Mesa Undefeated at Homestead-Miami Speedway

CCS Florida

May 6-7, 2017

Stefano Mesa ran undefeated during CCS Florida’s second round at Homestead-Miami Speedway, winning all of the expert unlimited class races, including the event’s grand finale, the Unlimited Grand Prix, on his TTR/Westside Performance Kawasaki ZX-10R. He also ran the fastest lap of the weekend of 1:23.968 during lap three of the Unlimited Grand Prix race.

Mesa won a total of four races, starting and ending the day with victories. He nailed the holeshot and early lead in the GTO race and began to build a gap on the rest of the field. Sean Dwyer held down a solid second place with Bruno Silva close behind and Felipe MacLean in fourth, looking for a way around. By the halfway mark, MacLean was up to third and battling with Dwyer for second. Mesa ran away with his first win of the day without challenge in all ten laps of the race. Dwyer maintained his second place position to the checkered flag with MacLean, Bruno Silva, and Fernando Silva close behind.

Mesa and MacLean battled for the lead in the Unlimited Supersport race with a drag race to the first corner, a drag race to the checkered flag, and a whole lot of challenge in between. Mesa took his second victory of the day working his way around lap traffic to cross the finish line ahead of MacLean. Fernando Silva and Mark Rhoades completed the podium.

Dwyer nailed the holeshot and led the first few laps of the Unlimited Superbike race with Mesa, MacLean, and Bruno Silva in tow. By lap two MacLean was up to second and working his way to the front. Mesa made his passing move after the halfway mark, taking over the lead from MacLean, and never looking back. Dwyer pulled out of the race and Mesa claimed his third victory of the day. MacLean finished second with Bruno Silva, Fernando Silva, and Josh Anderson rounding off the top five.

Mesa nailed the lead at the start of the Unlimited Grand Prix race and wrapped up the day with his fourth and final victory. Behind him, MacLean held a solid second place in an all Kawasaki field. Bruno Silva and Sean Dwyer battled for third, with Silva gaining an advantage halfway through the race. Mesa continued to stretch the gap, upping the pace, setting the fastest lap of the race and taking the win, unchallenged. MacLean, finished second with Bruno Silva, Sean Dwyer, and Fernando Silva completing the field.

After the race, Bruno commented on his battle with Dwyer, “I was able to pass him. But later, I was committing a few mistakes, and I had to stay in the front, so I was doing some crazy moves there.” He thanked his sponsors stating, “We were trying different set ups for the bike and I want to thank Eric Gray from GMD Computrack for helping out, Dunlop Tires, ART Performance for putting this amazing machine together. My family, my parents, my brothers, my wife, and I’m very happy with the results.”

Felipe MacLean said, ” It was a great day. We started strong this morning with fast lap times in the 24’s. We had three amazing races. I just was having fun and I felt very comfortable on the bike. Overall it was great. Thank you so much. Great competition. And, congratulations to Stefano that made the win, but I think this is getting a lot more interesting.” Of Mesa’s fastest lap time, he remarked, “23’s is really, really fast. Congratulations to him, he’s a really great rider.” He thanked his family and crew for their continued support and everybody for showing up and enjoying the show.

“What can I say? What a great weekend,” Mesa exclaimed on the podium. “First of all, my hat’s off the Thermosman (Mike Fitzgerald) for coming all the way from up there to come and help me and making my bike ride amazing and on point. Pirelli tires were giving me such great grip. I pretty much never got into the 23’s, and now I’m getting into them. It has to be some of that. So my hat’s off to them. My dad, my mom, all of the Westside crew, Luis Dominguez, Jose Carballeira, everybody for just coming out here.”

Mesa commented on his fastest lap time by acknowledging his competitors, “What can I say? It’s been a great weekend coming out here, and just riding with the fast guys. It’s good to get some fast laps. Bring it on! it’s been a while so everybody’s got to step it up a little bit, so let’s get it. There’s always a little bit more. When there’s somebody fast, I’m know I can go a little bit faster. So, if you’re gonna be faster, I’m gonna be right with you.” He added, “I owe it to Pirelli. Great tires, great grip everywhere. Impressive. Impressive.” Mesa is sponsored by Pirelli, Westside Performance, Thermosman, TTR, and One-X Custom Suits.

The weekend event produced a handful of undefeated racers, including the winningest expert rider, Lucas Silva. Silva won and impressive six classes, with early leads and huge gaps across the board. He took first place in the Expert GTU, Middleweight Supersport, Heavyweight Supersport, Middleweight Superbike, Heavyweight Superbike, and Middleweight Grand Prix races on his ART Performance, Dunlop shot Yamaha YZF-R6.

Ann Roberts came back, in a new class to her, on board her TTR / Michael Barnes prepped and Pirelli shod Yamaha YZF-R3 and swept the field. She also ran undefeated with three victories in the GT 300, Superbike 300, and Supersport 500 classes.

Ryan Martin was the winningest racer of the event with a grand total of seven first place finishes in the amateur ranks. The Missouri racer cleaned house with his Beast Mode Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1 and Kawasaki ZX6-R machines winning the Amateur GTO, GTU, Unlimited Supersport, Middleweight Supersport, Unlimited Superbike, Middleweight Superbike, and Unlimited Grand Prix classes. Also, undefeated. And also on Pirelli tires.

CCS Florida is scheduled to compete again June 3-4, at Homestead Miami-Speedway. For full results, lap times, points standings, remaining 2017 season schedule, and additional information on past and future events for all regions, please go to: www.ccsracing.us.

RESULTS

Expert Unlimited Grand Prix:

1. Stefano Mesa (Kaw ZX-10R)

2. Felipe MacLean (Kaw ZX-10R)

3. Bruno Silva (Kaw ZX-10R)

4. Sean Dwyer (Kaw ZX-10R)

5. Fernando Silva (Kaw ZX-10R)

Amateur Unlimited Grand Prix:

1. Ryan Martin (Yam YZF-R1)

2. Emil Saldana (BMW S1000RR)

3. John Sackett (Kaw ZX-10R)

4. Peter Polokovic (Kaw ZX-10R)