Return of the Champ!

The Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association returned to MotorSport Ranch in Cresson, Texas this past weekend, the second of two race events held at the 1.7 mile, 10 turn road course. This time, however, the CMRA hosted races in the clockwise direction, something many of the newer riders had never experienced at this track. All agreed that recent repairs to the track surface represented a huge improvement and inspired confidence. And confidence would be needed, in boatloads, because it was H.O.T. With the forecasters calling for 107 and not a cloud in sight, spectators and riders hunkered down and prepared for the worst, which arrived mid-afternoon on Sunday with temperatures that exceeded 110 degrees. As one rider said, this heat wave is a “state of emergency!” While he may not be technically correct because Texas’ Governor and potential future President, Rick Perry hasn’t declared as such yet, but it is in fact, a record setting summer.

Saturday saw some terrific racing as the CMRA faithful showed up in force for the endurance races and Mini sprints. In the 2-Hour Mini Endurance, 23 teams hit the grid in search of fame and fortune. When the dust settled, the top three Formula 4 teams RG&D Racing (Aaron Gore, Austin Gore, Dustin Dominguez, Clayton Schutz, Alan Phillips), the Howlie Boyz (Dean Thimjon, Jason Swan, Jim Swan), and Davis Rod and Cycle (Derek Wagnon, Ryan Andrews, Jesse Davis, Stephen Guynes, Derek Thomas) would leave the field ranked first, second, and third, respectively – the same overall order in which they entered. While the point standings remained unchanged at the top, however, only one team would leave with the designation of coolest new name. Mid-Size Mayhem (Kevin Randall, Dustin Bailey), mounted on a Kawasaki KLX110, managed to round out the Formula 5 podium and finish 24 laps behind the overall race winner, Davis Rod and Cycle.

The 4-Hour Big Bike Endurance was a battle of the titans, or at least larger than Minis. Team Quadwealth/SCRC (Ty Howard, Bryan West, Jeremy Louder, Derek Wagnon, Ryan Andrews) dominated the last MSR event in June, but struggled in the oppressive heat at Hallett three weeks later, falling prey to the wickedly consistent Village Idiots (John Orchard, Chris Headley, Brandon Cleland, Blake Cochran). Determined to redeem themselves and prove that they do in fact own the track at MotorSport Ranch, Quadwealth/SCRC’s RC8 left the line on Saturday with a vengeance and would set a race-best lap time of 1:17:196 within the first thirty minutes. After momentarily relinquishing the lead to the Village Idiots due to an early pit stop, Quadwealth never looked back. Quadwealth would finish three laps ahead of second place, wildcard GMAN Racing (Harry Tomlinson, Garet Tomlinson, Michael Guillot, Danny Dominguez), whose outstanding performance relegated the Village Idiots to third overall.

Proving that the impossible can in fact happen, Sunday’s temperature quickly surpassed Saturday’s high of 109 degrees. What had the field atwitter, though, was Ty Howard’s return to the grid. Howard currently owns the official lap record at each of the CMRA’s tracks, which he set at MotorSport Ranch in the clockwise direction back in 2006 with a stunning 1:14:586. Howard is also last year’s defending overall champion and currently holds the distinct honor of running the Number 1 Plate. Due to deteriorating track conditions, the odds of besting Howard’s 2006 record have diminished of late; however, youngster Derek Wagnon has proved to be a real threat to Howard’s records at several tracks this season, including MSR.

Wagnon hit the ground running and quickly (no pun intended) won the South Central Race Center C Superstock Expert and B Superstock Expert events on his RaceworX-tuned Suzuki GSX-R600. Wagnon was in a league of his own and flat out ran away from the crowd by posting lap times that missed Howard’s record by less than a second. Wagnon would need the practice, because the Champ himself, Howard, was in attendance to make sure that his record stayed intact.

Howard picked race seven, the RaceworX A Superstock Expert event as the weekend’s battleground for his KTM RC8, but got off to a rough start because the bike wasn’t set up to run DOT tires. Starting from two rows behind Howard, Wagnon put his head down and managed to pass him for the lead, something only a select few of riders have ever been able to do. Fortunately for Howard, the race was restarted after the CMRA race control threw a red flag to recover Rookie Expert and all-round nice guy Eddie Thornton. The early lunch gave Howard just enough time to have RaceworX tweak his suspension.

According to Howard, “I decided not to go hard [at the restart] because I wanted to follow Wagnon instead of lead,” presumably because it’s easier to chase than it is to lead. Wagnon looked back with two laps to go and saw that Howard was several seconds behind, but with Howard, it won’t stay that way for long. Howard made a big push and ran a weekend best lap of 1:14:875, quickly closing the gap on Wagnon. On the final lap, Wagnon looked back to see that Howard was now only a bikes length behind, which spelled trouble because Wagnon’s 600 needed breathing space to prevent being passed by the wickedly powerful RC-8 on the upcoming straight.

Unfortunately, Wagnon pushed a hair too hard and ended his race early two corners later. With Wagnon out, Howard would handily win the race. As an aside, Howard’s 1:14:8 lap could have been faster, but was hampered by a near miss for fast guy Danny Kelsey, who almost crashed, causing Howard to chop the throttle mid-corner. Howard would also win the A Superbike Expert race, this time on slicks.

CMRA Expert Austin Gore had an excellent weekend, winning the D Superbike, Lightweight Twins, and Formula 2 events on his Suzuki SV650. Hamstrung by a fractured ankle, which is still mending, Darrell (DJ) Ricks would take second in the same events. We look forward to Rick’s return to health as these two have provided countless battles for the fans over the course of this season.

In the Novice divisions, Ryan Max (the Dentist) Johnson, Craig Thomson, and Jose Silva cleaned house. Johnson would win the OnRoad OffRoad Suspension D Superstock and Fastline Motorcycle School D Superbike events. Craig Thomson and Silva fought tooth and nail in the Lone Star Track Days B Superstock, Moto Liberty C Superstock, and B Superbike events. Thomson won the contests of speed in two of the events, but finished unusually low (8th) in the A Superbike race when he was unceremoniously punted from the track by Rune Medhus’ beast of a Ducati. According to an observer on a Kawasaki, Rune had the inside line entering Ricochet, held it, and led the charge out, which closed the door on Thomson’s puny R6. Said Rune, “Thomson should know when to back off” he can’t outrun this bike in that corner! Well said, sir!!

Jose Silva would win five of seven races entered. Said Silva, “My favorite race was B Superstock where Craig Thomson and I battled for the entire race.” Silva led most of the laps, but was foiled on the final leg when a lapped rider failed to yield (no blue flags in Texas) and cost Silva valuable nano seconds. Thomson would win the race at the line by 0.09 seconds. According to Silva, it was a great weekend of racing with the CMRA.

The CMRA heads back to Eagles Canyon Raceway in Decatur, Texas, one final time this season on the weekend of September 2325. On Friday, Lone Star Track Days (www.lstd.com) will provide the CMRA License School, racer practice and street rider track day. CMRA racing begins on Saturday with Mini sprint races and a 6-Hour Big Bike endurance race with a $2500 cash purse sponsored by Shogun Motorsports and Brooks Gremmels. Sunday’s racing begins at 10:25 a.m. and includes a complete schedule of Big Bike sprint races. For more information about the CMRA, including detailed schedules and race results, visit: www.cmraracing.com. Spectators are encouraged to bring popcorn and enjoy the show.

RACEWORX A SUPERSTOCK: 1. Ty Howard (KTM RC8); 2. Danny Kelsey (Hon CBR1000RR); 3. William Guthrie (BMW S1000RR); 4. Landon Talley (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Brandt Dillon (Suz GSX-R1000); 6. Billy Gonzalez (Yam YZF-R1).

ONROAD OFFROAD SUSPENSION A SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. Jose Silva (Kaw ZX-6R); 2. Guillermo A. Gonzalez (Yam YZF-R1); 3. Martin Scribner (Duc 1098); 4. Peyton Inge (Kaw ZX-10R); 5. Richard Schiller (Yam YZF-R1); 6. Matt Vastine (Suz GSX-R750).

B SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Derek Wagnon (Suz GSX-R600); 2. Carlos Lescale (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Danny Kelsey (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Brandon Cleland (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Garet Tomlinson (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Conner Blevins (Yam YZF-R6).

LONE STAR TRACK DAYS B SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. Craig Thomson (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Jose Silva (Kaw ZX-6R); 3. Matt Vastine (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Peyton Inge (Kaw ZX-6R); 5. Benjamin Gooding (Duc 749S); 6. Carl Price (Duc 848).

SOUTH CENTRAL RACE CENTER C SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Derek Wagnon (Suz GSX-R600); 2. Carlos Lescale (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Ryan Andrews (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Garet Tomlinson (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Brandon Cleland (Yam YZF-R6); 6. James Camacho Jr. (Yam YZF-R6).

MOTO LIBERTY C SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. Craig Thomson (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Jose Silva (Kaw ZX-6R); 3. Jacob Pearson (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Carl Price (Duc 848); 5. Will Boldt (Suz GSX-R600); 6. Bobby Davies (Yam YZF-R6).

D SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Daniel Adams (Suz SV650); 2. Darrell Ricks (Suz SV650); 3. Eric Falt (Suz SV650); 4. Shawn Adams (Suz SV650); 5. Andrew Sukach (Suz SV650); 6. Rich Wu (Suz SV650).

ONROAD OFFROAD SUSPENSION D SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. Ryan Max Johnson (Suz SV650); 2. Mike Canzoneri (Suz SV650); 3. Josh Henke (Suz SV650); 4. Frank Rodriguez (Suz SV650); 5. Juan De Hoyos (Suz SV650).

A SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Ty Howard (KTM RC8); 2. Danny Kelsey (Hon CBR1000RR); 3. William Guthrie (BMW S1000RR); 4. Craig Montgomery (KTM RC8); 5. Landon Talley (Suz GSX-R1000); 6. Brian Carter (Yam YZF-R1).

A SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. Jose Silva (Kaw ZX-6R); 2. Rune Medhus (Duc 1198S); 3. Peyton Inge (Kaw ZX-10R); 4. Matt Vastine (Suz GSX-R750); 5. Brian Younger (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Thomas Delaney (Hon CBR1000RR).

B SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Carlos Lescale (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Danny Kelsey (Hon CBR1000RR); 3. James Camacho Jr. (Yam YZF-R1); 4. Conner Blevins (Kaw ZX-6R); 5. Blake Cochran (Yam YZF-R6); 6. David Rice (Kaw ZX-6R).

B SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. Jose Silva (Kaw ZX-6R); 2. Craig Thomson (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Matt Vastine (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Patrick Kelly (Apr RSV1000); 5. Richard Bevis (Suz GSX-R750); 6. David Hildebrand (Suz GSX-R600).

ISLAND RACING SERVICES C SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Carlos Lescale (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Brandon Cleland (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Ryan Andrews (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Conner Blevins (Kaw ZX-6R); 5. Blake Cochran (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Hayden Schultz (Suz GSX-R600).

RIDESMART MOTORCYCLE SCHOOL C SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. Jose Silva (Kaw ZX-6R); 2. Peyton Inge (Kaw ZX-6R); 3. Jacob Pearson (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Brian Younger (Yam YZF-R6); 5. Bobby Davies (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Joe Hopper (Kaw ZX-6R).

D SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Austin Gore (Suz SV650); 2. Darrell Ricks (Suz SV650); 3. Daniel Adams (Suz SV650); 4. Shawn Adams (Suz SV650); 5. Mark Kline (Hon CBR-F2); 6. John Paul Jose (Suz SV650).

FASTLINE MOTORCYCLE SCHOOL D SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. Ryan Max Johnson (Suz SV650); 2. Mike Canzoneri (Suz SV650); 3. Noah Reese (Suz SV650); 4. David Canzoneri (Suz SV650); 5. Chris Cummins (Yam YZ450); 6. Eric Williams (Suz SV650).

HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS EXPERT: 1. Ryan Andrews (Pierbon F042); 2. Craig Montgomery (KTM RC8); 3. Van Blaylock (Duc 1198S); 4. Ronnie Hay (Duc 1098); 5. Ryan Warren (TriDay 675); 6. Jeff Martin (Duc 848).

RODRIGUEZ CABINETS HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS NOVICE: 1. Rune Medhus (Duc 1198S); 2. Carl Price (Duc 848); 3. Patrick Kelly (Apr RSV1000); 4. Lindsey Redfern (Duc 848); 5. Martin Scribner (Duc 1098).

LIGHTWEIGHT TWINS EXPERT: 1. Austin Gore (Suz SV650); 2. Darrell Ricks (Suz SV650); 3. Daniel Adams (Suz SV650); 4. Shawn Adams (Suz SV650); 5. Wyatt Sperry (Hon RS125); 6. John Paul Jose (Suz SV650).

RIDESMART MOTORCYCLE SCHOOL LIGHWEIGHT TWINS NOVICE: 1. Ryan Max Johnson (Suz SV650); 2. Mike Canzoneri (Suz SV650); 3. Noah Reese (Suz SV650); 4. Josh Henke (Suz SV650); 5. Rodney Barkalow (Hon RS125); 6. Michael Sobjak (Suz SV650).

125 GRAND PRIX: 1. James Camacho Jr. (Hon RS125); 2. Jay Newton (Yam TZ125); 3. Wyatt Sperry (Hon RS125); 4. Rodney Barkalow (Hon RS125); 5. Steven Barone (Apr RS125).

FORMULA 1 EXPERT: 1. Danny Kelsey (Hon CBR1000RR); 2. William Guthrie (BMW S1000RR); 3. Billy Gonzalez (Yam YZF-R1); 4. Landon Talley (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Brandon Cleland (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Brian Carter (Yam YZF-R6).

ROAD & TRACK SUSPENSION FORMULA 1 NOVICE: 1. Jose Silva (Kaw ZX-6R); 2. Rune Medhus (Duc 1198S); 3. Guillermo A. Gonzalez (Yam YZF-R1); 4. Peyton Inge (Kaw ZX-10R); 5. Richard Schiller (Yam YZF-R1).

FORMULA 2 EXPERT: 1. Austin Gore (Suz SV650); 2. Darrell Ricks (Suz SV650); 3. Daniel Adams (Suz SV650); 4. Shawn Adams (Suz SV650); 5. Michael Edwards (Hon CBR600F3); 6. Mark Kline (Hon CBR600F2).

ROAD & TRACK SUSPENSION FORMULA 2 NOVICE: 1. Ryan Max Johnson (Suz SV650); 2. Eric Williams (Suz SV650); 3. Josh Henke (Suz SV650); 4. Noah Reese (Suz SV650); 5. Mike Canzoneri (Suz SV650); 6. David Canzoneri (Suz SV650).

FORMULA 40 HEAVYWEIGHT EXPERT: 1. John Orchard (Yam YZF-R6); 2. John Deuser (Suz GSX-R750); 3. Brian Carter (Yam YZF-R1); 4. Harry Tomlinson (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Adrian Marquez (Suz GSX-R600).

FORMULA 40 HEAVYWEIGHT NOVICE: 1. Guillermo A. Gonzalez (Yam YZF-R1); 2. Rune Medhus (Duc 1198S); 3. Richard Schiller (Yam YZF-R1); 4. Thomas Delaney (Hon CBR1000RR); 5. Robert Lingo (Suz GSX-R750); 6. Patrick Kelly (Apr RSV1000).

FORMULA 40 LIGHTWEIGHT EXPERT: 1. Bill Erzal (Suz GSX-R600); 2. Steven Isenhower (Hon CBR600F3); 3. Eric Falt (Suz SV650); 4. Mark Kline (Hon CBR600F2); 5. David E. Wilson (Hon CBR600); 6. Gilbert Lee Epperson (Hon CBR600F3).

FORMULA 40 LIGHTWEIGHT NOVICE: 1. Karl Hansen (Hon CBR600); 2. Frank Rodriguez (Suz SV650); 3. Juan De Hoyos (Suz SV650); 4. David Tipton (KTM 690).

UNLIMITED MOTARD:1. Ted Phillips (Apr SXV 5.5); 2. David Tipton (KTM 690); 3. Chris Randle (Hon CRF450); 4. Randolph Del Greco (Apr SXV5.5); 5. Chris Cummins (Yam YZ450).

CLUBMAN: 1. Ryan Ambrose (TriBon 750); 2. Eric Williams (Hon RS85); 3. Wyatt Sperry (Hon RS80); 4. Jerrett Martin (TriBon 750); 5. Michael Edwards (Apr RS125).

RENTMYNINJA.COM E SUPERSTOCK: 1. Ryan Andrews (Hon CBR250R); 2. Alan Phillips (Kaw EX250); 3. Brandon Altmeyer (Kaw EX250); 4. Dustin Dominguez (Kaw EX250); 5. Ryan Max Johnson (Kaw EX250); 6. Austin Gore (Kaw EX250).

ROOKIE EXPERT: 1. Hayden Schultz (Suz GSX-R600); 2. Adrian Marquez (Suz GSX-R600); 3. Sean Gurevich (Kaw ZX-6R).

K&N MOTORCYCLES JUNIOR MOTARD: 1. Collin Schultz (Kaw KLX110); 2. Gabrielle Harber (Yam TTR90); 3. Trey Walker (Yam TTR90); 4. Max Black (Kaw KLX 110); 5. Adin Jose (Yam PW50).

ROAD AND TRACK SUSPENSION FORMULA 4: 1. Brandon Altmeyer (Kaw EX250); 2. Eric Williams (Hon RS125); 3. Wyatt Sperry (Hon RS80); 4. Ryan Max Johnson (Kaw EX250); 5. Jesse Davis (Hon CBR250R); 6. Dustin Dominguez (Kaw EX250).

ONROAD OFFROAD SUSPENSION FORMULA 5: 1. Jay Newton (Hon NSF100); 2. Nick Doolan (Hon RS65); 3. Ryan Warren (KTM 65); 4. Taylor Myers (Hon RS65); 5. Lee Henry (Hon CRF150); 6. Barry Hobbs (Hon CBR150).

ROAD AND TRACK SUSPENSION FORMULA 6: 1. Jay Newton (Hon NSF100); 2. Dylan Holman (Hon NSR50); 3. Roger Albert (Hon XR100).

FORMULA 7: 1. Dylan Holman (Hon NSR50).

4-HOUR BIG BIKE ENDURANCE: 1. Quadwealth/SCRC (Ty Howard/Bryan West/Jeremy Louder/Derek Wagnon/Ryan Andrews), KTM RC8, A Superbike, 176 laps; 2. GMAN Racing (Harry Tomlinson/Garet Tomlinson/Michael Guillot/Danny Dominguez), Kaw ZX-10R, A Superbike, 173 laps; 3. Village Idiots (John Orchard/Chris Headley/Brandon Cleland/Blake Cochran), Yam YZF-R6, C Superbike, 172 laps; 4. Lone Star Track Days (Mark Niemi/Andy Galindo/Gabe McClendon), Kaw ZX-10R, C Superbike, 171 laps; 5. Team Ridesmart (Dirk Anderson/Brandt Dillon/William Guthrie/James Caraballo), Suz GSX-R1000, A Superbike, 167 laps; 6. ST II (Chris Fields/Kenny Smith), Yam YZF-R6, C Superbike, 166 laps.

2-HOUR MINI ENDURANCE: 1. Davis Rod and Cycle (Derek Wagnon/Jesse Davis/Ryan Andrews/Stephen Guynes/Derek Thomas), Hon CBR250R, Formula 4, 79 laps; 2. Howlie Boyz (Dean Thimjon/Jason Swan/Jim Swan), Kaw EX250, Formula 4, 78 laps; 3. RG&D Racing (Aaron Gore/Austin Gore/Dustin Dominguez/Clayton Schutz/Alan Phillips), Kaw EX250, Formula 4, 78 laps; 4. Scarey Racing (Greg Anderson/Sam Carey/Ricky Parker/Chris Carey/Matt Hall), Kaw EX250, Formula 4, 76 laps; 5. Green Time (Rich Wu/John Deuser), Kaw EX250, Formula 4, 75 laps; 6. Team Cizznakel (Britten Geary/Darnell Dorsey/Danny Dominguez/Keith Cornman), Kaw EX250, Formula 4, 74 laps.

More, from a press release issued by Ducati Oklahoma Pros 4 Vets:

DUCATI OKLAHOMA PROS 4 VETS FINISH STRONG WITH A PODIUM

The Ducati Oklahoma Pros 4 Vets 1198S race bike brought home a solid third-place finish in the Heavy Weight Twins class on August 28,2011, at Motorsport Ranch in Cresson, TX. Air Force Captain Van Blaylock fought through an intense three-way battle for the final podium spot in his final race of the season, as he is returning to duty in southwest Asia. The heat-soaked Texas track saw air temperatures of 110°F and track temperatures in excess of 150°F. The excessive heat prompted race control to initiate a one-third reduction in race distances for Sunday’s races–a precautionary measure to guard against heat-related injuries. Unfortunately, the shortened race distance did not give Blaylock the time to track down first or second place, but securing a podium spot was a good result for the team. 

“We were very concerned with the heat all weekend. It’s as hot here as it is in the Middle East this time of year!” exclaimed Blaylock. “Sunday was marred by red flags and people getting hurt–the heat was just too much for the riders and their tires. After I made the pass to get into third place, I saw that the second-place rider was just too far away to catch. My thoughts then turned to bringing the bike in for a podium finish, and making sure I finished safely so that I can deploy in a couple weeks,” Blaylock concluded.

Team Principal Ryan Tupps added, “We’re very happy with the result. It was important that we end this year’s effort on a positive note so that we can come back next year ready for action.” Ducati Oklahoma and Capt. Blaylock are looking forward to racing in the 2012 CMRA season.