OMA Nationals Tennessee Summer

With the middle of the season at hand, the Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals Series spent a couple weekends in Tennessee. Round five was held in Camden, and then it was off to Saulsbury for round six of the nine race 2013 series. Generally dry and dusty conditions met the racers at both venues, although the dirt in the woods at Saulsbury was actually in pretty decent condition. Spencer Dickerson and his Moose Racing DWT Honda broke through to the top of the OMA Nationals podium in Camden. He repeated with another win at Saulsbury. Meanwhile, defending series champion Jody Estes on his Moose Racing Powermadd

Honda found himself in third place at Camden after a few issues during the race. Over on the motorcycle side of the series, Nick Fahringer took home second place from both events with a couple of solid rides on his ARR Moose Racing Husaberg. While the heat-shortened race at Camden was generally uneventful for Dickerson, he did have to work for the win. “I tried to get off early and Phillip Wall got a good start and got out front,” Dickerson said. “He got hung between some trees and I was able to get around him pretty easy. I just kind of set a good pace and pushed hard.” Noting that promoter Bill Gusse shortened the race by fifteen minutes due to extreme heat, Dickerson added, “It did

get hot out there. I was about to burn up … but it turned out to be a pretty good day.” At the Camden race, Estes had a couple of incidents that kept him in third place for the day. “We had a good holeshot until about the third corner,” Estes said. “I got a rock between my caliper and brake hub and we had to wheelie it back to the truck and pop the wheel off. After working nearly the entire race to pick off most of the field of racers ahead of him, Estes had Dickerson in his sights. Then disaster struck. Following the direction of a spectator indicating an alternate line past a stalled rider, Estes launched himself and the machine off a hidden obstacle at the trail edge. “I was out for about a minute or so,” he

said. “I was able charge back up the last few laps and get up to third. I was happy with that.” Fahringer had a good time racing in Camden, and it was a good show for the spectators. “Russell (Bobbitt) grabbed the holeshot and just held on to the lead all day. We just kind of played cat-and-mouse,” he said. “I’d catch him in the tight stuff and when we’d get in the tight dusty stuff I’d have to back off. I think I kept him honest and he beat me. It was a good day.” Two weeks in Saulsbury for round six, it was still dusty, although not nearly as bad as the previous round. Dickerson topped the ATV podium again with a very strong ride. “I didn’t have a very good start,” he said. “I was about fifth or sixth going in to the

Taking another win at the Saulsbury, TN round of the Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals, Spencer Dickerson was charging hard with his Moose Racing DWT Honda.

Rocks caused trouble early in the Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals round five event in Camden, TN. Estes battled back to third place with his Moose Racing Maxima Oils IMS Honda.

woods. A few people made mistakes and I got around a few people.” After moving through the pack, Dickerson and Lee Valentine fell into a good pace. “On the second lap me and Jody were bumping bars there and something happened to his bike,” he said. With Estes sidelined, Dickerson said he “just tried to set a good pace and ended up getting the win again.” Capturing fourth place in Saulsbury, Valentine repeated his Camden performance aboard his Moose Racing Scott Goggles Honda. The racer from North Liberty, Iowa said, “Every week it seems like, wow, this is the best track. And Bill (Gusse) just keeps upping the game every week. I loved this one. I had a lot of fun.” This event saw Riley Brueggeman break in to the top five with his Moose Racing Yamaha YZ450, an old practice bike. “I had a good pace going, and I think if I could have kept it I would have done a little bit better,” he said “I had a few minor setbacks, but I managed to hang in there.” The 2013 Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals ATV season championship battle has definitely heated up following the fifth and sixth rounds, with

Dickerson rising to the top of the podium at both events while defending champion Estes now sits in third place. Dickerson is now the points leader and Valentine is in the fourth spot with his recent improved results. It looks like this point’s battle should stay tight right to the season finale Moose Run in November. The Parts Unlimited OMA Nationals series provides tough, technical trails for racers who enjoy a significant challenge in their race day. Gusse, the promoter, takes pride in creating trails that challenge some of the best

motorcycle and ATV riders in the world. Check out omanationals. com for more information and a schedule of coming events.

Lee Valentine has it hanging out on a fast sweeper at Camden, TN headed to a fourth place finish with his Moose Racing Honda.