Schmidt Fends Off DiBrino and Sutton, Securing His Tenth #1 Plate
The weather was perfect at Portland International Raceway as OMRRA celebrated the timeless exhilaration of speed and competition during Vintage Weekend August 17-18. PIR’s chicane, also known as the Festival Curves, was in use for all classes except Formula Ultra, Open Supersport and Open Superbike. The chicane adds complexity to PIR and cuts the long front straight in half. Andy DiBrino aboard his EDR-powered R6 reset the chicane configuration track record by 1.3 seconds and five wins during the weekend.
In 2Fast Track Days Formula Ultra Championship action, AMA Supersport hotshot Stefano Mesa of Boca Raton, FL geared up astride a Panigale 1199R provided by Ducati Seattle’s SPG. Stefano quickly went to work sorting out the machine to suit it to his riding style and PIR’s requirements. In Saturday’s race, Mesa hitched his 1199R to the ultra-fast group at the front and finished an impressive 4th with a 1:07.0 best lap.
Ryan Sutton of Camano Island, WA brought his liter bike to PIR and jumped out of the gates leading the early laps. However, by the mid-point of the race, Andy DiBrino of Tualatin, OR on a borrowed liter bike for the weekend chased, Sutton down turning a race best 1:06.71 on lap 4 and passed Sutton on Lap 7 in turn 7 on the brakes. Sutton tried to answer DiBrino’s pass by pulling out a track-bending 1:06.78 best on lap 9 but DiBrino kept his head down and took the win.
On the verge of securing his tenth OMRRA championship, Alan Schmidt of Kamploops, BC had trouble out of the gate with an early Saturday crash that sent his crew running to the parts bin. Devon McDonough, who was not a contender in the championship due to his AMA SS schedule, offered his bike to Schmidt for him to compete for the first of the doubleheader. On a borrowed bike Schmidt managed a 5th place and a short stack of points creeping closer to the championship. Later that evening, Barry Wressell and Sage Wilkinson of KFGRacing fired up the coals and helped reshape parts for Schmidt’s crew to get Schmidt back on his machine.
Sunday’s Formula Ultra Race was the race of the season. The top six in the field lapped at 1:07.0 or faster which is averaging nearly 110 MPH at Portland International. Off the start, Ryan Sutton shot forward from the third row and was in the top 3 heading to turn 1. The front three of DiBrino, Schmidt and Sutton separated themselves from the next three of McDonough, Pinkstaff and Mesa. The pace was blistering fast with Devon McDonough joining the 1:06 club on a stock motor multiple times on his way to a 5th place finish. McDonough made a brilliant pass for 4th on the last lap but a momentary lack of grip out of turn 9 nearly sent the teen sky high giving Pinkstaff the opportunity to take the 4th position back to the line. At the front, the battle was fierce between Schmidt and DiBrino.
By the mid-point in the race, DiBrino and Schmidt were dueling on the brakes into the extremely fast turn 1. DiBrino triumphed and led Schmidt and Sutton in the second half of the race. Both Schmidt and DiBrino were pushing each other deep into the corners but DiBrino held the position and came within a tenth of the track record at 1:06.46. On the last lap in turn 4 DiBrino got on the power early and had a moment out of the saddle. He lost the lead falling back to 3rd behind. Even with last minute theatrics in turn 7, DiBrino had to settle for fastest lap and 3rd position. Sutton ran consistently taking 2nd and Schmidt got the most memorable fight in history to secure the win and his tenth OMRRA #1 plate.
In KFGRacing Clubman Championship news, current points leader, Chris Page, was embroiled in battles to collect as many points as possible to stay on top. In a rare 2013 appearance, Jeremy Coffey came in and snatched 3 checkers leaving Page in 2nd. Adam Faussett would snag a win from Page’s clutches as well. Page’s consistency at the front or a breath away is leading him to the top of the heap.
Andy DiBrino and Ryan Sutton battled it out in the big bike classes and on their smaller displacement machines, reigniting a hotly-contested 600cc rivalry and treating racing fans to the best action in the Northwest. In their first meeting of the weekend in 600 Supersport, DiBrino’s EDR-powered R6 was on fire and DiBrino sent a message by resetting the chicane configuration track record at 1:14.7, 1.3 seconds quicker than the previous record. In their 4 meetings, DiBrino won all 4 contests leaving Sutton in the runner-up position.
For the Bridge City Cycles Vintage Championship, current championship leader, Eirik Nielsen, chronicled 7 of 8 heats in the Olympic scoring events to take victory in Middleweight Vintage both days and Lightweight Vintage on Sunday. Patrick Leyshock shelved two 2nd place trophies in Middleweight Vintage on his Yamaha DT1. Jon Munns of Portland, OR racked up an impressive 8 podiums with a Lightweight Vintage win on Saturday. His accumulation of podiums propelled his position in the championship from 5th to 3rd overall.
With Munns surging, Mica Grohn’s second place position in the championship is under threat. Grohn was slow to find her groove but managed to finish all her races and climb on the last step of the podium in Lightweight Vintage on Sunday. For Grohn and Munns the battle for second overall will have to wait for the final round September 14-15.
Race Results – Saturday, August 17th
Formula Ultra 1. Andy DiBrino (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Ryan Sutton (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R) 4. Stefano Mesa (Duc 1199 Panigale S) 5. Alan Schmidt (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000)
600 Supersport 1. Andy DiBrino (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Devon McDonough (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Skyler Benoit (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Darren Carpenter (Tri Daytona 675R) 6. Chris Burgess (Tri Daytona 675R)
Ninja 250 Cup – Race 1 1. Jeremy Coffey (Kaw 250R) 2. Chris Page (Kaw 250R) 3. Matt O’Rourke (Kaw 250R) 4. Valentine Welch (Kaw 250R) 5. Kelly Johnson (Kaw 250R) 6. Andrew Pignataro (Kaw 250R)
Ninja 250 Cup – Race 2 1. Jeremy Coffey (Kaw 250R) 2. Chris Page (Kaw 250R) 3. Kelly Johnson (Kaw 250R) 4. Andrew Pignataro (Kaw 250R) 5. Matt O’Rourke (Kaw 250R) 6. Chris Rizzo (Kaw 250R)
Lightweight Vintage –Race 1 1. Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB175) 2. Jon Munns (Hon CB160) 3. Daric Cheshire (Hon CL175) 4. Dana Clark (Hon CB160) 5. Dean Willoughby (Hon CB160) 6. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175)
Lightweight Vintage – Race 2 1. Jon Munns (Hon CB160) 2. Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB175) 3. Daric Cheshire (Hon CL175) 4. Dean Willoughby (Hon CB160) 5. Dana Clark (Hon CB160) 6. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175)
Middleweight Vintage – Race 1 1. Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB350) 2. Patrick Leyshock (Yam DT1) 3. Jon Munns (Hon CB160) 4. Dominic Cameron (Suz RM85L) 5. Daric Cheshire (Hon CL175) 6. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175)
Middleweight Vintage – Race 2 1. Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB350) 2. Patrick Leyshock (Yam DT1) 3. Jon Munns (Hon CB160) 4. Sean Hayes (Hon CL175) 5. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175) 6. Tim Fowler (Hon CB160)
750 Supersport 1. Andy DiBrino (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Skyler Benoit (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Darren Carpenter (Tri Daytona 675R) 4. Ryan Sutton (Suz GSX-R750)
Open Supersport 1. Devon McDonough (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Craig Wright (BMW S1000RR) 4. Joe Rocha (Kaw ZX-10R) 5. Mark Snethen (Suz GSX-R1000)
650 GP Twins 1. David Moore (Kaw 650R) 2. Peter Kahn (Suz SV650) 3. Bennie Goodson (Suz SV650) 4. Derrick Edwards (Suz SV650) 5. Sam Boggess (Suz SV650) 6. Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650)
750 Supersport Senior 1. Stuart Johnson (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Wayne Webster (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Jason Iverson (Yam YZF-R6)
Open Superbike 1. Ryan Sutton (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R) 3. Stefano Mesa (Duc 1199R) 4. Devon McDonough (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Jacob Brown (Yam YZF-R1)
Formula III 1. Michael Caravatta (Hon RS125) 2. Shannon Lang (Hon RS125) 3. Joshua Melanson (HRC NSF250R)
Middleweight Supersport 1. Johnmark Larson (Suz SV650) 2. Peter Kahn (Suz SV650) 3. Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650) 4. Derrick Edwards (Suz SV650) 5. Sam Boggess (Suz SV650) 6. Mats White (Suz SV650)
Open Supersport Senior 1. Stuart Johnson (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Chris Stricker (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Brent Benoit (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Drat Diestler (Duc 999R) 5. Mike McKim (Suz GSX-R750) 6. Wayne Webster (Suz GSX-R750)
Formula 40 1. Stuart Johnson (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Darren Carpenter (Tri Daytona 675R) 3. Jeff Ranf (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Mike McKim (Suz GSX-R750) 5. Matt Diestler (Duc 999R) 6. Brent Benoit (Yam YZF-R6)
Novice 4 1. Christopher Jablonski (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Tom Walsh (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Tim Brodovsky (Suz GSX-R600) 4. Nathaniel Silvers (Duc 848Evo) 5. Josh Kinsley (Suz GSX-R600) 6. Tyler Carroll (Suz GSX-R600)
Novice 5 1. Cody Cochran (Yam YZF-R1) 2. Josh McKay (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Bret McCord (Kaw ZX-10R) Race
Results – Sunday, August 18th
Formula Ultra 1. Alan Schmidt (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Ryan Sutton (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Andy DiBrino (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R) 5. Devon McDonough (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Stefano Mesa (Duc 1199 Panigale S)
600 Superbike 1. Andy DiBrino (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Devon McDonough (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Steve Suitor (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Anton Brown (Suz GSX-R600) 6. Jason Wilson (Yam YZF-R6)
750 Superbike 1. Andy DiBrino (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Steve Suitor (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Anton Brown (Suz GSX-R600)
Ultra Lightweight Superbike – Race 1 1. Jeremy Coffey (Kaw 250R) 2. Chris Page (Kaw 250R) 3. Adam Faussett (Kaw 250R) 4. Kelly Johnson (Kaw 250R) 5. Matt O’Rourke (Kaw 250R) 6. Jack Stevens (Kaw 250R)
Ultra Lightweight Superbike – Race 2 1. Adam Faussett (Kaw 250R) 2. Chris Page (Kaw 250R) 3. Jeremy Coffey (Kaw 250R) 4. Jack Stevens (Kaw 250R) 5. Kelly Johnson (Kaw 250R) 6. Andrew Pignataro (Kaw 250R)
Middleweight Vintage – Race 1 1.Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB350) 2. Patrick Leyshock (Yam DT1) 3. Jon Munns (Hon CB160) 4. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175) 5. Daric Cheshire (Hon CL175) 6. Jared Kenyon (Mon 250)
Middleweight Vintage – Race 2 1. Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB350) 2. Patrick Leyshock (Yam DT1) 3. Jon Munns (Hon CB160) 4. Sean Hayes (Hon CL175) 5. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175) 6. Tim Fowler (Hon CL175)
Lightweight Vintage– Race 1 1.Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB175) 2. Jon Munns (Hon CB160) 3. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175) 4. Dana Clark (Hon CB160) 5. Dean Willoughby (Hon CB160) 6.Ryan Shanahan (Hon CB175)
Lightweight Vintage– Race 2 1.Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB175) 2. Jon Munns (Hon CB160) 3. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175) 4. Dana Clark (Hon CB160) 5. Daric Cheshire (Hon CB160) 6. Dean Willoughby (Hon CB160)
Open Superbike Senior 1. Jeff Ranf (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Stuart Johnson (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Drat Diestler (Duc 999R) 4. Joe Rocha (Kaw ZX-10R) 5. Mike McKim (Suz GSX-R750) 6. Gene Brown (Suz GSX-R1000)
Middleweight Classic Superbike 1. Shannon Lang (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Kelly Johnson (Yam YZF-600) 3. Jason Iverson (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Jeff Brooks (Suz SV650) 5. Patrick Leyshock (Hon CB750) 6. Star Hermann (Suz SV650)
Middleweight Superbike 1. Michael Caravatta (Apr RS125) 2. David Moore (Kaw 650R) 3. Johnmark Larson (Suz SV650) 4. Gene Brown (Yam TZ250) 5. Peter Kahn (Suz SV650) 6. Joshua Melanson (Hon NSF250)
Lightweight Superbike 1. Joshua Melanson (Hon NSF250) 2. Joe Pethoud (Hon/KTM hybrid) 3. Adam Faussett (Kaw 250R) 4. Chris Page (Kaw 250R) 5. Jeremy Coffey (Kaw 250R) 6. Matt O’Rourke (Kaw 250R)
750 Supersport Senior 1. Stuart Johnson (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Gene Brown (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Wayne Webster (Suz GSX-R750)
450 Superbike 1. David Moore (Kaw 650R) 2. Johnmark Larson (Suz SV650) 3. Peter Kahn (Suz SV650) 4. Bennie Goodson (Suz SV650) 5. Jeff Brooks (Suz SV650) 6. Derrick Edwards (Suz SV650)
Novice 4 1. Christopher Jablonski (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Tom Walsh (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Tim Brodovsky (Suz GSX-R600) 4. E. Eddie Oner (Tri 675R) 5. Tim Griffin (Hon CBR600RR) 6. Anthony Patten (Kaw ZX-6R)
Novice 5 1. Cody Cochran (Yam YZF-R1) 2. Josh McKay (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Bret McCord (Kaw ZX-10R)
Fast Track Days Formula Ultra Championship 1. Alan Schmidt – 192 pts 2. Kevin Pinkstaff – 134 pts 3. Andy DiBrino – 121 pts 4. Sam Verderico – 94 pts 5. Devon McDonough – 60 pts
KFG Racing / Pirelli Clubman Championship 1. Chris Page – 222 pts 2. Andy DiBrino – 190 pts 3. Ryan Sutton – 185 pts 4. Johnmark Larson – 180 pts 5. Matt O’Rourke – 163 pts
Bridge City Cycles Vintage Championship 1. Eirik Nielsen – 198 pts 2. Mica Grohn – 119 pts 3. Jon Munns – 101 pts 4. Daric Cheshire – 93 pts 5. Patrick Leyshock – 84 pts