Shreve, Hurtado Win at Arroyo Seco Raceway

Experts Mikey Shreve and David Hurtado each won a race last Sunday, June 11 at Arroyo Seco Raceway near Deming, NM. Starting off the fourth round of the season was the Unlimited Superbike sponsored by Kurveygirl.com, which Shreve and his Yamaha YZF-R1 led from start to finish. With this win and both Hurtado and Joe Chasser crashing out during the final lap, Shreve has gained valuable points and increased his lead in the Unlimited Superbike series.

Chasser was able to defend the two spot from Hurtado for four laps before Chasser’s YZF-R1 lowsided in the 111R turn. With Hurtado hot on his heels, Chasser’s front tucked as he was unable to hold onto a tight defensive line. Hurtado also tucked the front of his Kawasaki ZX-10R to avoid a collision with Chasser.

Fortunately for Hurtado and Chasser, the two did not suffer much damage and were able to patch things up for the 12-lap premier event, the Formula Arroyo sponsored by Evan Steel Performance. Saturday’s qualifying resulted in Shreve sitting in pole, with Hurtado and Chasser second and third, respectively.

At the raise of the green flag, Chasser reacted first and launched himself just in front of Shreve for the holeshot. Josh Kauffman and his YZF-R1 also had a great start from the second row and was able to enter the first corner in the third position. As expected, Hurtado had a sub-par start and found himself fifth behind the Formula Arroyo champion of 2015, Thibault Few.

With his head down Hurtado passed Few during the first lap and Kauffman two laps later for the three spot. It wasn’t until the sixth lap that Hurtado caught the leading group, thanks to late braking into the Carousel, the very-same tactic that Chasser used to hold Shreve at bay.

The top three maintained their positions until lap nine when Hurtado dove past Shreve into the Carousel. The next lap Chasser also fell prey to Hurtado at the exit of the Horseshoe. It seemed that the top three would hold onto their positions for the final three laps, but Shreve refused the final step of the podium; just after having sped past the white flag on the front straight, he put Chasser behind him for good as he crossed the finish line second.

Close racing during the race was evidenced in the top three’s best lap times: Hurtado put in a 1:08.519, Shreve a 1:09.087, and Chasser a 1:09.080. Also worthy of note is Shane Proffitt’s ambitious performances; directly after having won the 12-lap Formula Amateur, and in a pre-arranged move from amateur to expert, Proffitt placed fifth in the Formula Arroyo.

Expert Mickey Rupe and his Yamaha YZF-R3 dominated the day’s lightweight classes. Having won each of the prior three races, it seemed that the 64-year-old would snag yet another victory in the final race of the day, the Ultra Lightweight Grand Prix sponsored by JR Cochran Services. Rupe nabbed the hole shot and immediately went to work to create a considerable gap between himself and Arturo Johnson and his Kawasaki 250. But Joe Janiga onboard a Kawasaki 300 was determined to play the role of spoiler as he climbed through the ranks and into the two spot during the second lap.

Janiga continued to gain on Rupe until lap traffic held him up at the Bus Stop during the fifth lap. With lightning-quick laps and minimal braking into the Carousel to maximize cornering speed, Janiga caught Rupe and managed a pass just before the waving checkers when Rupe’s R3 sputtered exiting the final corner.

The fifth round of racing at Arroyo Seco Raceway will resume Sunday, September 3, with testing scheduled for Saturday, September 2.

Race Results for Round Four at Arroyo Seco Raceway

Formula Arroyo by Evan Steel Performance

1. David Hurtado (Kaw ZX-10R)

2. Mikey Shreve (Yam YZF-R1)

3. Joe Chasser (Yam YZF-R1)

4. Josh Kauffman (Yam YZF-R1)

5. Shane Proffitt (Suz GSX-R1000)

6. Joe Janiga (Kaw ZX-6R)

Formula Amateur by Speedcell

1. Shane Proffitt (Suz GSX-R1000)

2. Michael Thompson (Tri 675)

3. Matt Kendrick (Yam YZF-R6)

4. Clifton Tucker (Kaw ZX-10R)

5. Oscar Ybarra (Suz GSX-R600)

Formula 500 by JR Cochran Services

1. Mickey Rupe (Yam YZF-R3)

2. CJ Chaparro (Kaw 250)

3. Kevin Edgington (Hon CBR250R)

4. Loren Jury (Yam YZF-R3)

5. Justin Rutledge (Kaw 300)

6. Fred Freeland (Yam YZF-R3)

Amateur Unlimited Superbike by Kurveygirl.com

1. Shane Proffitt (Suz GSX-R1000)

2. Matt Kendrick (Yam YZF-R6)

3. Jeff Zimmer (BMW S1000RR)

4. Alfonso Sanchez (Suz GSX-R1000)

5. Marlon Swaby (Suz GSX-R1000)

6. Clifton Tucker (Kaw ZX-10R)

Expert Unlimited Superbike by Kurveygirl.com

1. Mikey Shreve (Yam YZF-R1)

2. James Yogi (Yam YZF-R1)

3. Tim Byma (Suz GSX-R600)

4. Joe Chasser (Yam YZF-R1)

5. David Hurtado (Kaw ZX-10R)

6. Thibault Few (Kaw ZX-10R)

Beginner

1. Joshua Hill (Hon CBR600RR)

2. Roberto Maruffo (Hon CBR1000RR)

3. Oscar Ybarra (Suz GSX-R600)

4. Frank Bauer (Yam YZF-R6)

5. Cedric Madden (BMW S1000R)

6. Rodney Boden (Yam YZF-R1)

Formula 40 by Southwest Suzuki / Kawasaki

1. Josh Kauffman (Yam YZF-R1)

2. Greg Talbot (Yam YZF-R6)

3. Mickey Rupe (Suz GSX-R1000)

4. Marlon Swaby (Suz GSX-R1000)

Amateur Middleweight Superbike by Law Tigers

1. Michael Thompson (Tri 675)

2. Matt Kendrick (Yam YZF-R6)

3. Joshua Hill (Hon CBR600RR)

4. Oscar Ybarra (Suz GSX-R600)

Expert Middleweight Superbike by Law Tigers

1. Joe Janiga (Kaw ZX-6R)

2. Gret Talbot (Yam YZF-R6)

3. Ken Murray (Yam YZF-R6)

4. Tim Byma (Suz GSX-R600)

5. Tony Tavitas (Yam YZF-R6)

Lightweight Grand Prix by ASMA Dunlop

1. Mickey Rupe (Yam YZF-R3)

2. CJ Chaparro (Kaw 250)

3. Kevin Edgington (Hon CBR250R)

4. Arturo Johnson (Kaw 250)

5. Loren Jury (Yam YZF-R3)

6. John Quintana (Kaw 250)

Amateur Middleweight Superstock by JR Cochran Services

1. Michael Thompson (Tri 675)

2. Matt Kendrick (Yam YZF-R6)

3. Joshua Hill (Hon CBR600RR)

Expert Middleweight Superstock by JR Cochran Services

1. Joe Janiga (Kaw ZX-6R)

2. Greg Talbot (Yam YZF-R6)

3. Ken Murray (Yam YZF-R6)

4. Tony Tavitas (Yam YZF-R6)

Southwest Thunder by Fast by Few

1. Mickey Rupe (Yam YZF-R3)

2. Kevin Edgington (Hon CBR250R)

3. Arturo Johnson (Kaw 250)

4. John Quintana (Kaw 250)

5. Loren Jury (Yam YZF-R3)

6. Fred Freeland (Yam YZF-R3)

Amateur Unlimited Superstock by Twigs Jewels

1. Matt Kendrick (Yam YZF-R6)

2. Roberto Maruffo (Hon CBR1000RR)

3. Frank Bauer (Yam YZF-R6)

4. Clifton Tucker (Kaw ZX-10R)

5. Cedric Madden (BMW S1000R)

Expert Unlimited Superstock by Twigs Jewels

1. Thibault Few (Kaw ZX-10R)

Ultra Lightweight Grand Prix by JR Cochran Services

1. Joe Janiga (Kaw 300)

2. Mickey Rupe (Yam YZF-R3)

3. Kevin Edgington (Hon CBR250R)

4. CJ Chaparro (Kaw 250)

5. Arturo Johnson (Kaw 250)

6. Loren Jury (Yam YZF-R3)