The new Parts Unlimited Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV Nationals (OMA) held its first race yesterday in Decatur, Arkansas, and KTM’s Shane Watts came away with the win. Watts began the two-hour race with a third-place start but quickly moved into the lead position by the fourth corner. Despite being heavily pressured by Team Kawasaki’s Cole Calkins for the final hour of the race, Watts never relinquished the lead and crossed the finish line with an eight-second margin over Calkins.
“It’s great to have things finally start to turn around for me,” Watts said. “I’m still not a 100 percent yet, but this win definitely gives me some good confidence and momentum going into the next round of the GNCC.”
Watts has been hampered by small injuries in the past two months, most recently a torn medial cruiciate ligament in his right knee, which he sustained in a KTM photo shoot three weeks ago.
Finishing third in the PJ1 Wildcat 100 went to Yamaha-mounted Jimmy Jarrett. The first three riders finished with four seconds of each other.
National Off-Road Motorcycle Championship
Decatur, Arkansas
Results: March 14, 2004
O/A: 1. Shane Watts (KTM)
2. Cole Calkins (KAW)
3. Jimmy Jarrett (YAM)
4. Tony Joiner (YAM)
5. Nathan Kanney (YAM)
6. Kerry Green (HUS)
7. Justin Williamson (YAM)
8. Steve Levain (YAM)
9. Matthew Fish (KTM)
