended to challenge the pro racers and provide an exciting woods racing experience for all. This is offroad racing.

Johnny Signs Indian Bluff XC Top Five
1. Rob Zimmerman -Honda
2. Andy Lagzdins -Honda
3. Josh Beavers -Suzuki
4. Todd Demaree -Honda
5. Chris Moore -Honda

Words from the pack...

Todd Demaree
4th Place Pro ATV
Versailles, IN
Honda 450
DP Brakes, ITP Tires, Clarke Tanks, 317 Graphics, Flexxbars
“It didn’t turn out the way I wanted. A lot of stupid lines, stupid mistakes. You make a little mistake with those guys and you’re in the back. That’s where I ended up. Part of the game, though.”

Chris Moore
5th Place Pro ATV
Glasgow, KY
Honda 450
“I thought it was a real good track, except for the creek.
I am looking for sponsors. I finished fifth in pro class, fifth overall.”

Mike Husband
1st Place A ATV --- 6th Place Overall
Honda 450R
Shelbyville, KY
“It was great. I really loved it (the track). The water was a lot, but you can’t have it all.”

Josh Mahan
1st place B ATV --- 8th Place Overall
Honda 450R
Hebron, KY
“It went pretty good. I lost my back brakes on the first lap. It was a pretty open track so I managed to deal with it.”

Matt Lindle
6th Place Pro
Honda 450R
“The first lap I got rolled down a hill backwards and went all the way back to last or second to last, somewhere around in there. I got back goin’ and got soaked in the one creek by some guys runnin’ through there tryin’ to get around some guys. I pulled in to get some gloves and realized I had a flat right rear. Thank Andy Lagzdins for the clutch cable I tend to ruin on the practice lap. He ended up getting me a clutch cable. I just stripped the end off of mine during the practice lap. So, thankful for that. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had a very good race at all. It was not fun trying to finish that last half a lap (of practice) with it.”

Wes Shelton
4th Place B ATV
07 Honda 450
Glasgow, KY
“It was a good track. Man, I loved it. It was perfect. The creek was a little cold, a little deep.”

Ben Walden
1st Place C ATV
Kawasaki KFX450R
Tompkinsville, KY
“It was pretty good. I liked the track, all except for the creek. Other than that it was alright. It worked pretty good. I like the bike. It’s a nice setup. I think I had it pretty good.”

Aaron Venters
3rd Place Plus 30
Polaris Outlaw 525
Morrison, IL
Moose Racing gear, Maxxis tires
“It’s wicked fast. I had a lot of fun. Waitin’ in line for the hill was interesting. If you could limit the amount of time you were waitin’ for the hill and a line cleared out, that was the key, I think. There wasn’t really anything else that you could get stuck in. Overall it was a fun course. Wide open fast places and challenging spots. The weather turned out great. It wasn’t too cold splashin’ through the water.”

Kenny Shepard
4th Place Plus 30
Honda 400EX
Maxxis, No Fear gear
Local racer
“It was awesome. High speed fast.”

Adam Johnson
3rd Place B ATV
Honda 450R
Mt.Washington, KY
“It was rough and slick. That hill; I got hung on the hill three or four times. It was a good one.”

Chad McKinney
Utility 4th Place
600 Sportsman
Paris, TN “Hard to make it up the big hill with this bein’ so heavy. Just doin’ it for fun. No sponsors. Yeah, it was a lot of fun.”

More photos may be found at www.photobyjohn.com

For more on this weekend see Dirt Bike Magazine-Cycle News-ATV Riders.com- Dust Magazine-Trail Rider Magazine-Parts Magazine!

Congratulations to all Rd 10 winners! Thank you for a great weekend of racing! Special thanks to PARTS UNLIMITED/MOOSE RACING - MAXXIS - and JOHNNY SIGNS!