Roger Heemsbergen cruised to victory in Sunday’s [June 14] Formula Arroyo and Unlimited Superbike races at Arroyo Seco Raceway. The 1.4-mile track, located in the high desert of southern New Mexico, is known as a breeding ground for talented young riders in the southwest, but it was the 40-year old Heemsbergen who fought off Tucson’s Tiras Banks in the 12-lap Formula Arroyo feature race. “I controlled the pace from the front and ran as hard as I had to go,” said Heemsbergen at the end of the day. “Tiras was really fast today and I knew he was gunning for me.” Banks proved to be the only competition for Heemsbergen in Formula Arroyo. “I knew Roger was going to be tough to beat. I threw on a new set of Dunlops and managed to qualify in second. I didn’t get a very good launch and from there I tried everything I could to get back onto him.” Banks stayed close for a few laps, but midway through the race, Heembergen opened up a four-second gap that he would not relinquish. Marshals brought out the red flag on lap 11 after Albuquerque’s talented Dillon Felt slid off the track while battling El Paso’s Mike Ortiz for fifth. Overall expert points leader Thibault Few would ride home fourth behind 2008 expert champion Kevin Edgington. Banks started from the pole for the 7-lap Unlimited Superbike sprint on his Kawasaki 600, but another poor start allowed Heemsbergen to claim the holeshot by sneaking around the outside of number one plate-holder Edgington. Banks fell back another three places, before bouncing between riders to reclaim third halfway through lap one. On lap two, second place Edgington tucked the front going in the tight left hand entry to the esses, giving Heemsbergen a gap that Banks could not close. “I haven’t quite figured out the bike geometry with the new Michelin tires,” said Edgington. “The front tucked really hard before I had a chance to react to it. It’s a little unusual to have no first places, but I had all podiums except for the one I crashed in so I can’t complain.” Thibault Few, starting Formula Arroyo and Unlimited Superbike on a borrowed motorcycle after crashing out of an earlier sprint race, rounded out the podium with a strong ride to end an unlucky day. On lap one of the morning’s Unlimited Superstock sprint, Few lost the front while passing Edgington around the outside of the track’s fastest corner, and slid off into the sand as his bike tumbled and flipped before coming to rest in pieces, its shock linkage and shaft broken. A dusty but unhurt Few threw his helmet 50 feet in the air, over the pit lane fence and into the parking lot before regaining his composure and riding to strong finishes in the afternoon. Few continues atop the leader board of Formula Arroyo, with 133 points to Heemsbergen’s 130. The Arroyo Seco Motorcyclist Association Series will resume September 13th after a brief summer hiatus.