Byers, CO – From the weather to the riding pace, the Motorcycle Roadracing Association’s round four at High Plains Raceway was nothing short of scorching. July ninth and tenth brought the organization back to HPR, this time for competition on the circuit’s north course.Changing the flow of a track into a different, distinct course always presents a unique set of challenges for the everyone which, in turn, tends to make the competition just a little bit more fierce.
During Race of the Rockies qualifying on Sunday morning, Ryan Burke set the pace for the rest of the crowd with a new track record for north course of 1:12.889. The start of premier class race found Burke in an unusual position – third to Ricky Orlando and Oleg Pianykh. After a few laps Burke found his pace, overtook Pianykh and Orlando, opened a ten second gap and took the win. Pianykh eventually found an opportunity around Orlando to finish second behind Burke with Orlando third.
In Race of the Rockies GTU perennial favorite, Shannon Moham got an incredible launch to take an early and decisive lead that would eventually earn him the top podium spot. Second to him was distinguished lady racer Wyeth Jackson who scored a best lap time of 1:16.945 which is parallel with both the time Moham was turning and several GTO riders as well. Despite the challenging competition previously seen between Jackson and Ken Yee, it was Bryan Dobrowolski who took home the final podium spot, his second, third this year.
Ryan Burke is sponsored by Vickery Motorsports, Imperial SportBikes, Dunlop, Boulder Motorsports, Performance Friction Brake Pads, Motul Oil, Mark Schellinger from YCRS, Geoff Cesmat, and all of his family.
Ricky Orlando is sponsored by Rocky Mountain Kawasaki, Dunlop, Hindle, EBC, Arai, Bel-Ray, Kyle Racing, and Chris Koster. Shannon Moham is sponsored by Nordic Nursing, Dunlop, Race Tech, Woodcraft CFM, K&N performance, Vortex, GPR, Lockhart-Phillips, World Wide bearings, Vickery Motorsports, Rex Coultard, Renegade fuels, Pit Bull stands, Imperial Sportbikes, Denver, Dakota & Segren, Falicon cranks, Galfer brakes, and Brandon. Wyeth Jackson would like to thank Wyeth Homes Real Estate, G-Force Powersports, Pirelli & Sol Performance, Kawasaki, Bell Helmets, TXC Boots, CT Racing, Un!nk Printworks, Racers Edge Performance, Attack Performance, Rising Sun Cycles, NinjaTech Motorsports, SpeedMob, ChickenHawk Racing, Woodcraft, and Vortex.
Byers, CO – Mind over matter is an important concept in any race-day program. It is necessary to overcome sore bodies, unintentional hangovers, and all of the unfortunate race-weekend mechanical issues that can, and do, arise. However, the Motorcycle Road-racing Associations round four this past weekend gave rise to a few exceptional cases of racers putting mind over matter to accomplish great results.
Arriving at High Plains Raceway on the morning of Friday July 8th, first year novice and noted front runner Jason Martinez was optimistic for the weekend despite the fact that he had sustained a broken right leg only three weeks earlier at round three. Seeing as HPR is a primarily right handed track, the weekend was nothing short of painfully challenging for Martinez. Not a fractured tibia coming into the weekend, cracked radiator and subsequent overheating of his R6 on Saturday, or even a blown motor on Sunday was cause for a single missed beat from riding his hardest throughout the weekend. Martinez persevered to earn second place in the organization’s Novice GTU race and thirds in both Amateur GTU and Amateur GTO.
John Borst, an expert fast rider in the MRA, attended an independent track day at HPR on June 27th during which he endured a spectacular high side in turn four of the circuit to earn himself a five-way break in his right collarbone. There are many riders who would take a race weekend after having surgery just over a week earlier, off. Borst is not one of those riders. In his own words, “I figured I should go out and turn a couple laps to maintain my points standings. My goal for this year is to become the number five plate holder so even though I couldn’t push it this round, I needed to go out and at least try.” He came out and rode the premiere event, Race of the Rockies and, although he was unable to complete all 14 laps in the GTO division of the race due to obvious physical limitations, he did manage a best lap time of 1:19.884 which places him within the top 15 riders by time, for the weekend.
Shannon Moham is a marathon-man expert rider who consistently achieves more podium finishes in a single season than many of us would hope to earn in an entire racing career. Each round this season, he has entered into no less than nine races. With that level of commitment to road-racing in mind, it should come as no surprise that he is willing to place his mind over matter with a wide range of circumstances and obstacles. This weekend, that range grew to include third degree facial burns. That’s right, third degree facial burns. While investigation why a bike temperature of 255 degrees was not resulting in overflow into the radiator reservoir, the radiator cap blew off, spewing boiling fluid onto Moham’s neck and face. In this world of road racing where riders are a particular brand of what others might call crazy, Moham was revered and applauded for not only racing despite his intense injury, but for scoring six first place finishes one of which was in Race of the Rockies GTU. He also took home three additional second place trophies throughout the weekend. When asked during the post-race interviews for ROR GTU what pushed him to such a point of mind over matter he responded simply, “my little girls came out to the track to watch their daddy go fast and win; so that’s what I’m doing.”
To the average person, these men would be considered crazy. We in the road-racing world, however, know all too well the things that the addiction to adrenaline and intense draw to the feeling of flying can push us to do. Perhaps a labeling of crazy is fitting for their above and beyond dedication to this sport, but Moham, Borst, and Martinez have clearly made their marks in the ranks of great over comings in the name of motorcycle racing.
The MRA looks forward to hosting round five at High Plains Raceway on August sixth and seventh, this time for the full course. For more information regarding MRA events for motorcycle enthusiasts in Colorado, please visit: http://www.mra-racing.org.
Race Results:
Fay Myers Motorcycle World’s Race of the Rockies GTO:
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R1M)
2. Oleg Pianykh (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-10R)
4. Dan Turner (Suz GSX-R1000)
5. Zach Ritchey (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Jim Wilson (Kaw ZX-10R)
Fay Myers Motorcycle World’s Race of the Rockies GTU:
1. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Wyeth Jackson (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Ken Yee (Hon CBR600RR)
5. Tim Mayhew (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Brad Morris (Yam YZF-R6)
High Plains Raceway’s Ladies of the Rockies:
1. Wyeth Jackson (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Samantha Coleman (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Trina Dawson (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Katie Malone (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Tiffany Maestas (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Cindy Wulf (Suz GSX-R750)
Imperial Sportbikes’ Amateur GTO:
1. Ian O’Connor (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Dylan Hale (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Jason Martinez (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Zach Friley (Hon CBR1000RR)
5. Jared Dear (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Bruce Browning (Yam YZF-R6)
Vickery Motorsports’ Amateur GTU:
1. Ian O’Connor (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Zach Hill (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Jason Martinez (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Dylan Hale (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Jay Samarjian (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Justin Lamkin (Yam YZF-R6)
Un!nk Printworks’ Modern Vintage GTO:
1. Jim Wilson (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. Tim Meiners (Duc 749R)
3. Chris Coonshead (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Jay Hollman (Apr RSV1000R)
5. Zach Friley (Hon CBR1000RR)
6. Scott Weitmann (Kaw ZX-6R)
The Walnut Room’s Modern Vintage GTU:
1. Chris Coonshead (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Mike Applehans (Duc 749S)
3. Raymond Richard (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Scott Weitmann (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Bryan Knizek (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Travis Newbold (Suz SV650)
Quick Cycles’ Open Supersport:
1. Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-10R)
2. Oleg Pianykh (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Zach Ritchey (Yam YZF-R1)
4. David Purcell (Kaw ZX-10R)
5. Jim Wilson (Kaw ZX-10R)
6. Zach Friley (Hon CBR1000RR)
Colorado Powersports’ Open Superbike
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R1M)
2. Oleg Pianykh (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-10R)
4. Dan Turner (Suz GSX-R1000)
5. Zach Ritchey (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Louis Ortiz Jr. (Suz GSX-R1000)
Mod Work’s Solo Endurance Open:
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R1M)
2. Zach Ritchey (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Jim Wilson (Kaw ZX-10R)
4. Jared Dear (Suz GSX-R1000)
5. Zach Friley (Hon CBR1000RR)
6. Mick Derner (Yam YZF-R1)
Apex Motorsports’ Heavyweight Supersport:
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Wyeth Jackson (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Zach Hill (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Dennis Stowers (Tri 675)
Performance Cycles’ Heavyweight Superbike:
1. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Ken Yee (Hon CBR600RR)
4. Brad Morris (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Dennis Stowers (Tri 675)
6. Aaron Fisk (Yam YZF-R6)
Fun Center’s Solo Endurance Heavyweight:
1. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Mike Applehans (Suz GSX-R600)
3. Ken Yee (Hon CBR600RR)
4. Aaron Fisk (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Brad Morris (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Frank DiRanna (Suz GSX-R600)
Full Throttle Riding Academy’s Middleweight Supersport:
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Wyeth Jackson (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Zach Hill (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Ken Yee (Hon CBR600RR)
ACES’ Middleweight Superbike:
1. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Ken Yee (Hon CBR600RR)
3. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Zach Hill (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Brad Morris (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Tim Mayhew (Yam YZF-R6)
Wyeth Home Real Estate’s Solo Endurance Middleweight:
1. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Zach Hill (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Tim Mayhew (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Jeff Healy (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Dylan Hale (Yam YZF-R6)
Spencer Russell Youth Racing’s Lightweight GrandPrix:
1. Tony Baker (Yam FZ-07)
2. Ray Gaimara (Suz SV650)
3. Randall Adami (Kaw 650R)
4. Adam Bauer (Kaw ER-6)
5. Michael Surratt (Suz RM-Z450)
6. Kevin Boniface (KTM RC390)
Solo Endurance Ultra-Lightweight:
1. Kevin Boniface (KTM RC390)
2. David Absolon (Yam YZF-R3)
3. Jose Guedez (Yam YZF-R3)
4. Joe Clark (Yam YZF-R3)
5. Ryan Smith (CBR500R)
6. Sean Thomas (KTM RC390)
Aurora Honda’s Solo Endurance Lightweight:
1. Tony Baker (Yam FZ-07)
2. Randall Adami (Kaw 650R)
3. Adam Bauer (Kaw ER-6)
4. Ray Gaimara (Suz SV650)
5. Frank DiRanna (Yam FZ-07)
6. Joe Maher (Duc)
Alliance Motorsports’ Supertwins GTO:
1. Shannon Moham (Duc 848)
2. Tim Meiners (Duc 749R)
3. Jay Hollman (Apr RSVR1000)
4. Casey Smith (Suz SV650)
5. Rob Weins (Duc 999S)
6. Tony Baker (Yam FZ-07)
Factory Trained Auto Repair’s Supertwins GTU:
1. Mike Applehans (Duc 749S)
2. Tony Baker (Yam FZ-07)
3. Ray Gaimara (Suz SV650)
4. Travis Newbold (Suz SV650)
5. Adam Bauer (Kaw ER-6)
6. Frank DiRanna (Yam FZ-07)
Boulder Motorsports’ Thunderbike:
1. Shannon Moham (Duc 848)
2. Dennis Stowers (Tri 675)
3. Tim Meiners (Duc 749R)
4. Casey Smith (Suz SV650)
5. Ray Gaimara (Suz SV650)
6. Tony Baker (Yam FZ-07)
Sol Performance / Moto Garage’s Formula 40 GTO:
1. Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-10R)
2. Jim Wilson (Kaw ZX-10R)
3. Dave Hetzler (Suz GSX-R1000)
4. Michael Surratt (BMW S1000RR)
5. Paul Frysig (Kaw 250)
6. Cindy Wulf (Suz GSX-R750)
Sol Performance / Moto Garage’s Formula 40 GTU:
1. Mike Applehans (Suz GSX-R600)
2. Chris Coonshead (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Aaron Fisk (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Scott Weitmann (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Frank DiRanna (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Raymond Richard (Yam YZF-R6)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s Production 250 Saturday:
1. Kevin Monahan (Kaw 250)
2. Shawn Parish (Kaw 250)
3. Rudolf Haberl (Kaw 250)
4. Mike Kionka (Kaw 250)
5. Jared Shauers (Kaw 250)
6. Cameron Lee (Kaw 250)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s Production 250 Sunday:
1. Kevin Monahan (Kaw 250)
2. Shawn Parish (Kaw 250)
3. Rudolf Haberl (Kaw 250)
4. Mike Kionka (Kaw 250)
5. Jared Shauers (Kaw 250)
6. Cameron Lee (Kaw 250)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s Production 400 Saturday:
1. Jason Madama (Yam YZF-R3)
2. Kevin Boniface (KTM RC390)
3. David Absolon (Yam YZF-R3)
4. Jose Guedez (Yam YZF-R3)
5. Joe Clark (Yam YZF-R3)
6. Brett Leveque (Kaw 300)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s Production 400 Sunday:
1. Jason Madama (Yam YZF-R3)
2. Kevin Boniface (KTM RC390)
3. David Absolon (Yam YZF-R3)
4. Jose Guedez (Yam YZF-R3)
5. Joe Clark (Yam YZF-R3)
6. Brett Leveque (Kaw 300)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s Production 500 Saturday:
1. Ryan Smith (CBR500R)
2. Ian O’Connor (CBR500R)
3. Brian Jackson (Kaw EX500)
4. Lisa Hollinger (CBR500R)
5. Alex Vaipan (CBR500R)
6. Tiffany Maestas (CBR500R)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s Production 500 Sunday:
1. Ryan Smith (CBR500R)
2. Jeremy Widmann (CBR500R)
3. Brian Jackson (Kaw EX500)
4. Lisa Hollinger (CBR500R)
5. Alex Vaipan (CBR500R)
6. Tiffany Maestas (CBR500R)
Woody’s Wheel Works’ Formula Colorado:
1. Michael Surratt (Suz RM-Z450)
2. Kevin Boniface (KTM RC390)
3. Zach Friley (Hon CBR-00)
4. Adam Bauer (Hon RS125)
5. Brandon Fosbinder (KTM RC390)
6. David Absolon (Yam YZF-R3)
Interstate Honda’s Novice GTO:
1. Justin Lewis (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Fabian Medina (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Jay Samarjian (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Jason Martinez (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Andrew Schrems (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Scott Weitmann (Kaw ZX-6R)
Law Tiger’s Novice GTU:
1. Justin Lewis (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Jason Martinez (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Scott Weitmann (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Nik Scott (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Jared Dear (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Andrew Schrems (Suz GSX-R600)