Team: FMF Suzuki
Bike: RMZ 450
Rider: Paul Whibley
Result: 6th
 
It was one of those days when things don't go quite to plan.

Right from the start it took two kicks for my bike to fire which left me at the back of the pro field going into the woods.  I was riding a little tight in the rocky hard pack conditions and a couple of earlier passing attempts with dodgy outcomes only served to increase my arm pump.

I missed the pit board signal to "gas now" which led to a confusing first pit stop.  But I was soon back on the track, with my arm pump easing I was able to push on and begin to make some passes. On the fourth lap I moved up to 7th passing team mate Jimmy Jarrett.  More dramas occured when I came into the pits for the second fuel stop.  As I entered pit row I passed a lapped rider, he moved over to the tent side of pit row.  I came to the Suzuki tent and pulled in to receive gas. Unbeknown to me, the lapped rider must not have known I was coming in for fuel and clipped my rear wheel as I stopped for gas.   Mid fuel stop the guy lauches himself at us, blowing me off my bike and knocking the bike over.  I was a little pissed off and would have had words with the guy if it wasn't mid race, (although the Suzuki crew gave enough words on my behalf).  I got back into the race and caught back up to Nate Kanney on the second to last lap.  We got on a mission and passed each other several times on the last lap.  We pushed each other and both caught and passed Jason Raines.  Nate got the better of me when I got cross rutted on a hill climb trying to avoid a stuck lapped rider.  It was fun racing with Nate on the last lap and a good way to finish the race.  6th position was not what I was hoping for but I am still in 3rd place in the overall points.
 
1st- D. Knight
2nd- J. Strang
3rd- C. Mullins
4th- G. Kearney
5th- N. Kanney
6th- P. Whibley