AmPro Yamaha Race Report News Release
Race: OMA Round 2
Location: Ft. Smith, Arkansas
Riders: Paul Whibley 1st Place, Jordan Ashburn 3rd Place
Report:
After the massive storms that seemed to blanket the country had moved on, the riders awoke Sunday morning in Arkansas to clear skies and almost perfect racing conditions.
AmPro Yamaha's Paul Whibley got one of his best starts of the year, going into the corner strong in second place. Charging hard through the tight woods, Whibley quickly gained the lead with former teammate Jimmy Jarrett right behind him. As the woods opened up into the fields, large amounts of water remained stagnate from the devastating storms earlier in the week. Paul and Jimmy would swap positions several times, taking turns charging the large mud holes and trying not to get stuck. Ultimately, it was Whibley that would come out on top, taking the win and the points lead of the 2011 OMA Series.
"This was a great race," says Whibley. "It had a little bit of everything, tight woods, open fields, and it even had a big gravel road section which was like a full on flat track drag race. My Vortex ignition really made the difference on the start and going into the wood both Jimmy and myself had to constantly be on our toes, picking smart lines that wouldn't get us stuck. There was one puddle you literally hydroplaned and just kept it pinned. I'd really like to thank Scotty for getting my bike set up perfect for this race and all the guys on Team AmPro Yamaha for the support. I hope this race gives me the momentum needed going into the Loretta Lynn GNCC."
Obermeyer Yamaha's Jordan Ashburn mounted up his finely tuned 2011 Yamaha YZ450 and waited for the flag to drop. Suffering from a less than perfect start.... DEAD LAST! Ashburn would put his head down and charge into the woods with fire in his eyes. Now, those of you who know Jordan know that he is one of the best mud riders in the country. Add that to the fact that he was riding a YZ450F and you have a loaded weapon. Ashburn quickly made work of the guys in front of him, catching Paul and Jimmy who picked up the pace after noticing him on their tail.
"Man I had a bad start," says Ashburn. "I pushed as hard as I could going into the woods and started catching the guys in my class. It was really tight and the ground conditions where almost perfect in the trees but when we got to the field it was just crazy. Water as far as you could see and there was no telling how deep it was.... All you could do was pin it and hope for the best!!! By the time I caught Paul and Jimmy, I could tell they were both riding a pretty smart race and trying not to get stuck. I just latched on to them and the pace kept getting faster and faster. That's how we finished the race 1, 2, and 3. It was awesome! I would like to thank Keith at Obermyer Yamaha and Randy with AmPro Yamaha for all
the help and support. The new YZ450F worked amazing. I'd also like to thank my mom and dad who are always such a huge part of my program."
When it was all said and done, Whibley crossed the finish line first with Jarrett close behind him and Ashburn following suit. This was a great weekend for the AmPro Yamaha Race Team and we would like to thank all of our valuable sponsors who make it happen!
To see some great photos of the race please visit http://www.digitaloffroad.com/2011/04/18/oma-round-2-photo-report/
To see more race reports, rider bios, and the latest news in racing, check out the all new AmPro Website at www.AmProYamaha.com or become a fan at Facebook
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