Garrahan Wins OMA Season Finale
Article and photos by John Gasso
 The final 2007 round of the Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals series was held at the Royal ATV trails riding area near Millerstown, Kentucky. The venue typically supports a series of ATV trails through a mixture of woods and grass track areas. Bill Gusse, along with the help of Charlie Deutscher and Alan Westerfield and others, laid out a course that was not at all like an ATV trail.  Miles of single track woods, gnarly hill climbs, and a long run through a creek greeted the motorcycle riders on their tour of nearly twelve miles of Gusse stuff. The course was challenging and exciting in typical OMA fashion. Valli Construction Yamaha rider Brian Garrahan came to the race with second place in the series locked up, but he also came to race. After two hours and thirty seven minutes the Maxima FMF Fun Mart Yamaha 450 ridden by Brian Garrahan completed the sixth lap to win the event. Kaileb Russell followed ninety seconds later aboard his Powersport Grafx Enduro Engineering Pirelli KTM 250 XCF. Third place was captured by a very determined Aaron Wegner aboard his Works Enduro Rider Fastway Yamaha YZ250. Wegner also collected enough points to wrap up third place in the series championship race.
 Wegner lead the pack past the first turn Maxxis banner, but Chris Bach had the point entering the first woods section. The Cycle Shed KTM rider from Crown Pointe, Indiana lead briefly, but a minor mistake by Bach allowed Garrahan to take the lead. “Bach made a mistake and I got out front,” said Garrahan. “From there on out I just, you know, put time on everyone and just rode my own race. Just tried not to make any mistakes.” The FMF Yamaha “White Ninja” performed perfectly for Garrahan and his experience proved to be an asset in this race. According to Garrahan “It was a really good course. A lot of potential bottleneck stuff and I just tried to, you know, go slow through that stuff and make it through consistent and just put in consistent laps. I just kind of kept a good eye on people behind me and rode consistent and smooth.” The California enduro racer put in another solid performance to collect his first win among five podium finishes during the ten race season. He smiled and said “Now I know how Jimmy feels, gets to ride out front, take it easy on himself.”
Kaileb Russell, son of GNCC promoter  Jeff Russell, made another appearance in the series and proved he has the skills to be successful as a woods racer. The youngster had some problems with the course and lappers, but he managed to put his Motorex Renthal Scott Goggles KTM through the finish line in second place with an elapsed time of two hours, thirty eight minutes, and thirty seven seconds. “It was really tough,” he said. “I had a really good start. I was first coming out of the third corner. Then I went through the little creek there and wadded it up.” After collecting himself and straightening his handlebars, Russell charged through the pack to battle for the lead. “I had a good pace goin’ and I was within fifteen seconds of Brian (Garrahan) with like three laps to go,” said the KTM Hard Parts racer. “Then I fell in the mud and I got my hands all muddy. My hands kept slippin’ off and Wegner and Chris caught me and passed me.” Russell’s racing spirit kicked in and he battled back to finish one minute and twenty eight seconds behind Garrahan. “I was givin’ up there for a minute after Wegner and Chris passed me,” he said. “Then I was, I don’t know, a burst of energy just hit me and I caught back up and passed them.”
 With third place in the series still to be decided, there was a race within the race between Aaron Wegner, Chris Bach, and Adam Bonneur. Wegner would emerge on top with his third place finish in this race. Bach finished fourth and Jordan Ashburn wedged himself in ahead of Bonneur. The finishing order created a six point margin for Wegner ahead of Bach and eight points over Bonneur. Wegner said “it went just the way I wanted it to. I kept it together pretty good and I did what I come here to do;  beat Chris and Adam. I just didn’t want to let Kaileb get between me and Chris ‘cause that would have give it to Chris. So I just charged, and Chris had a problem on that cliff coming out of the creek. I got him there and I just put my head down and kept goin’  and it worked out.” Wegner, from Traverse City, Michigan kept it all together and made his second trip to the OMA Nationals podium for the second time this season. The One Industries, Ironman Sprockets, Sidi backed racer wore a huge smile during his interview. Wegner’s Dirt Tricks IMS O’Neal Yamaha YZ250 passed through the timing station with a time of two hours, thirty nine minutes, and two seconds.
 Chris Bach struggled for the early part of his race, but he managed to take fourth place aboard his CSR Maxxis Torco sponsored KTM. “I’ve kind of adapted my riding style to, you know, a high speed kind of deal. We come here and it’s first gear tight. It was tough for me to, like, get used to the tight, the slow speed, and be able to push without making mistakes,” said the Moose Racing, Alpine Stars rider. “Me and Russell and then Wegner, we battled back and forth for the middle half of that race there. Kaileb would crash and we would get around him, then I’d make a mistake and they’d pass me. It was really fun.” Bach rolled his Scott, Spastic Designs KTM in one minute and seventeen seconds behind Wegner and one minute and four seconds ahead of Jordan Ashburn. The Powersport Grafx Performance Supercycles KTM 250XC of Ashburn was a part of the lead pack all day. He said “I loved the track today.” But the young rider also recalled he “got stuck on one hill almost every lap.” His efforts were good for fifth place.
Morrison, Illinois racer Adam Bonneur had some bad luck at the  event and found himself finishing in sixth place. Bonneur recalled “we were all kind of riding together then my front tire ended up dropping down a hole. It kind of put me over the bars. It took quite a bit of time from me. No real excuse, I suppose, but lost a lot of time and it was hard to make up time out there by yourself.” The Fun Mart Yamaha rider said “I’d like to thank Yamaha, and Moose, Maxxis, and Scott Goggles. All those guys really helped out this year, and my Mom and my Dad. I really appreciate everybody’s help.”
Local Kentucky pro racer Alan Westerfield picked up seventh place at the event although his initial report for Bill Gusse made things sound  a little different. “I don’t know. I got the holeshot and nobody ever passed me. I don’t know where these guys came from, “he said with his usual touch of comedic wit. “If you were honest you would have cut a few bushes so we didn’t bust these bikes all to pieces, man. This is Hollenkamps bike and I just destroyed it.” After switching in to reality mode, Westerfield had this to say. “It was a man’s man’s world out there. Very neat trail. It was for the men of the sport, that’s for sure, because it wore me out. This bike rode me around a little while. It wasn’t nothin’ real easy about it. My race was pretty good. If I’d have been a better rider I’d been doin’ a lot better. The bike is bone stock KLX 250 R. It belongs to Gateway Cycles. It’s a demo bike. You know, I tore a few things up, but it’s a great machine. It’s probably the best stock motorcycle I’ve ridden. You know, it’s heavy, it’s heavier, but the power kind of makes up for it. I had a good time. You know, I started to learn how to ride it along about the third lap. I got a great start and then fell over in some ruts and let everybody go. I just kept tryin’ to go. Gateway Cycles and Rick Hollenkamp, Moose Racing and Fastway; those guys have been great to me and I appreciate them.” Westerfield always comes up with a gem of a statement for his interviews. His observation today was regarding Brian Garrahan’s mastery of the course. Westerfield stated that Garrahan should be called “Uncle Brian, ‘cause he’s experienced; a total mud master. He showed us how it’s supposed to be done today.”
 Jake Fiddler, who just happens to be backed by title sponsor Johnny Signs, rode his Lite A class Monster Energy, Team Green Kawasaki to eighth place overall. Fiddler said “it was a good ride today. I think I ended up winnin’ my class.” Ninth place overall went to Chase Bishop, who also rides the Lite A class. The Monterey, Tennessee based MSR, Performance Supercycles KTM XCF250 of Bishop crossed the finish line one minute and ten seconds behind Fiddler. “I liked it,” said Bishop when asked about the course. “It was pretty tight and technical, and that’s what I like to do.” Bishop also credits Cycra and Gaerne Boots on his list of sponsors.
Tenth place in the event went to pro racer John Robbins aboard a Cycle Shed, Johnny Signs, Robbins Turbochargers backed KTM. The Scott Goggles, IMS racer said “I just had an awesome ride today on my 250 KTM XC. I started out good. Darcy (Gusse) told me I had two laps to go. In that two laps to go it kind of melted down for me. And then that happened at the end when I broke my rear brake pedal. I stopped and actually changed it. Jeff Russell gave me a rear brake pedal. Kaileb’s dad helped me change it, got it changed. I went back out and just made an awesome lap on the last lap, just to make a finish instead of a dnf. It was a good day. I feel good about the ride and everybody I rode with.”
The OMA Nationals Parts Unlimited 2007 series is completed and Jimmy Jarrett is the series champion for his fourth consecutive year. Brian Garrahan placed second overall, and Aaron Wegner finished third for the year. The racers and spectators enjoyed ten races that were challenging and exciting. The OMA Nationals team, along with co sanctioning series KORHS, presented another installment of their own brand of racing in Kentucky. By the way, if you get a chance, ask Bill Gusse about chainsaws and deer hunting. You might be surprised at some of the things he has to do to put on an event. This really is offroad racing in classic style. Have a wonderful winter. We look forward to seeing everyone again in the 2008 season.
Comments from the pack
Shane Klimek
Pro 9th --- 11th Overall
'02 YZ 250, 2 stroker.
Dirt Gear out of Ottawa, IL and my dad.
“It was a little rough off the beginning and took me a little while to warm up, but once I got warmed up I started doin alright. But the main group was kinda gone. They checked out a little bit on me, but other than that it was alright. I finished the year. I’m in one piece, so I know I had fun. Maybe I moved up to sixth. I’m gonna go find out. It’s been fun. We finished the year. We’ll be back next year.”
Keith Zaagman
Open A 1st --- 14th Overall
Zaagman Trucking, Moose Racing, Smith, G2
“I had a terrible start. I was probably mid-pack. Me and Chuck (Garetson) kind of got together in, like, the third turn. I don’t know, I just kind of worked my way through. I had a good race. I felt good, rode good, rode smooth, and just kind of kept working my way through everybody. They tell me I got first, which is good. The way it is now, if I got first and JD (Friebel) got third, I’ll have won the points for this year. I’m really crossing my fingers right now.”
Ryan Lenth
Open A 2nd --- 15th Overall
Geneseo, Illinois
FunMart YZ250, sponsors - my family and my friends.
“I had a really bad first two laps. I couldn’t stay smooth. I just got stuck on a hill for, like, three, four minutes. Once I got back in it I started picking people off all day.”
Chuck Garetson
30-39A 1st --- 16th Overall
Honda
Evansville, Wisconsin
Moose, Factory Connection, Maxima oil, Clarke
“I had a good day. A real good day. I just kind of sat there and just rode. Waited for the white flag to come out, then it was time to race. We gassed it. I had a good pit crew today. I had three people helping me. I hooked up with Ryan Lenth on the last lap, and that helped a lot. The kid goes good. It was a real good day. Honda worked awesome. I’m riding a CR250 two stroke. It works really good.”
JD Friebel
Open A 4th --- 20th Overall
Pulaski, Wisconsin
KTM
Moose, Duval, GPR, Team 2, Countrysports. Kenda Tires / Braking
“I’ve had better days. I had not too good of start, I guess. I fell down in the first corner and was last. Then I got back up pretty good, so I kind of took a little quicker line right at the first going in to the woods and got by some guys. Everyone that was in front of me got stuck at that first big hill climb. I took two runs at that, so I was pretty far behind. Then I started picking people off. I caught Chuck (Garetson) and I was mid pack, I think sixth or so. Then I got stuck on the hill by the motocross track. After that I got back through the little waterfall section and I got a fence wrapped up in my spokes, both sides. It took me about five minutes to get that out, so, it pretty much ended my day right there. I usually ride a Suzuki, but I brought the old KTM out this weekend. Just for the tighter course I figured I’d have a littler bike.”
Matt Crouch
Pro 11th --- 23rd Overall
Pittsburgh, Texas
Yamaha, Maxxis, Central Yamaha, Johnny signs.
“It started out good and like always, it goes bad. Didn’t end up very good. I had a few things go wrong. The second lap, my sole of my boot on my right foot, the brake foot, fell off. It was just sittin there floppin. So, when I came in to pit for the third lap, I couldn’t ride because the deal was getting in the way of the brake. I came in and they cut the sole off. The I kept going and tried to catch up and wrecked a couple times. Two or three laps later I lost the sole on my other boot, so I lost both soles.”
Bryan Johnson
30-39A 3rd --- 27th Overall
Kawasaki 450
Prophetstown, Illinois
Gieson Motorsorts, Moose Racing,
“I did alright. The bike started again. I’m happy about that. I was just out there playin around today. All I had to do is show up. They say I got third, so I’m happy with showin up and getting third. And I didn’t break too much, just another visor on my helmet.”
Tracy Bachman
Pro 12th place --- 34th Overall
Honda CR250
“I had a good time out there. The track was fun. You know, I didn’t mind anything except the slippery rocks. I loved climbing the hills. I loved everything about it. I’m not much for those icy rocks. I’ve got all winter to evaluate now. I’ve got bikes, I’ve got all the sponsors, I’ve got enough sponsors for three riders.”
Brad Jaggers
Open B 6th --- 45th Overall
06 KTM 450XC
Rex’s Cycle Shop, Southern Kentucky Motorsports, Acerbis plastic,
Mumfordville, KY
“About twenty minutes away from here.”
“It was alright, I guess. It was a pretty tough track; tight. It was a lot of fun. I didn’t do real good, but I didn’t do terrible. I done about mid-pack, I guess.”
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!
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