VOLUME 56 ISSUE 38 SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 P37
up in a massive downpour, as McDonald
cleared the check, just moments after
Whipple received the white flag. Lap num-
ber eight of this once nicely rutted and
tacky course turned in to a test of survival.
The ruts quickly filled with flowing water,
and it was so dark in the woods that vis-
ibility became an issue. Whipple, who just
ran three consecutive laps in the 15-min-
ute range could only manage 20 minutes
flat on his final lap to take the checkers.
Three minutes later, McDonald cleared
the check for second place, followed just
seven seconds later by Zuidema.
"My race was good," said Whipple. "I
got a good start—second place behind
Cole [Zuidema]. Matt [McDonald] was
behind me, and us three rode together
the first two or three laps. We just kind of
went back and forth. It was a good time.
I thought originally it was going to be a lot
more slick than it was. It tacked up really
good until it rained the last lap."
According to second-place rider Matt
McDonald, "The last lap was a little
rough, just because it rained on us. I got
off to a decent start and then I rode with
Tanner and Cole most of the day. Me and
Tanner kind of took off a bit, and then I
made a mistake right in front of the check
in front of everyone and went down. Then
I just rode a decent gap behind Tanner.
Zuidema caught me on the very last lap
and gave me a little scare in the mud,
but I was able to hold him off for second
place."
John Gasso
Overall
1. Tanner Whipple (KTM)
2. Matt McDonald (KTM)
3. Cole Zuidema (KTM)
4. Easton Morgan (KTM)
5. Tyler Fleck (KTM)
6. Bryan Johnson (Kaw)
7. Ben Ward (KTM)
8. Jamie Driskell (Yam)
9. Cody Vanderlaan (KTM)
10. Heath Drone (KTM)
(Above) Tanner
Whipple survived
the late-race rainfall
to win the latest
round of the OMA
Cross-Country
Series in Missouri.
(Right) Easton
Morgan finished
fourth overall.
PHOTO: JOHN GASSO
