| November 6, 2017
2017 OMA Moose Run Results – Jason Thomas was the big winner at the 42nd running of the legendary Moose Run cross-country race in Fenton, Illinois, November 5. This year’s race was the penultimate round of the 2017 OMA Championship, and organizer Bill Gusse made sure that the race lived up to its reputation as being one of the toughest and most grueling off-road races in the Midwest. And no one was up to the challenge more than Thomas.
2017 OMA Moose Run Results
The Moose Racing/Maxxis-backed Husqvarna rider nailed the $200 FMF Holeshot Award and took control of the race, though he did have his hands full with Mike Witkowski for a bit before pulling away.
“I got a good start and pretty much led all day,” said Thomas. “We [he and Witkowski] went back and forth a couple of times; I just rode comfortable and had fun, and I was able to come away with the win, so it’s good.
“This [the Moose Run] was just one that never seemed to click for me, and today it clicked,” Thomas added. “It was fun riding. It was still difficult, and it was still a true woods extreme race. I’m happy to go away with a win, finally.”
Witkowski, on the Klim/Maxxis KTM, took second but more importantly, clinched the OMA Championship for 2017.
Eighteen-year-old Cody Barnes, on his Fly/Maxxis-backed Yamaha, was third overall.
Marc Heresco, on the SRT KTM, was fourth overall but first in the Pro 2 class, which cemented the class championship.
Fifth overall and second in Pro 2 was Beta-mounted Logan Lowrey.
Despite rain and drizzle leading up to the race, winner Thomas said that the course held up well. “The trail was primo,” he said. “It wasn’t slick. The slickest part was the stuff they rode yesterday. Everything else was just really good dirt. On the first lap, it didn’t seem like there were that many logs, but the second lap there were logs everywhere. It’s kind of strange like that. The mud holes weren’t too bad. I just kind of jumped them, banzaied over them and closed my eyes. They weren’t as bad as I’ve seen them, which is surprising a little bit.”
John Gasso
2017 OMA Moose Run Results
RESULTS
OVERALL
- Jason Thomas (Hus)
- Mike Witkowski (KTM)
- Cody Barnes (Yam)
- Mark Heresco (KTM)
- Logan Lowrey (Bet)