Kyle Martin Tops the Parts Unlimited XC Podium

The Aupperle Racing Lonestar Honda of Illinois racer Shane Gaunt was close to Martin early in the race, but Gaunt left the race after completing only seven laps. “I felt really good early, then, I don’t know what happened” recalled Gaunt. “I was really hot, then I went from being hot to being cold. Then I started feeling weird and I got blurry. I had to stop. I was just feeling really wobbly. I had to come back up here. I finished off that lap and stopped at the ambulance.” Gaunt was checked out and released from the medical team, but his race was another disappointing dnf.

Bryan Hulsey had some battles throughout the race and finally put his Moose Racing Vee Rubber tires Honda on the podium. “Off the start I was around fifth, behind John (Pitts),” recalled the reigning OMA Nationals Champion. “We battled a little bit through the motocross. Then John missed a line and that’s where I got him on the first lap.” Hulsey was using his motocross experience to his advantage, as many of the other racers had serious misgivings about the motocross section. The jumps were big, and many harescrambles racers prefer to keep the wheels on the ground instead of flying through the air. After dispatching his Missouri riding buddy Pitts, Hulsey was on the move. He said “I caught Shane (Gaunt) and rode behind him for a little bit until he started dropping off. Then he let me have it.” With Gaunt out of the way Hulsey had his sights set on the Hess Motorsports IMS Honda of Shawn Hess. “I ended up catching Shawn Hess,” recalled Hulsey, “and got close enough to him that when he pitted for fuel is when I passed him.” Hess was unaware of the close proximity of Hulsey, and while the Texan stopped for a splash of fuel, the Moose Racing Dirtworks Motorsports Honda motored past.  Hulsey said “once I got by him, he hung with me for about a half a lap. Then I guess maybe once we hit the motocross I must have dusted him out.”