2010 USGPRU National Championship Wraps up at Miller
Despite many predictions for snow in October in Utah, Mother Nature must love GP racing as she laid out the blue skies and balmy temperatures for the National Championship round of the USGPRU racing series. Racers from across the country converged on Miller Motorsports Park and joined the Utah Sportbike Association for the final race of the 2010 season. As an added bonus, the full 4.5-mile, 23-turn full course configuration was utilized for this weekend’s races.
The racing kicked off on Saturday with the REV’IT! Moriwaki MD250H Powered by HONDA race. It was a real barnburner event with Jake Lewis, Ryan Matter, Nick McFadden and Lex Hartl running nose to tail for the most of the race. The front trio of Lewis, Matter, and Hartl swapped positions countless times with Hartl leading most laps. On the final lap, Lewis and Matter both dove past Hartl on the brakes in the Clubhouse Corner. Lewis claimed the narrow victory over Matter, despite Matter setting the fastest lap of the race. Hartl finished six tenths of a second behind Matter to take third. Nick McFadden finished fourth after fading from the pack mid race, but it was enough for him to claim the MD250H National Championship.
In the Pilot 125GP race, Jake Lewis finished his season just as he started, with a dominating victory aboard his Veloce Racing Aprilia. The win provided more than enough points for him to win the National Championship. Joe Roberts and Lex Hartl wanted to show they had something for the Aprilias as they both passed Nobi Iso on the start. Roberts and Hartl battled for the second spot with Iso in tow until Hartl lost some ground with a lap and a half to go while leading the trio. Iso was then also able to get around Roberts for second. Hartl crossed the line in fourth. Ryan Matter, who did not make the qualifying session due to electrical gremlins, started from the back of the 20 bike grid and worked his way into fifth.
The Moto Liberty/RS Taichi 250GP race saw a shake up in qualifying as veteran racer and local favorite, Don Roberts, snagged pole position. At the drop of the green flag, it was all Vince Rolleri as he opened up a small lead over Roberts and Adrian Jasso. The Miller novice, Jasso, caught up to Rolleri at about half distance and the race was on for the lead. Jasso pressured Rolleri relentlessly, showing his front wheel numerous times but never fully making the pass stick. Finally, Jasso made his move setting up Rolleri on the last lap coming through inside of the ‘Release’ turn as the pair went side-by-side down the front straight in a drag race to the checkered flag. Jasso crossed the line first to claim his first USGPRU 250GP victory. David Matthews came home third with Roberts and Jeff Pratt fourth and fifth. The National Championship points leader, Barrett Long, clinched the championship in New Jersey.
The final USGPRU race of the season was the Rising Sun Cycles/GPTech Moto3 race. Jake Lewis again stormed off to victory with another dominating performance aboard the Veloce Racing Aprilia. Hartl again battled with Iso for second, and despite turning in a faster lap, was unable to best the crafty veteran. Ryan Matter once again worked his way up from the back of the grid to finish fourth. Nick McFadden finished fifth. Lewis set the fastest lap with a blistering 3:06.646 lap, a new lap record on a 125GP machine. The USGPRU would like to extend a special thanks to the staff and racers of the Utah Sportbike Association for allowing us to join them for an amazing weekend of racing. Additionally, we would like to thank all of the series sponsors for all of your support this season.
Pilot 125GP results: 1. Jake Lewis Apr 2. Nobi Iso Apr 3. Joe Roberts Hon 4. Lex Hartl Hon 5. Ryan Matter Hon 6. Yannick Begher Yam 7. Stewart Aitken-Cade Hon 8. Gerry Signorelli Mor 9. John Hjelm Hon 10. Andrew DeCosta Mor 11. Bruce DeGrilla – Mor 12. Alex Wisdom Mor 13. Don Roberts Yam 14. David Matthews Hon 15. Adrian Jasso 16. Paul Hoyt-Nelson Hon DNF Jon Schendel Yam DNF Cody Sousa-Saints Mor DNF Shellie Matthews Hon DNF Erik Dadej Hon
Moto Liberty / RS-Taichi 250GP 1. Adrian Jasso Yam 2. Vince Rolleri Yam 3. David Matthews Yam 4. Don Roberts Yam 5. Jeff Pratt Yam 6. Kevin Winter Yam 7. Bruce Lind Yam 8. Paul Hoyt-Nelson Hon
Rising Sun Cycle / GPTech Moto3 1. Jake Lewis Apr 2. Nobi Iso Apr 3. Lex Hartl Hon 4. Ryan Matter Hon 5. Nick McFadden Mor 6. Stewart Aitken-Cade Hon 7. Yannick Begher Yam 8. Gerry Signorelli Mor 9. Jon Schendel Yam 10. Bruce DeGrilla Mor 11. Andrew DeCosta Mor 12. Cody Sousa-Saints Mor 13. Shellie Matthews Hon 14. DNF Erik Dadej
REV’IT! MD250H Powered by HONDA (All Moriwakis) 1. Jake Lewis 2. Ryan Matter 3. Lex Hartl 4. Nick McFadden 5. Max Flinders 6. Andrew DeCosta 7. Alex Wisdom 8. Cody Sousa-Saints 9. Bruce DeGrilla
The USGPRU is the officially recognized 125 Grand Prix National Championship® and 250 Grand Prix National Championship® series. The popular Moriwaki MD250H spec-bike youth class and the exciting new Moto3 classes round out a real GP experience. The USGPRU provides a unique opportunity for riders by providing extended length grand prix racing with timed qualifying and superb contingency and sponsor support. Race and practice format is designed to prepare riders for the experience of 2-wheel racing at the highest levels.