PHOENIX, Ariz. — Though he only had to finish fifth in the Unlimited Grand Prix race to clinch the 2010 Expert Number One plate for the CCS Southwest region, Ray Thibedeau wanted to wrap up the season on a high note on Sunday, November 14 at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Originally, I wanted to cruise and stay safe, and if they were riding hard, I’d try for third or fourth,” said Thibedeau, who pilots the Dunlop-shod No. 119 Evolution Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000. “But as we got going, I decided I really wanted to go out with a win. I put in one strong lap after I passed Nathan [Mitchell], and then tried to manage the race.”

After starting in third in the Unlimited GP race, Thibedeau passed David Siminski in Turn Three on the fifth lap to take second place. On the next lap in Turn Seven, Thibedeau slipped past the up-and-coming Nathan Mitchell to take the lead and ultimately the win.

“We had a good season I had some early success and built on that momentum,” Thibedeau said. “All of my sponsors Evolution Racing, Dunlop, Jim Cox Racing, Komodo and Kurvey Girl gave me a lot of support this season. We were able to race hard and stay safe.”

Safety was key during the Unlimited GP race: A rider had fallen during the previous contest, spilling some oil on the track and there was a crash in Turn One at the start, resulting in a red-flag and re-start.

“There was a little bit of oil in Turn Four it was slippery, but everyone slowed down,” Thibedeau said.

Having started 2010 as an Amateur and winning the first two races of the season handily, Mitchell petitioned to move up into the Expert class. With a strong second-place finish in Unlimited GP on the No. 13 Team Tractive Technology Yamaha YZF-R6, Mitchell showed he more than belongs among the Experts.

“I was glad to get the holeshot and I tried to hold Ray off the best I could, but he was on the 1000 and had a little bit more horsepower and he’s a very experienced rider,” said Mitchell, a Pirelli rider. “When he ended up coming by me, I looked back and made sure I had a sizable gap over third and worked to maintain second. It’s been a great season, and I want to thank Andres Alvira and Team Tractive Technologies, and my mom and dad.”

On the No. 6 RunGP Honda CBR600, Siminski finished third on his Pirellis.

Rocco Horvath riding his Pirelli-shod No. 214 Pitbull/Hardbodies/Basha High School Kawasaki ZX-6RR and Suzuki SV650 captured the Amateur Number One plate.

RESULTS:

Middleweight Vintage 1. Pete Murray (Yam 748) 2. Matt Rohwer (Moto Guzzi) 3. Dan Tarr (Yam 400) 4. Dave Ramsey (Yam 350)

Heavyweight Vintage 1. Dennis Parrish 2. Ken Stanhope (Suz 750) 3. Dave Turner 4. Tracy Riffe (Suz 1000)

Ultra Lightweight Superbike 1. Matthew Kellerman (Hyo 650) 2. Andrew Gluvna (Suz SV650) 3. Rocco Horvath (Suz SV650) 4. Alan Chook (Suz SV650) 5. Joel Dennis (Suz SV650) 6. Anthony Dinobile (Suz SV650)

Amateur Middleweight Supersport 1. Jordon McGee (Kaw ZX-6R) 2. Trevor Van Horn (Hon CBR600RR) 3. Steve Bancroft (Hon CBR600RR) 4. Brion Muscarella (Kaw ZX-6RR)

Expert Middleweight Supersport 1. Ryan Tarr (Yam YZF-R6) 2. David Siminski (Hon CBR600RR) 3. Matthew Dom (Tri Daytona 675) 4. Chris Coonshead (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Frank Diranna (Tri Daytona 675)

Lightweight Supersport 1. Andrew Gluvna (Suz SV650) 2. Jason McDonnell (Suz SV650) 3. Alan Chook (Suz SV650) 4. Chaz Abbott (Suz SV650)

Super Vintage 1. Dennis Parrish 2. Pete Murray (Yam 650) 3. Dave Turner 4. Dan Tarr (Yam 400)

Pirelli Diablo 600 1. Joshua Mosley (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. William Harfert (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Nathan Mitchell (Yam YZF-R6) 4. David Siminski (Hon CBR600RR)

Expert Unlimited Supersport 1. Ray Thibedeau (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Matthew Dom (Tri Daytona 675) 3. Tom Savoca (Suz GSX-R1000)

Amateur Unlimited Supersport 1. Trevor Van Horn (Hon CBR600RR) 2. Andrew Gluvna (Suz SV650)

Super Twins 1. Jeff Horvath (Duc 749) 2. Kerry Alter (Suz SV650)

Expert Unlimited Superbike 1. Nathan Mitchell (Yam YZF-R6) 2. David Siminski (Hon CBR600RR) 3. William Hartfert (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Luke Johnston (Yam YZF-R1) 5. Tom Savoca (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Tyler Smith (Hon CBR1000RR)

Expert Middleweight Superbike 1. Joshua Mosley (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. Chris Coonshead (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Frank Diranna (Tri Daytona 675)

Amateur Middleweight Superbike 1. Rocco Horvath (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. Trevor Van Horn (Hon CBR600RR) 3. Steve Bancroft (Hon CBR600RR) 4. Jordan McGee (Kaw ZX-6R)

Formula 40 1. Tyler Smith (Hon CBR1000RR) 2. Tom Savoca (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Bill Davis (Hon CBR1000RR) 4. Chris Coonshead (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Patrick Bertinelli (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Scott Ladd (Suz GSX-R10000)

Lightweight Formula 40 1. Billy Pedro

Thunderbike 1. Matthew Kellerman (Hyo 650) 2. Kerry Alter (Suz SV650) 3. Jeff Horvath (Duc 749) 4. Alan Chook (Suz SV650) 5. Dave Ramsey (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Anthony Dinobile (Suz SV650)

Unlimited Grand Prix 1. Ray Thibedeau (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Nathan Mitchell (Yam YZF-R6) 3. David Siminski (Hon CBR600RR) 4. Joshua Mosley (Kaw ZX-6RR) 5. Tyler Smith (Hon CBR1000RR) 6. Bill Davis (Hon CBR1000RR)

Lightweight Superbike 1. Rocco Horvath (Suz SV650) 2. Matthew Kellerman (Hyo 650) 3. Andrew Gluvna (Suz SV650) 4. Kerry Alter (Suz SV650) 5. Anthony Dinobile (Suz SV650)

Heavyweight Superbike 1. Chris Coonshead (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Scott Ladd (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Frank Diranna (Tri Daytona 675) 4. Steve Bancroft (Hon CBR600RR)

Lightweight Grand Prix 1. Rocco Horvath (Suz SV650) 2. Matthew Kellerman (Hyo 650) 3. Kerry Alter (Suz SV650)

Expert Middleweight Grand Prix 1. Joshua Mosley (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. David Siminski (Hon CBR600RR) 3. Ryan Tarr (Yam YZF-R6)

Amateur Middleweight Grand Prix 1. Rocco Horvath (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. Jordan McGee (Kaw ZX-6R) 3. Trevor Van Horn (Hon CBR600RR) 4. Steve Bancroft (Hon CBR600RR)

About Road Race Southwest, Inc

Road Race Southwest has been an affiliate of the Championship Cup Series for over five years in the Southwest region. Road Race Southwest and its subsidiary, XCEL Trackdays, owned by Tyler Smith and Patrick Bertinelli, strive to be the premier road-racing and track day organizations in the region, serving riders of all levels of expertise.

To learn more about race schedules, license requirements and new riders school for those looking to break into this exciting sport, please visit www.roadracesw.com.