Turpin and Cowan cinch titles with wins in USBA season finale
Round 6 of the USBA Vortex Masters of the Mountains series was held on the East course at the Utah Motorsports Campus during the weekend of October 1 and 2, 2016. While the weather was cooler than rounds past, the competition was red-hot as 22 of the 24 championships remained undecided at the start of the round. Compounding the excitement were large groups of visiting racers from Colorado and various parts of Canada. By the end of the weekend each of the championships had been decided and the USBA congratulates each of the class champions on their accomplishments during the 2016 season!
Michael Bradshaw illustrated red-hot competition in the KOM-GTU race as well as anyone could have hoped. After competing for most of the season on a BMW S1000RR, Bradshaw switched platforms to a Triumph 675R for the final round. With no points coming into the race, Bradshaw found himself on the last row for the race start and quickly scythed through the field to challenge series leader, as yet undefeated, Kory Cowan at the front. With the laps winding quickly down Bradshaw challenged for the lead several times, each time being held off by Cowan until the second to last lap of the race, when he made a pass stick. This continued with him leading at the white flag when Cowan made his final move at the Agony bend, relegating Bradshaw to second place. In wind-up and release, the final turns of the track, Bradshaw again attacked, but Cowan got a better drive and closed the distance to the finish line to remain undefeated on the season.
Also undefeated during the season, in every class he raced, was Shane Turpin. Turpin announced his retirement at the beginning of 2017 stating that the time had come for him to take the competition number off of his bike and share his knowledge with others. He moves on to teach full-time with the Rickdiculous Racing school and rider development program. “It’s been an amazing run” said Turpin of his retirement, “but sometimes it’s just time to do something different. I’m really looking forward to supporting my son, Jayden, in his racing efforts and putting time into the school. I’ve never gone undefeated in a season before, so that was the last goal on the list. I want to thank all the people at the track, and the USBA that make this happen along with my sponsors, Adam and Josh Bronfman at Rickdiculous Racing, CT Racing and Pirelli tires. There is no way I could have ever raced for 28 years without amazing support from my wife, Dawn, and friends and family across the country”.
Other notable performances during the weekend came from Erik Grim who won the Open Superstock and Open Twins championships, Gauge Rees winning the Middleweight Superstock and Moto 2 Championships and Tony Morgan who topped the Moto 3, Production 250 and Production 500 Championships.
While there is a sadness that comes with the end of every racing season, competition is already heating up for 2017 with a large number of new lightweight bikes making their first appearances at the final round of 2016 in preparation for next year. Brad Moore stunned on his bright orange Yamaha R3 running away from SV650 mounted competitors in both lightweight twins races, giving a glimpse of what’s ahead.
The Utah Sport Bike Association is a Utah Non-Profit dedicated to promoting education, safe-riding and competition in the Intermountain West. You can find more information about the USBA, upcoming events and schools at www.utahsba.com or find us on Facebook at www.utahsba.com
Vortex Racing King of the Mountain GTO
1. Shane Turpin (Kaw ZX-10R)
2. Chad Swain (Kaw ZX-10R)
3. Jerry Hicks (Suz GSXR-1000)
4. Michael Bradshaw (Tri-675R)
5. Brian Childree (Suz GSXR-1000)
6. Zach Ritchey (Yam YZF-R1)
Vortex Racing King of the Mountain GTU
1. Kory Cowan (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Michael Bradshaw (Tri-675R)
3. Gauge Rees (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Joseph Resta (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Matt Guiver (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
Black Rhino Tools Combined GTO
1. Josh Bronfman (BMW S1000RR)
2. Shane White (Suz GSXR-1000)
3. Eugene Alston (Yam YZF-R1)
4. Jerome Samarjian (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Braden Jones (Hon CBR-1000RR)
6. Spencer Kruger (Suz GSXR-750)
Xcel Trackdays Combined GTU
1. Jerome Samarjian (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Taylor Clark (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Michael Cormier (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Sean Thomas (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Christopher Robinson (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Phil O’Bryan (Kaw ZX-6R)
Wrights Motorcycle Parts Production 500 Race 1
1. Brad Moore (Yam R3)
2. Braden Randall (Yam R3)
3. Blair Harness (Hon CBR500)
4. Tony Morgan (Yam R3)
5. Steven Webster (Kaw EX-250)
6. Russell Biles (Kaw EX-250)
Wrights Motorcycle Parts Production 500 Race 2
1. Brad Moore (Yam R3)
2. Brandon Fosbinder (Apr SXV-450)
3. Brett Leveque (Kaw EX-300)
4. Tony Morgan (Yam R3)
5. Blair Harness (Hon CBR500)
6. Braden Randall (Yam R3)
Black Rhino Tools Moto 2
1. Michael Bradshaw (Tri-675R)
2. Gauge Rees (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Ryan Richardson (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Joe Resta (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Matt Guiver (Yam YZF-R6)
Harrison Eurosports Open Superstock
1. Chad Swain (Kaw ZX-10R)
2. Erik Grim (KTM RC8)
3. David Purcell (Kaw ZX-10R)
4. Zach Ritchey (Yam YZF-R1)
5. Sherwick Min (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Michael Bradshaw (Tri-675R)
Les Olson Company Novice GTU
1. Taylor Clark (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Jerome Samarjian (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Christopher Robinson (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Jared Dear (Suz GSXR-600)
5. Scott Weitmann (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Antonio Andrade (Hon CBR-600RR)
Discount Tire Novice GTO
1. Josh Bronfman (BMW S1000RR)
2. Eugene Alston (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Taylor Clark (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Spencer Kruger (Suz GSXR-750)
5. James Smith (Yam YZF-R1M)
6. Christopher Robison (Kaw ZX-6R)
Recycle Solutions Sportsman Race 1
1. Darren Knepper
2. Zach Miller
3. Michael Cormier
4. Chris Padilla
5. Micke DeVico
6. Thomas Dark
Recycle Solutions Sportsman Race 2
1. Chris Padilla
2. Thomas Dark
South Valley Motorsports Moto 1
1. Shane Turpin (Kaw ZX-10R)
2. Chad Swain (Kaw ZX-10R)
3. Jerry Hicks (SUZ GSXR-1000)
4. Mark Harper (Yam YZF-R1)
5. Josh Bronfman (BMW S1000RR)
6. Erik Grim (KTM RC8)
Edge Motorsports Deseret Dash Race 1
1. Michael Bradshaw (Tri-675R)
2. Justin Knapik (Kaw ZX-10R)
3. David Purcell (Kaw ZX-10R)
4. Mark Harper (Yam YZF-R1)
5. Shane White (Suz GSXR-1000)
6. Joe Resta (Yam YZF-R6)
Edge Motorsports Deseret Dash Race 2
1. Chad Swain (Kaw ZX-10R)
2. Justin Knapik (Kaw ZX-10R)
3. Mark Harper (Yam YZF-R1)
4. Shane White (Suz GSXR-1000)
5. Eric Jones (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
The Green Pig Pub Open Twins
1. Erik Grim (KTM RC8)
2. Scott Rybarik (Duc 899)
3. Brad Moore (Suz SV650)
4. Matt Ramage (Suz SV650)
5. Blair Harness (Hon CBR500)
LaMonica’s Restaurant Supply Production 250 Race 1
1. Braden Randall (Kaw EX-250)
2. Russell Biles (Kaw EX-250)
3. Stephen Webster (Kaw EX-250)
4. Parissa Azarvand (Kaw EX-250)
5. Tony Morgan (Hon CBR250)
LaMonica’s Restaurant Supply Production 250 Race 2
1. Russell Biles (Kaw EX-250)
2. Braden Randall (Kaw EX-250)
3. Stephen Webster (Kaw EX-250)
4. Tony Morgan (Hon CBR250)
5. Parissa Azarvand (Kaw EX-250)
Trackstar Racing Middleweight Superstock
1. Gauge Rees (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Michael Bradshaw (Tri-675R)
3. Joe Resta (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Ryan Richardson (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Matt Guiver (Yam YZF-R6)
The Mechanic Modern Vintage GTO
1. Shane White (Suz GSXR-1000)
2. Eugene Alston (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Spencer Kruger (Suz GSXR-750)
4. Chris Padilla (Hon CBR1000RR)
The Mechanic Modern Vintage GTU
1. Scott Rybarik (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Michael Cormier (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Ryan Luke (Hon CBR-600RR)
4. Phil O’Bryan (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Barry Ketmany (Suz GSXR-600)
6. Christopher Robison (Kaw ZX-6R)
Southpaw Motorsports Lightweight Twins Race 1
1. Brad Moore (Yam R3)
2. Matt Ramage (Suz SV650)
3. Brandon Fosbinder (Apr SXV-450)
4. Blair Harness (Hon CBR500)
5. Russell Biles (Kaw EX-250)
6. Jeff Masters (Yam R3)
Southpaw Motorsports Lightweight Twins Race 2
1. Brad Moore (Yam R3)
2. Matt Ramage (Suz SV650)
3. Blair Harness (Hon CBR500)
4. Russell Biles (Kaw EX-250)
5. Parissa Azarvand (Kaw EX-250)
The MotoStation Middleweight Superbike
1. Kory Cowan (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Gauge Rees (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Michael Bradshaw (Tri-675R)
4. Joe Resta (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Ryan Richardson (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
The MotoStation Open Superbike
1. Shane Turpin (Kaw ZX-10R)
2. Chad Swain (Kaw ZX-10R)
3. Jerry Hicks (Suz GSXR-1000)
4. Justin Knapik (Kaw ZX10R)
5. Zach Ritchey (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Steve Kozicki (Yam YZF-R1)
LaMonica’s Restaurant Supply Heavyweight Superbike
1. Kory Cowan (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Michael Bradshaw (Tri-675R)
3. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Matt Guiver (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Mark Harper (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Joshua Smith (Yam YZF-R6)
Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 GTO
1. Shane Turpin (Kaw ZX-10R)
2. Steve Kozicki (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Scott Rybarik (Duc 899)
Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 GTU
1. Phil O’Bryan (Kaw ZX-6R)
The Edge Motorsports Moto 3
1. Brad Moore (Yam R3)
2. Brandon Fosbinder (Apr SXV-450)
3. Tony Morgan (Yam R3)
4. Russell Biles (Kaw EX-250)
5. Steven Webster (Kaw EX-250)
6. Parissa Azarvand (Kaw EX-250)
Utah Sportbike Association
Vortex Masters of the Mountains 2016 Season Championship Results
Vortex Racing King of the Mountain GTO
1. Shane Turpin
2. Michael Bradshaw
3. David Purcell
4. Erik Grim
5. Steve Kozicki
6. Jerry Hicks
7. Bill Davis
8. Chad Swain
9. Kevin Dolan
10. Jeff Stern
Vortex Racing King of the Mountain GTU
1. Kory Cowan
2. Gauge Rees
3. Duncan Biles
4. Ryan Luke
5. Lindsey Willis
6. Joshua Smith
7. Donavon Mortensen
8. Ryan Richardson
9. Matt Guiver
10. Kinzer Naylor
Black Rhino Tools Combined GTO
1. Eugene Alston
2. Spencer Kruger
3. Jerry Carson
4. Ted Perkins
5. Braden Jones
Xcel Trackdays Combined GTU
1. Christopher Robison
2. Braden Randall
3. Michael Cormier
4. Phil O’Bryan
5. Esad Tatarevic
Wrights Motorcycle Parts Production 500
1. Tony Morgan
2. Parissa Azarvand
3. Braden Randall
4. Russell Biles
5. Steven Webster
Black Rhino Tools Moto 2
1. Gauge Rees
2. Ryan Richardson
3. Duncan Biles
4. Donavon Mortensen
5. Joshua Smith
Harrison Eurosports Open Superstock
1. Erik Grim
2. David Purcell
3. Michael Bradshaw
4. Chad Swain
5. Sherwick Min
Les Olson Company Novice GTU
1. Antonio Andrade
2. Braden Randall
3. Christopher Robison
4. Jerry Carson
5. Phil O’Bryan
Discount Tire Novice GTO
1. Eugene Alston
2. Spencer Kruger
3. James Smith
4. Christopher Robison
5. Phil O’Bryan
South Valley Motorsports Moto 1
1. Shane Turpin
2. Erik Grim
3. Michael Bradshaw
4. Steve Kozicki
5. Eugene Alston
Edge Motorsports Deseret Dash
1. Shane White
2. Scott Rybarik
3. David Purcell
4. Matt Lewis
5. Bill Davis
The Green Pig Pub Open Twins
1. Erik Grim
2. Scott Rybarik
3. Brad Moore
4. Matt Ramage
5. Chad Carson
LaMonica’s Restaurant Supply Production 250
1. Tony Morgan
2. Parissa Azarvand
3. Braden Randall
4. Russell Biles
5. Steven Webster
Trackstar Racing Middleweight Superstock
1. Gauge Rees
2. Ryan Richardson
3. Duncan Biles
4. Donavon Mortensen
5. Joshua Smith
The Mechanic Modern Vintage GTO
1. Shane White
2. Eugene Alston
3. Kevin Dolan
4. Daren Knepper
5. Spencer Kruger
The Mechanic Modern Vintage GTU
1. Scott Rybarik
2. Ryan Luke
3. Ryan Luke (Hon CBR600RR)
4. Phil O’Bryan
5. Jerry Carson
Southpaw Motorsports Lightweight Twins
1. Matt Ramage
2. Russell Biles
3. Brad Moore
4. Sean Thomas
5. Matt Phomyxay
The MotoStation Middleweight Superbike
1. Kory Cowan
2. Gauge Rees
3. Ryan Richardson
4. Duncan Biles
5. Donavon Mortensen
The MotoStation Open Superbike
1. Shane Turpin
2. Michael Bradshaw
3. David Purcell
4. Steve Kozicki
5. Bill Davis
LaMonica’s Restaurant Supply Heavyweight Superbike
1. Kory Cowan
2. Scott Rybarik
3. Donavon Mortensen
4. Matt Guiver
5. Joshua Smith
Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 GTO
1. Shane Turpin
2. Michael Bradshaw
3. Steve Kozicki
4. Scott Rybarik
5. Bill Davis
Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 GTU
1. Phil O’Bryan
2. Michael Hawkins
3. Brad Moore
4. Lisa Ballehr
5. Michael Cormier
The Edge Motorsports Moto 3
1. Tony Morgan
2. Russell Biles
3. Parissa Azarvand
4. Sean Thomas
5. Brandon Fosbinder
More, from a press release issued by Trackstar Racing:
October 1 and 2
Utah Motorsports Campus Tooele Utah
The final Round of the Utah Sportbike Associations Vortex Masters of the Mountains Series kicked off Saturday to blue skies but high winds predicted for the whole weekend. Racers battled against 25-30 mph sustained winds and gusts reaching 50mph throughout the weekend. With points battles still to be fought in several classes Trackstar Racings Gauge Rees and Tony Morgan came in with a single goal to walk away Champions.
Saturdays Moto 2 race saw Rees come across the line in 2nd Place after a hard fought battle with fellow racer Michael Bradshaw. This locked up the Season Championship for Rees in that class. Middleweight Superstock was the second race of the day and Rees led the race flag to flag bringing home the title in that class as well. On Sunday Rees was able to get on the podium in both KOMU and Middleweight Superbike locking up the #2 plate in the Club and placing 2nd in the Superbike class Championship only 1 point behind 1st.
“It was a tough weekend.” said Rees. “I wanted Fridays Apex Trackday to sort out the new Ohlins suspension but I came down with the flu Friday morning and wasn’t able to get on the bike until late in the day. We used the races to sort out the suspension and got pretty close. Its been a really good year for me, I podiumed in all but 1 sprint this season. My Trackstar Racing R6 has been great, my crew has been great and without the coaching I get from Rickdiculous Racing and Ken Hill Coaching I couldn’t have had the success I have. There are a lot of people behind the scenes who help us win every weekend and I’m thankful to have them. Scott with Dunlop tires, the guys at Ohlins, Scott Jensen for building me a strong engine, The Ricks, Ray Kimber at Heatshrink.com and the guys on my Team. I cant wait for next year!”
Tony Morgan was another standout member of the Trackstar Team winning 3 Championships of his own. Morgan had been competing in the Production 250 Class all year on his Ninja 250 but sold it prior to the race weekend to buy an R3 to race. He had the points lead in the Production 250 Championship going into the weekend but no bike to race. After combing the paddock he was able to find a CBR250 to borrow to try and hold on to his points lead. With no practice on the borrowed bike he was able to secure 4th place in both races and lock up the Title. Morgan continued his dominance of the Production 500 and Moto 3 classes aboard his Yamaha R3 bringing home the Championships in both of those classes as well. “I had a great season this year, one that wasn’t plagued with too many mechanical difficulties and only one crash. The advice and support of Kelly Rees and Trackstar Racing was instrumental in helping me secure all three Production championships, so a very special thank you goes to him and his family. I’d also like to thank Ben Janke at Janke Custom Arms for his support all year of my race program.” Said Morgan.
Trackstar’s Shane White was able to secure the Deseret Dash GTO and Modern Vintage GTO Championships this weekend as well. Shane pulls double duty as racer and Competition Director for the Club.
Team Owner Kelly Rees had this to say: “We had a great year with the USBA. All of my riders worked hard all season and I am proud to be part of their programs. I want to thank the Board of the Club, those guys put in some long hours this year to make the season a real success. With the turmoil the track has been in they really had a tough job this year. Also a big thanks to our Sponsors Rickdiculous Racing, Ken Hill Coaching, Heatshrink.com, Dunlop, Ohlins, Venhill, PopShadow Decals, Apex Trackdays, Western Powersports, Fly Racing, Steve Midgley Photography, Speedmob, Champion Spark Plugs and all of our customers who support the shop and keep us racing.”