RUSSELL TAKES OMA GROUCH XC WIN
T
he Brueggeman family farm
in rural Plainview, Illinois was
the location of round five of the
Off Road Motorcycle and ATV
(OMA) Nationals, the Grouch
XC. With high temperatures and
high humidity, the heat index
was well over 100 degrees,
making the split format with two
45-minute motos a somewhat
welcome relief for many of the
competitors. With a 45-minute
break between runs, there was
sufficient time to cool down and
re-hydrate, allowing the racers
to push hard and then recover
between heats. They would
need the recovery period, as Bill
Gusse laid out a trail through the
hills and woods that was said
by many racers to be one of the
tightest and most technical trails
they have ridden in a long time.
A first-moto win along with
second place in moto two
placed Ricky Russell and his
MCS Obermeyer Suzuki square-
ly on top of the Pro podium.
RPM KTM Maxxis rider Mike
Witkowski returned to action
after missing round four with
an injury, and placed second
overall with his 2-3 finish, fol-
lowed by moto-two winner and
series points leader Steward
Baylor (KTM/O'Neal/Kenda),
who placed third overall after
carding fifth in the first moto.
Meanwhile, Cody Barnes kept
his season sweep alive, winning
both motos in the Pro 2 class.
Barnes also took eighth place
overall, courtesy of his 7-9 moto
results. Second place in the Pro
2 class (and 10th overall) was
earned by Jeremy Smith with a
3-3 performance, edging out
the 5-2 performance of Drake
Lineback, who took third place
in class.
Russell said, "I got off to a
IN
THE
WIND
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