The Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals series visited Byrd Adventure Center near Ozark, Arkansas for round eight of their ten race 2008 series. The factory FMF Suzuki presence was felt again with Paul Whibley taking the win after a day long battle with Suzuki/Moose Racing/Dunlop teammate Jimmy Jarrett.
“I didn’t really want to go too fast in those rocks,” stated Whibley. “I didn’t want to crash and hurt myself. Then Jimmy come up behind me and we started going faster and faster. I’m not a big fan of rocks, but the course actually came better as the day went on. It was pretty cool.”
Cole Kirkpatrick took the Vemar holeshot award on his Cycle Shack KTM and led much of the first lap, but he could not hold off the Suzuki charge. The racer from Lubbock, Texas finished his day just off the podium in fourth place with six laps in two hours, thirty minutes, and forty eight seconds. Meanwhile, Brian Garrahan put in his usual strong finish to take third place aboard the Valli Motorsports Yamaha, and Matt Crouch rounded out the top five, running the Fastway Rekluse Yamaha through the Motion Pro scoring tent one minute behind Garrahan.
OMA JohnnySigns Ozark XC Overall Top 10:
1. Paul Whibley (Suz); 2. Jimmy Jarrett (Suz); 3. Brian Garrahan (Yam); 4. Cole Kirkpatrick (KTM); 5. Matt Crouch (Yam); 6. Trey Verardo (Yam); 7. Nathan Alering (Yam); 8. Chris Nelson (Hon); 9. Marty Michels (Yam); 10. Bryan Vaughan (Kaw).
