Brand grabs premier win, Decker sweeps middleweight races, and Turpin dominates TTXGP competition for Masters of the Mountains round six.

(Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele UT) Masters of the Mountains Round 6 at Miller Motorsports Park’s BikeFest was a study in extreme contrasts. From ear-splitting 20 horsepower CB160s racing with AHRMA, to the beautiful, wickedly quick and silent electric MotoCzysz of the TTXGP, the track demonstrated a 100 year history of motorcycle racing, and perhaps a look into the sport’s future. 

It was a good weekend to be a motorcycle enthusiast. Scott Decker of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta struck first with a win in Middleweight Superbike, and went on the sweep the middleweight classes with wins in Heavyweight Superstock, Middleweight Superstock and the premier middleweight class, King of the Mountain GTU. “I was a little disappointed after round 5 when Jesse (Sherstan) took the KoM U race. I had him covered, but not quite enough to make a move and risk losing a championship. That set me up wanting to win all 4 this weekend,” said Decker. “We mounted up some new Dunlops for Middleweight Superbike and I got the hole shot and basically led from flag to flag with a pretty easy margin.

 “After two more fairly easy victories I figured I’d get the forth, but flag goes down I got a terrible start. My pit guy ‘Dunlop tire guru Butters’ was like, ‘man I just hid behind the wall I was so embarrassed,’ and I was thinking the same thing. I put my head down and by turn five I was in front again. As the race went on I kept catching Austin (Carpenter) out of the corner of my eye so he kept close enough to keep me honest.

 “I would like to thank my family Lindsey and Aubrey for letting me race as well as Dunlop Tires, Scott Larsen and Matt Spencer and last but by far not least the best engine tuner and builder in USA Eric Dorn and his crew Gary and the boys from EDR. I would also like to thank everyone involved in Masters of the Mountain and the UtahSBA. I wish more people would realize what a great place to race and participate Miller Motorsports Park really is.” 

The premier King of the Mountain GTO race got the crowd fired up, with Jeff Stern and Jesse Sherstan tied in the championship after the last round. Unfortunately, Stern is spending the rest of his season on crutches leaving Sherstan to lay waste to the field, only bad luck intervened when Sherstan had a mechanical problem on lap six and retired. That left Oleg Pianykh and Ryan Brand in an epic battle for the win, trading positions repeatedly throughout the race. On lap eleven of the fourteen-lap race, Pianykh spun up the rear exiting the final turn in front of the grandstands and nearly highsided, with Brand close enough they nearly collided. Spectators still seated were now jumping, yelling and taking sides. Brand put his head down and grabbed the checkered, and the win leaves Brand the championship points leader by just two points going into the last round of racing. 

 “This wasn’t my first KoM O win, but it was definitely the funnest,” said Brand. The biggest thing for me was my new Michelin slicks. They were awesome. They really hooked up, and I finally had something for the other guys. I was catching Jesse at one point before his motor went.

“I almost hit Oleg (Pianykh). We see=sawed back and forth the whole race, so I decided to stick really close and wait for the right moment. We came into (turn) ten and I was right on him–I took more of an inside line, thank God, and he popped out of the seat pretty far. We were really moving when it happened, and when he went right I almost got him. It was quite an exhilarating moment and the race wouldn’t have been nearly as fun if Oleg fell down. A big thanks to Scott Larsen of Fastline Race Tire–my Michelins were perfect this weekend. Also thanks to Dish Professionals for all their support, and thanks to Oleg for such a fantastic race. That was just a blast–that was one of the funnest races I’ve had in my life.” 

For the TTXGP race, multiple Masters of the Mountains Champion and Yamaha Champion’s Riding School instructor Shane Turpin showed is skills at adapting to new machinery, getting quickly up to speed on the beautiful new electric MotoCzysz. Turpin dominated qualifying and the race, knocking out consistent 1:36 laps on Miller’s West Course and putting him on par with the expert 600s. 

 “It was easy to get up to pace on a bike that good. I know the track real well, and we made a few little adjustment to it then it was ready to qualify,” said Turpin. “It was wild — the bike is so quiet I could hear the crowd in the turn ten stands. It sound like a remote control car going down the road with a bunch of screaming people. I’m blessed to be able to ride something like that–only four people have been on it. Me, Mark Miller, Rutter and Michael Czysz, and we’ve all won races on it.” 

“Thanks to Michael for the opportunity to ride, and UtahSBA for working with the TTXGP at the last minute to make this happen,” added Turpin. 

The new Racing Experience introduction, licensing and mentor program offered by UtahSBA has proven to be a big success at building the novice grids and preparing riders for a successful first season. With nearly 45 riders attending the class over the first six rounds of racing, graduates have gone on to show skill, poise and maturity as provisional novices with several new racers getting up to speed quickly and should prove formidable competitors in the expert ranks next season. 

The seven-race Mountains series, developed by Miller Motorsports Park, organized by the Utah Sportbike Association (UtahSBA) and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), was created to encourage competitive road racing at the club and regional levels. In its seventh year, the series has quickly turned into a premier event drawing top-level talent from around the nation. For more information on schedule, rulebook, purses and contingency, visit www.utahsba.com/racing

2011 Masters of the Mountains race schedule: 

October 1-2 – Miller Motorsports Park Full Course 

Masters of the Mountains 2011 Round 6 Results 

TTXGP 1. Shane Turpin (MotoCzysz) 2. Tim Hunt (Lightning) 3. Steve Atlas (Brammo) 4. Thad Wolff (Moto Electra) 5. Ely Schless (Proto Moto) 

Endurance GTO 1. Paul Parrott (Hon CBR1000RR) 2. Chris Petersen (Yam YZF-R1) 3. Colton Hicks (Hon CBR1000RR) 

Endurance GTU 1. Jim King (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Dana Wilson (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Mark Bigelow (Yam YZF-R6) 

Endurance Relay 1. Clint Warner (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. David Peterson (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Kinzer Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R 

 SuperTwins 1. Harlan Wells (Duc Monster) 2. Brad Moore (Suz SV650) 3. Michael Carr (Suz SV650) 

 Formula 5 1. Mark Snethen (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. James Mckay (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Shane White (Suz GSX-R750) 4. David Peterson (Suz GSX-R750) 5. Aaron Nourbakhsh (Suz SV650) 6. Daniel Qualtire (Yam TZ250) 

 Middleweight Superbike 1. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R600) 2. Austin Carpenter (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Chad Swain (Hon CBR600RR) 4. Clint Gibson (Kaw ZX-6R) 5. Brad Moore (Suz GSX-R600) 6. Tyler Cenarrusa (Suz GSX-R600) 

Novice GTU 1. Harith Albadri (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Kinzer Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R) 3. Anthony Loucks (Hon CBR600RR) 4. David Haak (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Derek Festavan (Hon CBR600RR) 6. Ben Reynolds (Yam YZF-R6) 

Open Superbike 1. Jesse Sherstan (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Oleg Pianykh (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Ryan Brand (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Shane White (Suz GSX-R750) 5. Kevin Dolan (Suz GSX-R1000)

 Twins GTU 1. Brad Moore (Suz SV650) 2. Aaron Nourbakhsh (Suz SV650) 3. Tim Gallagher (Suz SV650) 4. Michael Carr (Suz SV650)

 Amateur GTU 1. Zach Austin (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Anthony Loucks (Hon CBR600RR) 3. Dana Wilson (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Shane Kelsey (Suz GSX-R600) 5. Harith Albadri (Tri Daytona 675) 6. Derek Festavan (Hon CBR600RR) 

 King of the Mountain GTU 1. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R600) 2. Chad Swain (Hon CBR600RR) 3. Clint Gibson (Kaw ZX-6R) 4. James Davis (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Jim King (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Austin Carpenter (Yam YZF-R6)

 Amateur GTO 1. Mark Harper (Hon CBR1000RR) 2. Jared Green (Hon CBR1000RR) 3. Mark Snethen (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Gary Gerber (Yam YZF-R1) 5. David Peterson (Suz GSX-R750) 6. Rob Kaufman (Yam YZF-R1) 

Twins GTO 1. Harlan Wells (Duc Monster) 2. Brad Moore (Suz SV650) Open Superstock 1. Jesse Sherstan (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Eric Jones (Hon CBR1000RR) 3. Ryan Brand (Suz GSX-R1000) 

 Heavyweight Superstock 1. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R600) 2. Clint Gibson (Kaw ZX-6R) 3. Chad Swain (Hon CBR600RR) 4. Brad Moore (Suz GSX-R600) 5. Shane White (Suz GSX-R750) 6. Shane Kelsey (Suz GSX-R600) 

Sportsman 1. Harlan Wells (Duc Monster) 2. Derek Festavan (Hon CBR600RR) 3. David Haak (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Danny Egbert (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Aaron Nourbakhsh (Suz SV650) 6. Mike Hawkins (Suz GSX-R600)

Novice GTO 1. Mark Harper (Hon CBR1000RR) 2. Jared Green (Hon CBR1000RR) 3. David Purcell (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Trent Owens (Hon CBR1000RR) 5. Rob Kaufman (Yam YZF-R1) 6. Anthony Loucks (Hon CBR600RR) 

Middleweight Superstock 1. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R600) 2. Austin Carpenter (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Gerald Hicks (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Chad Swain (Hon CBR600RR) 5. Clint Gibson (Kaw ZX-6R) 6. Brad Moore (Suz GSX-R600) 

King of the Mountain GTO 1. Ryan Brand (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Oleg Pianykh (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. John Hopperstad (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Eric Jones (Hon CBR1000RR) 5. Shane White (Suz GSX-R750) 6. Kevin Dolan (Suz GSX-R1000) 

Formula 40 1. John Hopperstad (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Mark Snethen (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Kevin Dolan (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Gary Gerber (Yam YZF-R1) 5. Jim King (Yam YZF-R6) 6. James Davis (Yam YZF-R6)