Mark Kariya | May 27, 2009
Round three of the Parts Unlimited Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV Nationals brought new challenges in the form of heat and humidity as the series visited Rio Grande, Ohio, May 24.
What didn’t change, however, was the winner – Paul Whibley. The JG Offroad/GEICO Powersports/Monster Energy Kawasaki racer ran his OMA record to a perfect three-for-three, as he outpaced the field yet again. Runner-up for the third time in a row was his teammate, four-time series Champion Jimmy Jarrett, while rising GNCC star Thad Duvall claimed third in his OMA debut aboard his Am-Pro Yamaha.
Whibley trailed Jarrett into the first turn, but that was the only time he didn’t lead, ducking underneath through the corner and stealing the $100 Bike Barn Holeshot Award. After that, he simply kept a firm grasp on first, keeping a wary eye on Jarrett and responding whenever his fellow KX450F-mounted racer started to get close. He would win the DP Brakes Coal Miner Cross-country National – co-sanctioned by Craig Lucas’ Extreme Dirt Series – by almost a minute over Jarrett.
“It’d be nice to get a comfortable [points] lead for the second half of the season and not have to stress too much,” Whibley said. “But it’s still a long way to go and Jimmy’s riding great.”
Duvall ended up 16 seconds shy of Jarrett at the checkered flag. Behind him, Andrews Yamaha/Monster Energy’s Jason Thomas managed to barely hold off Whibley and Jarrett’s teammate, Scott Watkins, for fourth by three seconds after a race-long battle.
Yamaha-mounted privateer Adam Bonneur came out sixth, six seconds ahead of Gofasters.com Gas Gas racer Justin Williamson, with Yamaha rider Jeff Melik, Husaberg’s Nick Fahringer, and South African, Kawasaki pilot Kenneth Gilbert rounding out the top 10.
Mark Kariya | Contributor
Kariya spends way too much time in the desert, but we’re glad he does as he’s the man who gets us our coverage of all things sandy.
