PARTS UNLIMITED OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLE AND ATV NATIONALS
OFF ROAD
ROUND 1/APRIL 19, 2014
KIRKPATRICK FAMILY FACILITY/MEMPHIS, MISSOURI
P114
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
MARK KARIYA
J
udging strictly by its open-
ing round - the Moonshine
Cross-Country National
- this will be the most competi-
tive Parts Unlimited Off-road
Motorcycle and ATV (OMA) Na-
tionals in years. Former British
Trophy team rider Jason Thomas
and five-time OMA champ Paul
Whibley battled the entire way,
a late-race pass giving new dad
Whibley the win over his younger
rival, with visiting Steward Baylor
a strong third.
"We were nose-to-tail all day!"
Whibley said.
Things didn't start out so well
for Thomas who dropped his Dirt
Wise/Maxxis/Klim KTM 250 XC
in the first turn, while Whibley
squirted away to grab the $100
FMF Holeshot Award (augment-
ed by a $100 bonus courtesy of
the Kirkpatrick family, who pro-
vided the new venue) just ahead
of AirGroup/Radiant Racing
Husqvarna's Nick Fahringer.
"I got a good start, then I hit
neutral in the first corner and I
fell over," Thomas said. "Then I
got to the front pretty fast, which I
don't normally do."
Indeed, Thomas caught and
Paul Whibley battled Jason Thomas for opening-round win
LATE PASS WINS IT
FOR WHIBLEY
