Things looked bleak for Paul Whibley after two rounds of the Parts Unlimited Off-road Motorcycle and ATV Nationals. Bad luck plagued him, resulting in subpar results and causing others to question his move to the Am-Pro/FMF Yamaha WR450F, his third team (and bike) in three years.

But he kept a positive attitude and kept working--hard--to adapt his hard-charging style to the blue bike and vice-versa.

His luck began to change for the better at round three, where he finished second behind teammate Thad Duvall, and he followed that up by winning round four.

The two-time and defending OMA champion backed that up by winning round five as well, moving to a solid second in series points behind the ultra-consistent Scott Watkins, his former teammate, who was second on the day at the DP Brakes Wolverine Cross-Country National.

“Hopefully, all that bad luck is gone now and we can move forward for the season,” Whibley said.

After a multi-kick start left both him and Watkins sitting on the line while Husaberg’s Nick Fahringer collected the $200 K&N Filters Holeshot Award--the first holeshot of his life, the enduro rider recalled--they went to work picking their way through the field, along with Duvall who fell in the first turn.

Though Fahringer led for just over a lap around the somewhat dry, but always challenging course at the Twisted Trails Offroad Park outside of Mesick, Michgan--a race co-hosted by the Twin Bay Trail Riders--he quickly realized he wouldn’t be able to maintain that pace. After all, it was his first race in three weeks, the layoff meant to let the broken toe suffered at round four heal more (he fabbed a carbon-fiber guard over the front part of his right boot for more protection).

So, he let first Duvall go by and later Whibley and Watkins. Duvall would spend only a lap in front as well, with a clutch problem putting him in the pits for a lap and he eventually would finish a lap down, ninth in class.

Whibley took the point from that moment, quickly put a gap on Watkins and maintained it to the end.

“After picking my way through the field, I got out front and rode my own race; it was good,” Whibley declared.

After ceding ground to Whibley, Watkins matched the pace, hoping for a mistake that would never come. Instead, it was Watkins who bobbled, stalling his bike and losing  valuable time trying to restart it. He would settle for second--his fifth straight podium finish, which kept him in the series points lead, barely, with Whibley now in second by a scant three points, 117-114.

Fahringer settled into a pace that ensured him a comfortable third-place finish, his best result to date and yet another step up the ladder.

Former series regular Aaron Wegner sticks close to home nowadays, so this race was the perfect opportunity to demonstrate he’s still very competitive in this field. Opting for the Open A class, he rode fast enough to land in fourth overall, followed by Pros Adam Bonneur, Jordan Ashburn, Shane Klimek, Open A runner-up Zach Klamfoth, 30-39 A winner Steve Leivan and Pro Cooper Bailey.

Results
1. Paul Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F)
2. Scott Watkins (Kawasaki KX450F)
3. Nick Fahringer (Husaberg FX 450)
4. Aaron Wegner (Yamaha YZ250)
5. Adam Bonneur (Kawasaki KX450F)
6. Jordan Ashburn (Kawasaki KX450F)
7. Shane Klimek (Suzuki RM250)
8. Zach Klamfoth (Yamaha YZ250)
9. Steve Leivan (Yamaha WR250F)
10. Cooper Bailey (Kawasaki KX450F)