CVMA HOSTS SRA-WEST SIDECAR SEASON FINALE BEFORE WINTER BREAK

Henning Lowers Lap Record in 350 Supersport and Ultra Lightweight Shootout

It’s November, and while most of the nation’s racebikes are resting on trickle chargers the riders and machines of the Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Associate (CVMA) are enjoying the best riding conditions of the season. The weather was nearly ideal this past weekend, November 14-15 in Desert Center, CA, which helped draw a turnout of nearly 150 competitors including nine teams from the Sidecar Racers’ Association West.

SRA-West returned to Chuckwalla Valley Raceway for the final round of their race season, colonizing an entire corner of the paddock with their exotic Formula rigs. “We love having the sidecars out here,” says Dustin Coyner, CVMA’s Rider Representative. “They’re a blast to watch and we’re glad they get to enjoy our track and our community.”

Team Big Dog Garage (Bernard Juchli and Kevin Kautsky) had already clinched their second SRA-West championship going into the weekend. Even so, it was Team Becker Moto Works (William Becker/ Eiric Becker) at the front all weekend. The team took wins on both days despite a several-month hiatus. Also coming back from a long absence was Team Johnny Killmore, who finished second both days. Driver John Wood was trying out rookie passengers each day, and both made a strong showing. Wyatt Vandergeest handled 5 laps in fading light on Saturday and Matt Blank battled wet conditions in practice to hold on for 6 laps.

Back on two wheels, Benny Solis suffered mechanicals that sidelined him in two races, but he got his Honda CBR600RR sorted and went on to win several races including Saturday’s Formula Middleweight race and Sunday’s 10-lap TrackDaz Middleweight Shootout.

One of the races that Solis pulled out of was Supersport Middleweight, where returning favorite Michael Gilbert but on an incredible performance. After crashing out of qualifying and starting in 25th position, Gilbert pushed his Yamaha YZF-R6 up to 3rd place, finishing on the podium behind Conner Blevins and Ryan Matter. On Sunday, Gilbert utilized the extra laps of the 10-lap Middleweight Shootout race to work his way from the last row to second place, crossing the finish line 16 seconds behind race winner Solis and 17 seconds ahead of Conner Blevins in 3rd place.

There was another shakeup in in Sunday’s 12-lap Open Shootout presented by SoCal Track Days, when Daytona Anderson’s winning streak was broken by Utah’s Oleg Pianykh on a Yamaha YZF-R1. “We were struggling to find the setup this direction,” says Anderson, riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000. “I almost got Oleg at the line but just missed out.” Indeed, Anderson crossed the finish line just 0.03 seconds behind the visiting rider. Third place went to Dale Kieffer of Racer’s Edge Performance on his Suzuki GSX-R1000.

In the small-bike classes Ari Henning won going away on Saturday on his Honda CBR300R, lowering the 350 Supersport and Ultra Lightweight Shootout track records in the process. Henning clicked off a fastest lap of 1:58.66 in the 350 Supersport race and turned a 1:59.20 in Ultra Lightweight Shootout presented by Sunline energy.

Femmewalla—CVMA’s all-female class—was won both days by Dani Taylor on her Yamaha YZF-R6. Patricia Fernandez took second and Elaine Carpenter third on Saturdy and Sunday, with both women also riding Yamaha R6s. Fernandez led most of Sunday’s race with the fastest laps of the weekend, but a mistake on lap four saw her slip to 2nd. She crossed the finish line just 0.3 seconds behind Taylor.

November’s races were the last of the year for CVMA, though the season resumes in January. Before leaving for the winter break, CVMA asked a few racers which of Chuckwalla’s 17 turns is their favorite and why. Here’s what they said.

Benny Solis, Honda CBR600RR

“I like 6 and 7. I can make some good passes there. I’ll admit turn 7 is a little weird but it’s become my favorite!”

John Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000-powered sidecar

“I prefer CCW, hands down. Running left through the bowl, floating the chair wheel and drifting the other two—that’s good fun!”

Ari Henning, Honda CBR300R

“The 8/9/10 combo has hard braking, elevation, a blind apex, and requires really quick transitions. It’s the busiest section of the track and it’s also where my bike feels its best.”

Daytona Anderson, Suzuki GSX-R1000
“Turn 11. The rear gets light and drifts out as you come down from Turn 10, so I’m dragging elbow on the left-hand curb as the rear tire is spinning. It’s pretty exciting!”

Join CVMA when racing resumes on January 9-10 and figure out what your favorite part of the track is. CVMA offers two full days of racing every race weekend and also includes Saturday qualifying for grid position in all classes, amateur and expert, as well as a wide variety of classes to choose from. Additionally, CVMA offers free reciprocity as a means of encouraging racers from other clubs to come out and compete. Log on to www.cvmaracing.com for more information.

CVMA. It’s club racing done right.

RESULTS: Supersport Middleweight
Saturday:
1. Ryan Matter (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Conner Blevins (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Michael Gilbert (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Jake Tihanyi (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Christian Dwiggins (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Ryan Whitman (Yam YZF-R6)
Sunday:
1. Benny Solis Jr (Hon CBR600RR)
2. Michael Gilbert (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Conner Blevins (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Jake Tihanyi (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Ryan Whitman (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Christian Dwiggins (Yam YZF-R6)

350 Supersport
Saturday:
1. Ari Henning (Hon CBR300R)
2. Duncan Mardling (Kaw 300R)
3. Josh Fogle (Kaw 250R)
4. Ruben Casarez (KTM RC390)
5. Gray Pham (KTM RC390)
6. Jaret Nassaney (KTM RC390)
Sunday:
1. Josh Fogle (Kaw 250R)
2. Duncan Mardling (Kaw 300R)
3. Ruben Casarez (KTM RC390)
4. Arek Stanton (Kaw 300R)
5. Nicholas Swensgard (KTM RC390)
6. Philip Calvert (Kaw 300R)

Formula Twins
Saturday:
1. Rex Ainslie (Suz SV650)
2. John Reynolds (Suz SV650)
3. Pittman Wallace (Suz SV650)
4. David Martin (Suz SV650)
5. James Dobson (Suz SV650)
6. Tony Perez (Yam FZ-07)
Sunday:
1. Rex Ainslie (Suz SV650)
2. Pittman Wallace (Suz SV650)
3. John Reynolds (Suz SV650)
4. Marcus DeMichele (Yam FZ-07)
5. Tony Perez (Yam FZ-07)
6. James Dobson (Suz SV650)

Amateur Supersport Middleweight
Saturday:
1. Michael Luhm (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Marcin Jablonski (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Michael Nagy (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Marc Mittelsteadt(Yam YZF-R6)
5. David Rankin (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Radford Pajita (Kaw ZX-6R)
Sunday:
1. Rafael DaSilva (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Michael Nagy (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Marcin Jablonski (Yam YZF-R6)
4. David Rankin (Yam YZF-R6)
5. George Monteverdi (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Eddie Robison (Hon CBR600RR)

Formula Open
Saturday:
1. Daytona Anderson (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. Oleg Pianykh (Yam YZF-R1)
3. James Romero III (Yam YZF-R1)
4. Dale Kieffer (Suz GSX-R1000)
5. Stuart Smith (Yam YZF-R1)
6. AJ Amman (Suz GSX-R1000)
Sunday:
1. Daytona Anderson (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. James Romero III (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Jorge Covarrubias (Yam YZF-R6)
4. John Menzie (BMW S1000RR)
5. Anton Sohn (Hon CBR1000RR)
6. Dan McCormack (Yam YZF-R6)

Amateur Formula Open
Saturday:
1. Dave Flett (Apr RSV4)
2. Nicholas Ciling (Yam YZF-R1M)
3. Ryan McGowan (Kawi ZX-10R)
4. Michael Nelson (Yam YZF-R1M)
5. Josh Simons (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Adrian Taylor (Yam YZF-R1)
Sunday:
1. Nicholas Ciling (Yam YZF-R1M)
2. Dave Flett (Apr RSV4)
3. Ryan McGowan (Kawi ZX-10R)
4. Michael Nelson (Yam YZF-R1M)
5. Jeff Semmig (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Adrian Taylor (Yam YZF-R1)

Femmewalla
Saturday:
1. Dani Taylor (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Patricia Fernandez (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Elaine Carpenter (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Juliet Scott (Hon CBR600RR)
5. Shannon Deane (Kaw 250R)
6. Emily Grana (Kaw 250R)
Sunday:
1. Dani Taylor (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Patricia Fernandez (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Elaine Carpenter (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Juliet Scott (Hon CBR600RR)
5. Shannon Deane (Kaw 250R)
6. Emily Grana (Kaw 250R)

Formula Middleweight
Saturday:
1. Benny Solis Jr. (Hon CBR600RR)
2. Ryan Matter (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Conner Blevins (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Jorge Covarrubias (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Jake Tihanyi (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Ryan Whitman (Yam YZF-R6)
Sunday:
1. Jake Tihanyi (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Jorge Covarrubias (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Ryan Whitman (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Christian Dwiggins (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Bruce Stafford (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Brian Morris (Yam YZF-R6)

Formula 40
Saturday:
1. James Romero III (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Stuart Smith (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Jeff Semmig (Yam YZF-R1)
4. Michael Robart (Suz GSX-R1000)
5. Adrian Taylor (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Rudy Chavez (Hon CBR1000RR)
Sunday:
1. James Romero III (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Jay Milhiser (Kaw ZX-10R)
3. Adrian Taylor (Yam YZF-R1)
4. Michael Robart (Suz GSX-R1000)
5. Rudy Chavez (Hon CBR1000RR)

Formula 40 Lightweight
Saturday:
1. Pittman Wallace (Suz SV650)
2. John Reynolds (Suz SV650)
3. James Dobson (Suz SV650)
4. Mitch Cardwell (Yam FZ-07)
5. Jason Wilberding (Suz SV650)
Sunday:
1. John Reynolds (Suz SV650)
2. Pittman Wallace (Suz SV650)
3. Steve Bancroft (Kaw 300R)
4. Jason Wilberding (Suz SV650)

Formula 40 Middleweight
Saturday:
1. Christian Dwiggins (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Dan Sharp (Hon CBR600RR)
3. Dan McCormack (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Elaine Carpenter (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Mark Ainslie (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Simon Barrett (Tri 675)
Sunday:
1. Christian Dwiggins (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Josh Fogle (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Dan Sharp (Hon CBR600RR)
4. Mark Ainslie (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Simon Barrett (Tri 675)
6. Elaine Carpenter (Yam YZF-R6)

Ultra Lightweight Shootout
Saturday:
1. Ari Henning (Hon CBR300R)
2. Josh Fogle (Kaw 250R)
3. Duncan Mardling (Kaw 300R)
4. Ruben Casarez (KTM RC390)
5. Arek Stanton (Kaw 300R)
6. Jaret Nassaney (KTM RC390)
Sunday:
1. Josh Fogle (Kaw 250R)
2. Gray Pham (KTM RC390)
3. Arek Stanton (Kaw 300R)
4. Ruben Casarez (KTM RC390)
5. Jaret Nassaney (KTM RC390)
6. Duncan Mardling (Kaw 300R)

Amateur Formula Middleweight
Saturday:
1. Michael Luhm (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Marcin Jablonski (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Eddie Robison (Hon CBR600RR)
4. Marc Mittelsteadt(Yam YZF-R6)
5. Michael Nagy (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Radford Pajita (Kaw ZX-6R)
Sunday:
1. Rafael DaSilva (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Michael Luhm (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Marcin Jablonski (Yam YZF-R6)
4. David Rankin (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Michael Nagy (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Eddie Robison (Hon CBR600RR)

Formula 2
Saturday:
1. Rex Ainslie (Suz SV650)
2. John Reynolds (Suz SV650)
3. Pittman Wallace (Suz SV650)
4. David Martin (Suz SV650)
5. Ruben Casarez (KTM RC390)
6. James Dobson (Suz SV650)
Sunday:
1. Rex Ainslie (Suz SV650)
2. John Reynolds (Suz SV650)
3. Pittman Wallace (Suz SV650)
4. David Martin (Suz SV650)
5. Marcus DeMichele (Yam FZ-07)
6. Ruben Casarez (KTM RC390)

250 Supersport
Saturday:
1. Josh Fogle (Kaw 250R)
2. Donald Williams (Kaw 250R)
3. Mike Root (Kaw 250R)
4. Ted McCarron (Kaw 250R)
5. Shannon Deane (Kaw 250R)
6. Robert McCarron (Kaw 250R)
Sunday:
1. Josh Fogle (Kaw 250R)
2. Donald Williams (Kaw 250R)
3. Ted McCarron (Kaw 250R)
4. Shannon Deane (Kaw 250R)
5. Mike Root (Kaw 250R)
6. Sergio Rodriguez II (Kaw 250R)

Supersport Open
Saturday:
1. Oleg Pianykh (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Daytona Anderson (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. John Menzie (BMW S1000RR)
4. Timothy Kadowaki (Hon CBR600RR)
5. Anton Sohn (Hon CBR1000RR)
6. Tyler Olmstead (Yam YZF-R6)
Sunday:
1. James Romero III (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Daytona Anderson (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. John Menzie (BMW S1000RR)
4. Anton Sohn (Hon CBR1000RR)

Amateur Supersport Open
Saturday:
1. Nicholas Ciling (Yam YZF-R1M)
2. Dave Flett (Apr RSV4)
3. Ryan McGowan (Kawi ZX-10R)
4. Michael Nelson (Yam YZF-R1M)
5. Josh Simons (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Adrian Taylor (Yam YZF-R1)
Sunday:
1. Nicholas Ciling (Yam YZF-R1M)
2. Ryan McGowan (Kawi ZX-10R)
3. Michael Nelson (Yam YZF-R1M)
4. Adrian Taylor (Yam YZF-R1)
5. Ryan Pischinger (Suz GSX-R1000)

SRA Side Cars
Saturday:
1. William Becker
2. John-Thomas Wood
3. Bernard Juchli
4. Steven Stull
5. Phil Wood
6. Chris Wood
Sunday:
1. William Becker
2. John-Thomas Wood
3. Steven Stull
4. Phil Wood
5. Donn Sayer
6. Betty Herlocker

SoCal TrackDays Shootout Open (12 laps)
Sunday-Only:
1. Oleg Pianykh (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Daytona Anderson (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Dale Kieffer (Suz GSX-R1000)
4. Jay Millhiser (Kaw ZX-10R)

TrackDaz Shootout Middleweight (10 Laps)
Sunday-Only:
1. Benny Solis Jr. (Hon CBR600RR)
2. Michael Gilbert (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Conner Blevins (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Rory McNinch (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Jorge Covarrubias (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Timothy Kadowaki (Hon CBR600RR)

Shootout Lightweight (8 Laps)
Sunday-Only:
1. Rex Ainslie (Suz SV650)
2. Pittman Wallace (Suz SV650)
3. David Martin (Suz SV650)
4. John Reynolds (Suz SV650)
5. Tony Perez (Yam FZ-07)
6. Marcus DeMichele (Yam FZ-07)