Jarrett is Top of the Mountain at Waukon
Article and photos by John Gasso

The Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals Cycra Coyote XC in Waukon, Iowa began with series points leader Jimmy Jarrett ( FMF Suzuki / Moose Racing / Dunlop ) still kicking his bike on the line as Aaron Wegner ( Yamaha / O’Neal / Kenda ) took the holeshot and led the pack towards two hours of intense competition. Mr. Jarrett finally got his bike fired up and set out on a quest for the podium. Two hours and twenty-two minutes later Jimmy Jarrett completed his seventh lap of the rock strewn course just twenty-five seconds ahead of FMF Suzuki teammate Josh Strang (FMF Suzuki / Acerbis / Dunlop) to win the event and cement his fourth consecutive OMA Nationals championship. Jarrett said “It didn’t start out very good, but it got better and better. It was good.”

Jarrett was aboard his RMZ450 four stroke in order to prepare for the coming season. The 2008 campaign will likely be contested aboard the four stroke bike, so a bit of familiarization was in order. “The four stroke worked really well in spots and didn’t work so well in others,” said the champion racer from Ohio. “I got going and ended up falling again and a couple people that I passed got back by me. I just put my head down and kept charging and got to the front. I had one lap I had some trouble with some lappers,” recalled Jarrett. “I had to wait for a little bit. Josh was coming pretty hard and ended up catching me. We had a good race all the way to the end until the last lap. I made it up a hill and he got stuck a little bit and I was able to get away from him.” The friendly racing champion said, “the track was awesome. It was a typical OMA track. It was tight and hard and fun. It was a good day, racing with Brian and Josh all day.”

Australian racer Josh Strang was in the lead group throughout the event. He was also aboard a factory FMF Suzuki RMZ450. “I felt a little bit tight,” recalled the young FMF Suzuki racer. “My arms got tired pretty quick. I wasn’t used to the bike. It’s the first time I’ve ridden the RMZ450.” Strang helped provide some of the excitement for the spectators stationed around the course. The battles were close through all seven laps of the course that promoter Bill Gusse called Rock On North of Waukon. “I got in to fourth the first lap, (and) then I managed to get up behind Brian and Jimmy after Jimmy got by. I think I settled down a little bit. And, as Jimmy said, he got a bit stuck and I caught up.”

Strang finished lap seven after two hours, twenty two minutes, and thirty three seconds to make it FMF Suzuki one and two at his third OMA Nationals event. “The track today was as fast as you could go and as slow as you could go,” he said. “It was also pretty technical. I’ve only been to three races, but there’s nothing wrong with the tracks, that’s for sure.”

Third place in the battle went to Brian Garrahan (Yamaha / Moose Racing / Maxxis) aboard his Valli Construction, Fun Mart cycle center 2008 Yamaha YZ450. The enduro racer from California said the new bike is “superb compared to the 07 bike. It’s major improvements and it’s a really nice motorcycle.” Garrahan said, “I got out front. Lead for a couple laps and controlled the race. Jimmy went by. Jimmy and I had a little race; I had some good lines on Jimmy. I stayed with him for a while. Then Strang passed me when I did the gas stop,” recalled the second place points holder. “From then on out I just kind of rode as hard as I could trying to keep up with them and not get pulled too hard. I tried to real him in and I got up to him a little bit, but, I don’t know, he looked back and saw me and pulled away.” Garrahan completed the all four stroke mounted Cycra Coyote XC podium and collected valuable points to extend his second place cushion to thirty one over the trio of Aaron Wegner, Chris Bach, and Adam Bonneur.

Fenton, Illinois teenager and rookie pro Adam Bonneur (Yamaha / Moose Racing, Maxxis) had a good race and finished just off the podium in fourth place behind Garrahan. The young G2 backed racer stated “the grass tracks really helped to my advantage at the beginning of the race. I passed a few people before even going in to the woods. I was running top five, battling with Jimmy and Garrahan and Strang. Chris Bach was up there too for a while.” Bach (Cycle Shed KTM / Moose Racing / Maxxis) would only manage tenth place in the class, after dropping out with a very sick sounding motor on the fifth lap. Bonneur said “I had a really good day today. This was a whole new level of racing today. My two stroke ran really well today. I’ve got to thank Fun Mart, Yamaha, Moose Racing, Maxxis, Fastway, FMF, IMS, G2; all those guys really helped out.”

Aaron Wegner took his works enduro rider Yamaha YZ250 to fifth place finish after a prolonged battle with Bonneur. The Traverse City, Michigan racer also battled a painful foot and bent brake lever. “I smashed my foot and bent my brake lever,” he said. “My foot really hurts and the brake lever is bent. I couldn’t reach it from standing up.” Wegner is also in a battle with Bach and Bonneur for third place in the series. “I’ve wanted to get both Bach and Bonneur, but just getting one of them, I guess, is better than nothing,” said the Sidi, Dirt Tricks, Ironman Sprockets, Decal Works, One Industries backed racer. “Adam was riding really good, so I gotta credit him. I just couldn’t shake him.”

Kentucky racer Alan Westerfield (Fastway / Moose Racing), who holds the number four plate, came back to the series after some time off from racing and collected sixth place for his day’s efforts. “It’s good to be back. But it’s a long time. I’m out of shape so bad I was just fighting to stay on it til the end,” said the personable young man. Westerfield also noted he has picked up a ride for next year aboard a Storm Lake Honda with Tracy Bachman. “I was pretty well out gunned in the fields, that’s for sure,” he commented. “The stock 250F just doesn’t have a lot of speed compared to the other bikes. I think I had the slowest bike in the class. I’m happy to finish and be safe, man, that’s what it is.” Westerfield also jokingly proposed a solution for his lack of endurance, stating “it seemed like it lasted forever. I should have slipped Bill a little cash and had him call it early.”

Seventh place in the event went to Oklahoma rider Cooper Bailey while Tonica, Illinois native Shane Klimek finished eighth in the Pro class. Next in line at ninth place overall was 30-39 A class winner Matt Stavish. The Scandia, Minnesota racer “made a couple mistakes on the first lap, then kind of settled in.” He said “it took me a long time to get going. I caught a pro on the last lap. Other than that I just plugged away.” Stavish finished seven laps in two hours, thirty-eight minutes, and twelve seconds aboard a Thor, Checkpoint Offroad, LCR Yamaha YZF 450. The veteran racer had this to say about the level of racing at the OMA Nationals. “It was tough. This is a tough sport, I’ll tell you, man, it’s tough. I hand it to the guys that are up front really haulin.”

Ninth place pro racer Zach Sulzberger rounded out the top ten overall with seven laps of the rocks and hills in Waukon. Wisconsin 30-39 A class racer Chuck Garretson was the final racer to complete seven laps. He earned second in class and eleventh overall after two hours, forty four minutes, and forty seven seconds.

Eric Dobner picked up a win in the Lite A class with six laps in two hours, twenty six minutes, and thirty one seconds aboard a 2006 Yamaha YZ250F. Dobner, who gets support from Scott goggles, fox gear, and Gaerne boots, said “I am absolutely exhausted. It was long. It was hard. It was rutted. It was rocky.” Indiana Lite A racer Derek Spangler was thirty six seconds behind Dobner aboard a cycle shed KTM200. Spangler was also “worn out.” The youngster was suffering the effects of a head cold he contracted while at a youth outreach event with Tracy Bachman during the past week. “I got a good start, but got hung up first lap, recalled the young racer. “I caught that barbed wire coming through there. That scared me. I think my foot peg and my leg caught it,” he said, recalling a first lap incident with a barbed wire fence. “Other than that it was a pretty smooth day, I just lost all my energy midway through with this cold.” Spangler sends “big thanks to the Cycle Shed, KTM, Maxxis, Johnny Signs, Scott USA, IMS, ServiceMaster and my mom and dad.”

Suzuki rider Keith Zaagman picked up a win in the Open A class while Justin Bonita topped the Open B class aboard a Yamaha just fifteen seconds behind Zaagman. Barry Sulzberger was next with a win in the 40-49 A class aboard a Suzuki. David Stickel captured third in the 30-39 A class aboard his Gieson Motorsports Suzuki 450 after a serious get off in a grass track section. “I got grass in my duckbill visor from a third gear header to a big mound of dirt,” said Stickel. “And I only have four gears, so that was pretty fast. I ate the dirt hard.” Stickel thanks Moose Racing, DP Brakes, Smith goggles, and Jan Brackmeier for their help with his racing program. The Illinois racer commented “I’m glad I had my 450 though, cause it was a John Deere tractor out there. And some hills you needed it.”

Young racer Ryan Lenth finished eighth place in the Open A class aboard a Yamaha YZ250 sponsored by Fun Mart, Scott, and friends and family. “It was really rocky and tight. The second lap I got stuck for about a half hour. That kind of ruined my day. I was winning ‘til then,” he recalled. “I waited for Jarrett. When he came around to lap me he went in front of everybody, so I stayed behind him so I looked really cool for a little while.”

Father and son racers David Swanson Junior and Senior are regulars on the OMA / MXC circuit. Both were aboard Yamaha YZ 450’s with Junior capturing fifth in the Open A class and Senior collecting first place in 40-49 C class with a couple less laps than his son. According to David Sr. “he goes by and he waves.” David Swanson Jr. said the bike was “awesome. It was stalling on the first lap, but I think I was just getting used to it. There wasn’t very much traction out there, lots of ruts. It was a cool course though.” Meanwhile, David Swanson senior had this to say. “It was fantastic. I learned some things and had a great time. I had a blast. The grass track was fun.”

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 8 winners! Thank you for a great weekend of racing! Special thanks to PARTS UNLIMITED/MOOSE RACING - MAXXIS - and CYCRA!

More photos may be found at www.photobyjohn.com Available for purchase.

Moose Racing Helmet winner!