CVMA Racing Round 5 2023/2024 Winter Series
February 10-11th 2024 Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
The fifth round of the CVMA 23/24 Winter series started under clear skies and cool weather with racers coming together from all over the country to race in the California desert. The racing action was super exciting with several close finishes and race-long battles for position throughout the weekend.
Saturday Qualifying
During qualifying on Saturday morning, it was very windy and cool, but that did not seem to slow the racers down much.
The fastest of all in Saturday morning qualifying, Corey Alexander posted a 1:45.507 lap time on his open-class bike.
Brenden “Killer Bee” Ketelsen was fastest on a middleweight, turning a 1:48.493 lap time.
Justin Bordonaro was fastest on a lightweight bike with a 1:53.424 lap time.
Jayden Fernandez was fastest on an ultra-lightweight bike with a 1:55.175 lap time.
Alexander Calloway was fastest on an American Twin with a 2:04.717 lap time.
Saturday Races
Saturday’s racing was as competitive as ever. Jayden Fernandez was one of the stars of the day winning two races on his ultra lightweight bike. Fernandez won both the 500 Supersport and the Formula Ultra Lightweight races.
Brenden Ketelsen won two races on his middleweight bike. Ketelsen kicked off the weekend by winning the first race of the day, Formula Middleweight. In the Supersport Middleweight race, Ketelsen got the holeshot and led the first few laps until he ran off track in Turn Nine, handing the lead to Jorge Ehrenstein. Ketelsen was able to re-enter the track and come from behind to catch and pass Ehrenstein and take the win, his second of the day.
Reid Edwards won both amateur open races taking both the Formula and Supersport open class wins. Pearce Baker won both the Amateur Formula Middleweight and Amateur Supersport Middleweight races.
Sunday Shootouts
In the premier race of the day, the Stock 1000 Shootout, Andrew Lee charged off the line from his position in the middle of the front row of the grid to take the holeshot with Corey Alexander second. Near the end of the first lap, Alexander made a brave pass on the brakes entering Turn 14 to take the lead. At the stripe on the first lap, Alexander led with Lee close behind and Michael Gilbert running third. Alexander maintained a 1.5-second gap over Lee for the first few laps. Alexander increased his gap throughout the race to take the win with Lee second and Gilbert third.
The Formula Lightweight Twins Shootout started with Gio Alvarez getting the holeshot and Justin Bordonaro second. Bordonaro was able to quickly pass Alvarez on the inside entering Turn Four on the first lap. At the end of the first lap, Bordonaro was followed by Alvarez and young gun Alexander Enriquez third. The front three ran nose-to-tail until just past the halfway point in the race when Enriquez made a brave pass in Turn Four to take over second from Alvarez. On the final lap, Enriquez stood up Bordonaro in Turn Five while making an inside pass for the lead, sending Bordonaro back to third. Later in the lap, Alvarez was able to pass Enriquez entering Turn 13 (The Bowl). However, Enriquez retaliated immediately in Turn 14 to retake the lead and held on until the finish. At the finish, it was Enriquez for the win, Alvarez second, and Bordonaro third.
At the start of the Formula Ultra Lightweight Shootout, Jayden Fernandez got off the line well from pole position and led into turn one. At the end of the first lap Fernandez led the way with Kensei Matsudaira second and Juliana Fernandez third and that was the order at the finish as well.
In the final shootout race of the day, the Middleweight Shootout, Brenden Ketelsen launched off pole position to lead the pack through Turn One. At the end of the first lap, Ketelsen was followed by David “Aussie Dave” Anthony and Owen Williams. Unfortunately, Anthony fell out of the race in Turn 12, handing second place to Williams and third to Aldo Rovirosa. Williams closed a 1.5-second gap and was on Ketelsen’s tail section by lap five. Meanwhile, Corey Alexander starting from the seventh row of the grid closed the gap to Rovirosa in third. Alexander was able to pass Rovirosa for third just past the halfway point in the race. On lap nine of the 10-lap race, Williams was able to pass Ketelsen to take the lead. Williams held the lead on the last lap for the win with Ketelsen unable to mount a challenge. In the end, Williams took his first win in a Shootout with Ketelsen second and Alexander third.
Lap Records
Luke Sanzone – F40 Lightweight – 1:53.860
Full race results can be found on Speedhive:
https://speedhive.mylaps.com/events/2516361
With awesome racing action, this past weekend with CVMA will be one to remember. The competition was intense with some of the fastest riders from all over the country coming out to compete with CVMA. Come on out and join us at our next race weekend, March 16-17 2024.
CVMA offers two full days of racing every race weekend and also includes Saturday qualifying for grid position in all classes, amateur, and expert, as well as a wide variety of classes to choose from.
CVMA offers free reciprocity as a means of encouraging racers from other clubs to come out and compete. CVMA also offers a New Racers School for those starting in racing on the Friday before each race weekend. Log on to www.cvmaracing.com to sign up or for more information.
CVMA. Built for racers by racers and offering the best racing experience around!
CVMA would also like to thank the 2023/2024 Winter Series Sponsors: Apex Assassins, Ryder Gear, CaliPhotography, Racers Edge/Dunlop, RoadRace City/Bridgestone, Del’s Flooring, The California Superbike School, Ride HMVC, and YellowDog IT
NRS Sponsors: Alpinestars, 6D Helmets, Racer Gloves, and Racers Edge/Dunlop
