Competition heats up with no dominant winner for Masters of the Mountains Round 4 

With Masters of the Mountains #1 plateholder Shane Turpin out so far this season with injuries, competition was fierce between a handful of top racers trading wins. In the middleweight classes, Jesse Sherstan of Alberta, Canada took the first win of the weekend grabbing the checkered flag in Middleweight Superstock and Middleweight Superbike. In the premier middleweight class, King of the Mountain GTU, Jeff Stern came from behind passing Sherstan on lap 4, going inside in the “Gotcha” turn 4. Points leader Dave Lewis fell on lap 1, tucking the front on cold tires in “Tooele” turn. 

 With Lewis falling and second-in-points Brant Wiwi out for the season with injuries, this puts Stern in the points lead in KoM GTU. “Funny thing is, we didn’t practice on the 600 hardly at all,” said Stern. “We were struggling on the big bike “¦ On the 600 I was less than a second off my big bike times, so we focused on that. After one big change, things just fell in line for the 600. 

“The KoM GTU race just came to me. I was worried about (Dave) Lewis and Oleg (Pianykh). After Lewis flicked it away in turn 11 on lap 1, that really botched-up Oleg, but Jesse (Sherstan) got by cleanly. I got by Oleg in ‘Windup’ trail-braking deeply, then started running down Jesse. Two laps later Jesse made a mistake in ‘Gotcha’ and went wide, and I got under him. I got my head down and put in two flyers and gapped Jesse, but he kept me honest. I’m coming up next round and bringing some friends. I’d like to thank Sport Tire Service, Dunlop tires, WSMC, Arai helmets, Motul oils, EBC pads, LP, LeBard and Underwood, Pro-Line Fasteners and Land Rover Las Vegas.” 

In the heavyweight classes, Stern, Gerry Signorelli and Matt Cusumano battled and traded wins, with Cusumano taking the win in the premier King of the Mountain GTO race. “My goal for this weekend was to win the KOM event, and take over the points lead for the Number 1 plate,” said Cusumano. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and Signorelli and Stern stepped up the competition dramatically this month. My Ducati 1098R was working very well in practice, and I was able to qualify on pole.

“In Sunday morning practice, Jeff Stern put in some truly incredible laps times, breaking into the 1.33’s. I knew the race would be a battle, and that I needed to get the hole shot. Luckily, for the start of this race, I was able to get one of my best launches ever. 

“I knew from experience that Stern waits until the final lap to make his move. I couldn’t let him ride right on my tail during the race. He got close, but was never able to show me a wheel. Signorelli got within 2 bike lengths of me on lap 7 or 8, but he overshot turn one, and had to run off the track. Signorelli and Stern kept up the pressure for the entire race. It was one of the hardest, most intense races I’ve run in many years. I would like to thank my sponsors Moto-Forza Ducati of Escondito California and Boulder Motorsports.” 

Gerry Signorelli of team Racing For a Wish had a strong showing on his BMW and was in the hunt all weekend, with wins in Open Superbike and Open Superstock. “Having qualified third, I had some work to do,” said Signorelli. I entered the first corner in third position, and worked my way to second. I hunted down Cusumano and tried to be patient. In the process I set the fastest lap of the race and improved my personal best by a full second. Unfortunately, I pushed too hard into turn one and ran wide, letting Stern and Cusumano get away. I’ll be at Masters of the Mountain Round 5. Thanks to Kory Cowan with Intermountain Racer Supply and Pirelli.” 

In the twins classes, Jon Glaefke of Boulder, Colorado and his F042 Ducati-powered bike laid waste to the field in Twins GTO and Twins GTU. 

For Masters of the Mountains Round 5-8, all reciprocity licensing fees will be waived. Contingency and purses are up for grabs. Come race the best racing facility in North America, Miller Motorsports Park. The seven-race Plaza Cycle Masters of the Mountains series, developed by Miller Motorsports Park, organized by the Utah Sportbike Association (USBA) and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), was created to encourage and develop fun and competitive road racing at the club and regional levels. In its fifth year, the series has quickly turned into a premier event drawing top-level talent from around the nation. For more information, visit www.utahsba.com/racing

Plaza Cycle Masters of the Mountains – Round 4 results

Middleweight Superstock 1. Jesse Sherstan Yam YZF-R6 2. Brad Moore Suz GSX-R600 3. Thor Verdonk Hon CBR600RR 4. Dana Wilson Yam YZF-R6 5. Shane Kelsey Suz GSX-R600 

Open Superstock 1. Gerry Signorelli BMW S1000RR 2. Gary Poole Suz GSX-R1000 3. Clint Warner Suz GSX-R1000 4. Travis Child Suz GSX-R1000 5. Spencer Steed Hon CBR1000RR 6. Eric Jones Hon CBR1000RR 

Heavyweight Superstock 1. David Lewis Yam YZF-R6 2. Brandal Glenn Duc 848 3. David Peterson Suz GSX-R750 4. Oleg Pianykh Yam YZF-R6 5. Shane White Suz GSX-R1000 

Sportsman 1. Zach Austin Kaw ZX6R 2. David Purcell Hon CBR1000RR 3. Chris Blockston Yam YZF-R6 4. David Haak Yam YZF-R6 5. Mike Housley Suz GSX-R600 6. Thomas Berry Kaw EX500 

Endurance 1. Dustin Ohara Suz GSX-R1000 2. Shane White Suz GSX-R1000 3. Mark Bigelow Yam YZF-R6 4. Gary Poole Suz GSX-R1000 5. Paul Parrott Tri 675 6. Adam Fetter Yam YZF-R6 

Twins GTO 1. Jon Glaefke FO42 2. Sean Black Suz SV650 3. Dustin Ohara Suz SV650 4. Brian Whipple Duc 1098R 5. Brandal Glenn Duc 848 

Novice GTO 1. Darrel Cherry Hon CBR600RR 2. Brian Prax Yam YZF-R6 3. Douglas Pogue Tri 675 4. Shawn Nay Suz GSX-R600 5. David Purcell Hon CBR1000RR 6. Chris Blockston Suz GSX-R600 

KOM GTU 1. Jeff Stern Kaw ZX6R 2. Jesse Sherstan Yam YZF-R6 3. Oleg Pianykh Yam YZF-R6 4. Mac Millner Suz GSX-R600 5. Philip Horwitz Yam YZF-R6 6. James Davis Yam YZF-R6 

Twins GTU 1. Jon Glaefke FO42 2. Don Roberts Yam TZ125 3. Thomas Berry Kaw EX500 4. Sean Black Suz SV650 5. Dustin Ohara Suz SV650 6. Ho Wong Suz SV650 

Amateur GTU 1. Brad Moore Suz GSX-R600 2. Douglas Pogue Tri 675 3. Darrel Cherry Hon CBR600RR 4. Mark Sanders Hon CBR600RR 5. Thor Verdonk Hon CBR600RR 6. Shane Kelsey Suz GSX-R600 

Open Superbike 1. Gerry Signorelli BMW S1000RR 2. Clint Warner Suz GSX-R1000 3. Gary Poole Suz GSX-R1000 4. Spencer Steed Hon CBR1000RR 5. Eric Jones Hon CBR1000RR 6. Tommy Richardson Suz GSX-R1000 

Formula 40 1. Gary Poole Suz GSX-R1000 2. John Hopperstad Suz GSX-R1000 3. Jay Millhiser Suz GSX-R1000 4. Tommy Richardson Suz GSX-R1000 5. Mark Snethen Suz GSX-R1000 6. Dana Wilson Yam YZF-R6 

Novice GTU 1. Gerald Hicks Yam YZF-R6 2. Douglas Pogue Tri 675 3. Paul Parrott Tri 675 4. Mark Bigelow Yam YZF-R6 5. Zach Austin Kaw ZX6R 6. Shawn Nay Yam YZF-R6 

Middleweight Superbike 1. Jesse Sherstan Yam YZF-R6 2. David Lewis Yam YZF-R6 3. Oleg Pianykh Yam YZF-R6 4. Brad Moore Suz GSX-R600 5. Mac Millner Suz GSX-R600 6. Thor Verdonk Hon CBR600RR 

Amateur GTO 1. Jay Millhiser Suz GSX-R1000 2. Brad Moore Suz GSX-R600 3. Mark Snethen Suz GSX-R1000 4. Tommy Richardson Suz GSX-R1000 5. Brian Prax Yam YZF-R6 6. Mark Sanders Hon CBR600RR 

KOM GTO 1. Matt Cusumano Duc 1098R 2. Jeff Stern Suz GSX-R1000 3. Gerry Signorelli BMW S1000RR 4. Gary Poole Suz GSX-R1000 5. John Hopperstad Suz GSX-R1000 6. Eric Jones Hon CBR1000RR 

Formula 5 1. Brian Prax Suz SV650 2. Sean Black Suz SV650 3. Warren Rose Hon CBR600RR 4. Brendal Glenn Duc 848 5. Brian Whipple Duc 1098R 6. Dustin Ohara Suz SV650