Roadrace Southwest spent three days in the hot Las Vegas desert last weekend and the race action was some of the best of the season. With temperatures in the 100’s and a light breeze, racers and staff alike were downing copious amounts of fluids to stave off heat related injuries, yet everyone gave 110% on the track. Young Ivan Garza, now with three Mezcal Beneva Kawasakis at his disposal raced 16 events and won 14 of them! His times barely fell off as the weekend continued and did not finish the two races he did not win. One could not argue that a couple of the best races of the weekend came during Lightweight events between Bob Russell (Shelley’s the Best) and Aron Weiss (Amsoil) on their SV 650 Suzuki’s. The young Weiss has found a way to beat the elder (but still young looking) statesman of the class and it made for some extremely close racing that had some spectators covering their eyes, the safety crew on edge and everyone else cheering loudly. It was also good to see Danny Demel (Vortex) have a successful weekend on his comeback from serious injury. On the “next year’s experts” front, Ray Thibedeau (Sharkskinz) dominated his events and was only kept honest by fast amateurs Pat Bertinelli (Krewe of Helios) and Rick Bucher (3r Paintworks) during the Heavyweight and Middleweight events. Ray still managed a perfect 12 for 12 weekend while pulling Iron Man duty. The only dark spot of the weekend was a newly created dangerous spot created over the summer by track construction. A walkway/ramp was made on the outside of turn seven where riders are hard on the brakes after a full bore run down the back straight and sweeper. The effective run off was shortened in an already short run off area. Race officials applied hay bales to the area after some riders crashed in the area with bumps and bruises, but damaged motorcycles. RRSW Race Director Randy Stem said they are engaging in talks with track officials to find a way to make the area safer (Thank you NASCAR.). Roadrace Southwest moves on to Arroyo Seco in New Mexico September 31st to October 1st. For more information on the race, pre-entry, rules and forms visit www.roadracesw.com for more info. Results for Saturday: Cobb’s Restaurant LW Supersport 1. Bob Russell Suz 650 2. Wayne Nielson Suz 650 3. Aron Weiss Suz 650 Ultra LW Superbike 1. Ed Jones Kaw 500 2. Chuck Ruban KTM 450 3. Ray Hymer Kaw 500 Thunderbike 1. Bob Russell Suz 650 2. Chris Curnen Duc 1000 3. Matt Kellerman Hyo 650 125 GP 1. Jon Schendel Hon 125 2. Tyler Reiswig Hon 125 3. Debra Kuick Hon 125 Formula 40 1. Tom Savoca Hon 1000 2. Jim Davis Yam 1000 3. Tom Trainer Suz 600 AJ’s Performance/ TintWizard Expert Unlimited Superbike 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 1000 2. Tom Savoca Hon 1000 3. Jon Blaylock Suz 1000 Amateur Unlimited Superbike 1. Ray Thibedeau Suz 1000 2. Patrick Bertinelli Suz 1000 3. Matt Hepler Suz 1000 Super Twins 1. Rob Gresens Duc 916 2. Chris Curnen Duc 1000 3. Tom Hilsdorf Kaw 650 Value Pools and Spas LW Superbike 1. Bob Russell Suz 650 2. Aron Weiss Suz 650 3. Wayne Neilson Suz 650 Amateur HW Superbike 1. Ray Thibedeau Yam 600 2. Rick Bucher Hon 600 3. Kyle Klein Kaw 600 Expert HW Superbike 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 600 2. Jim Cox Yam 600 3. Danny Demel Suz 600 Moto-Services Expert MW Grand Prix 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 600 2. David Siminski Kaw 600 3. Mike Martin Suz 600 Amateur MW Grand Prix 1. Rick Bucher Hon 600 2. Kyle Klein Kaw 600 3. Tyler Smith Hon 600 Racers Edge Performance Expert Unlimited SS 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 1000 2. Pat Bushell Suz 750 3. Scott Christensen Yam 1000 Amateur Unlimited SS 1. Ray Thibedeau Suz 1000 2. Patrick Bertinelli Suz 1000 3. Matt Hepler Suz 1000 Racers Edge Performance Middleweight SS 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 600 2. Mike Martin Suz 600 3. Brian Short Kaw 600 Jim Cox Racing Amateur Middleweight SS 1. Ray Thibedeau Yam 600 2. Tyler Smith Hon 600 3. Norman Harris Hon 600 Roadrace SW Expert Unlimited Grand Prix 1. Dale Kieffer Hon 1000 2. Tom Savoca Hon 1000 3. Scott Christensen Yam 1000 Roadrace SW Amateur Unlimited Grand Prix 1. Ray Thibedeau Suz 1000 2. Patrick Bertinelli Suz 1000 3. Matt Hepler Suz 1000 Powerstands Expert Middleweight Superbike 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 600 2. Mike Martin Suz 600 3. David Siminski Kaw 600 Powerstands Amateur Middleweight Superbike 1. Rick Bucher Hon 600 2. Kyle Klein Kaw 600 3. Chuck Ruban Kaw 636 Lightweight Grand Prix 1. Tyler Reiswig Hon 250 2. Bruce Lind Yam 249 3. Zachary Lee Hon 250 Expert HW Supersport 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 600 2. Danny Demel Suz 600 3. Pat Bushell Suz 750 Amateur Heavyweight Supersport 1. Ray Thibedeau Yam 600 2. Rick Bucher Hon 600 3. Jeremy Witt Hon 954 Sunday’s Race Results Powerstands Expert Middleweight Superbike 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 600 2. Jon Blaylock Hon 600 3. Eric Bartlett Yam 600 Powerstands Amateur Middleweight Superbike 1. Kyle Klein Kaw 600 2. Rick Bucher Hon 600 3. Leonard Teodorescu Yam 600 Roadrace Southwest Amateur Unlimited GP 1. Ray Thibedeau Suz 1000 2. Patrick Bertinelli Suz 1000 3. Matt Hepler Suz 1000 Roadrace Southwest Expert Unlimited GP 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 1000 2. Lyle Brown Suz 1000 3. Jon Blaylock Suz 1000 Jim Cox Racing Amateur MW Supersport 1. Ray Thibedeau Yam 600 2. Norman Harris Hon 600 3. Chuck Ruban Kaw 636 Racers Edge Performance MW Supersport 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 600 2. Jon Blaylock Hon 600 3. Mike Martin Suz 600 Racers Edge Expert Unlimited SS 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 1000 2. Scott Christensen Yam 1000 Amateur Unlimited SS 1. Ray Thibedeau Suz 1000 2. Patrick Bertinelli Suz 1000 3. Matt Hepler Suz 1000 Moto-Services Expert MW Grand Prix 1. Mike Martin Suz 600 2. David Siminski Kaw 600 3. Walter Reeves Hon 600 Amateur MW Grand Prix 1. Leonard Teodorescu Yam 600 2. Rick Bucher Hon 600 3. Tyler Smith Hon 600 Expert HW Superbike 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 600 2. Danny Demel Suz 600 3. Stephen Peters Yam 600 Big Earl’s Greasy Eats Amateur HW SuperBITE 1. Raymond Thibedeau Yam 600 2. Rick Bucher Hon 600 3. Kyle Klein Kaw 600 Value Pools and Spas LW Superbike 1. Aron Weiss Suz 650 2. Bob Russell Suz 650 3. Wayne Nielson Suz 650 AJ’s Performance/ TintWizard Expert Unlimited SB 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 1000 2. Tom Savoca Hon 1000 3. Lyle Brown Suz 1000 Amateur Unlimited Superbike 1. Ray Thibedeau Suz 1000 2. Patrick Bertinelli Suz 1000 3. Matt Hepler Suz 1000 Super Twins 1. Tom Hilsdorf Cobbs Restaurant LW Supersport 1. Aron Weiss Suz 650 2. Bob Russell Suz 650 3. Wayne Neilson Suz 650 Ultra Lightweight Superbike 1. Ray Hymer Kaw 500 2. Ed Jones Kaw 500 Thunderbike 1. Matt Kellerman Hyo 650 2. Kevin Lynch Suz 650 3. Ray Hymer Hon 600 125 Grand Prix 1. Kevin Murray Yam 125 2. Brian Heess Hon 125 3. Kim Brauneis Yam 125 Formula 40 1. Lyle Brown Suz 1000 2. Tom Savoca Hon 1000 3. Steven Peters Yam 600 Lightweight Formula 40 1. Ed Jones Suz 650 2. Randy Jusi Hon 250 3. Ray Hymer Hon 600 Lightweight Grand Prix 1. Aron Weiss Suz 650 2. Kory Gill Yam 250 3. Wayne Nielson Suz 650 Expert Heavyweight Supersport 1. Ivan Garza Kaw 600 2. Brian Short Kaw 600 3. Danny Demel Suz 600 Amateur Heavyweight Supersport 1. Ray Thibedeau Yam 600 2. Rick Bucher Hon 600 3. Kirk Wilde Suz 750