OMA Round 4: Whibley wins another wet one

(story & photos- Mark Kariya)

The Paul Whibley Express continued its roll across the American woods racing scene when the Team FMF/Suzuki Off-road competitor outsplashed everyone to win the Maxxis Coyote Cross-country National in Waukon, Iowa, round four of the Parts Unlimited Off-road Motorcycle and ATV Nationals. It marked his second straight series triumph and allowed him to stretch his lead over teammate Jimmy Jarrett, the four-time and defending series champion, 110 to 89. Jarrett once again played second fiddle to Whibley while Yamaha privateer Brian Garrahan made his second podium appearance of the series with his third-place finish.

Whibley got a good start on his RM-Z450, though he conceded the $200 Vemar Helmets Holeshot Award to YZ250-mounted Aaron Wegner. It didn’t take long, however, before Whibley was in front to stay.
Jarrett, in the meantime, followed Whibley around most everyone until he followed only Whibley. Unfortunately for Jarrett, this would not be his day, as he went down a few times on his RM-Z450 and could never get a solid run at his teammate.

For Garrahan, it was a day of give and take. After getting a good jump off the line on his YZ250F, he got bumped wide in the first turn by Jarrett and found it hard to keep up in the heavy mud of the wide-open grass track sections. “I couldn’t really hold her to the moon or it’d blow her up,” he said. Still, he was able to make up time in the woods, though promoter Bill Gusse had to shorten and ease up on course difficulty due to the torrential storms that had inundated the area with a reported nine and a half inches of rain over the previous 24 hours. Garrahan, ever the grinder, was the final rider to complete 10 laps, thus staying on the same lap as Whibley and Jarrett.

Enduro specialist Nick Fahringer claimed a best-to-date fourth on his Husaberg FE450e, citing the bike’s ability to shrug off deep water crossings as a key factor.

Also getting a best-to-date finish with his fifth was Storm Lake Honda.com’s Cooper Bailey. After getting one of his better starts only to have his CRF450R stall in the second turn, the teenager from Oklahoma battled his way back from last.

Despite the mud and another storm that drenched the area for the last half of the race, nearly everyone’s filthy faces beamed brightly as they pulled into the scoring station in a barn. “It’s funny when you have mud races like that, it seems like everyone’s more laid back,” Jarrett observed. “I don’t know what it is about it, but it turns into more a fun race and survival race than it is so serious. I think Paul and I both haven’t had such fun just going around swapping in the mud trying to roost each other.”

Whibley, of course, had the most fun—winners usually do. “I’ve had a pretty good run at some of these races, I guess,” he offered. “I’m more comfortable in this wet than the dust. I’m just going to keep putting together these good results and, hopefully, carry it through to the end of the season, but it’s a long way to go yet. I’m just kind of stoked the way things are going.”

The Top 10
1. Paul Whibley (Suzuki RM-Z450)
2. Jimmy Jarrett (Suzuki RM-Z450)
3. Brian Garrahan (Yamaha YZ250F)
4. Nick Fahringer (Husaberg FE450e)
5. Cooper Bailey (Honda CRF450R)
6. Aaron Wegner (Yamaha YZ250)
7. Zack Klamforth (Yamaha YZ250; 1st Open A)
8. Chuck Garetson (Suzuki RM250; 1st 30-39 A)
9. Keith Zaagman (Suzuki RM-Z250; 1st Lite A)
10. Dennis Stapleton (Yamaha YZ450F)