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Race Report: OMA Round 1 Medora, Indiana
Rider: Paul Whibley
Team: AmPro Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha WR 450
Result: DNF
Round One of the OMAs did not go to plan.
I got a good start and was just pipped for the holeshot by Jordan Ashburn. He set a good pace and had some creative lines early in the the lap. I managed to make a pass down in a ravine before we climbed up one of the numerous steep hills.
I led the first couple of laps of the shorter than normal track. I was soon joined at the front with Thad Duvall and Jimmy Jarrett swapping positions as lines developed around the virgin course.
Mid race Thad and I had a built a gap although I later learned Jimmy had dropped out with a damaged radiator. I soon had my own problems, bending my gear lever beyond use in a deep rut.
The bike was jammed in 2nd gear which was good for the woods but the open sections on the various old logging roads had the WR valve bouncing quickly.
I was holding down second place and at the fuel stop an assessment was made to try remove and replace. Katherine had rounded up a team of help to try to fix the problem. I guess the shifter was pushed back into the footpeg and was difficult to remove so after a quick gas up I decided to carry on as is.
As I left the pits I realized that the bike had been dropped to first gear while they were trying to remove the gearlever and that wasnt going to work. So I looped back to the pits and with some prying the damaged part was tossed and a new one fitted.
I was now back to 4th or 5th but gaining time again. But it just wasnt my day as I soon bent the gear lever again. I think in the haste to replace it, I put it on a position too low.
I was back to being jammed in one gear, luck would have it, if I had any, would see the bike stuck in 2nd again. I even managed to move up to 3rd place and was closing in on Scotty Watkins in 2nd but was running out of laps.
On the last lap, for some reason the WR decided it would prefer to be ridden in 5th gear although the clutch didnt think that was the best deal and was completely smoked by the last hill.
I got half was up and that was it. Done. Less than a mile from the finish line.
Thanks to Ryan, Chad, and everyone else who helped out in the pits.
1st: Thad Duvall
2nd: Scotty Watkins
3rd: Jordan Ashburn
Paul Whibley is supported by: AmPro Yamaha, Monster Energy, Shoei, Sidi, Smith, Ohlins, G2, CTi, Moto SR, Vortex Ignitions.
The AmPro Yamaha Team is supported by: FMF Kenda Yamalube Asterisk Cannondale CV4 Cycle Gear E-Batt EBC Brakes Factory Connection Fastway Gaerne Boots GYTR IMS Jonny Signs Leatt Brace Matrix Racing Products Motion Pro MSR Pro-Clean Rekluse Scott Shoei Slavens TM Designworks Twin Air Wiseco ZipTy Racing
