CVMA Racing Round 6 2023/2024 Winter Series
March 16-17 2024 Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
The penultimate round of the CVMA 23/24 Winter series was packed full of awesome racing in all classes as riders worked hard to secure points towards class championships with only one round remaining.
A surprise winter storm greeted riders for Friday practice. The track was wet with consistent rain falling throughout the day. The rain did not dampen the spirit of the eight new racers that graduated the new racer school and obtained their racing license.
Saturday Qualifying
Saturday morning dawned clear and cold with the track slightly damp from the previous day’s rain.
The fastest of all in Saturday morning qualifying, Corey Alexander topped the field of open-class bikes turning a 1:47.157 lap time.
Alexander was also fastest on a middleweight, turning a 1:47.688 lap time.
Gio Alvarez was fastest on a lightweight bike with a 1:51.884 lap time.
Jayden Fernandez was fastest on an ultra-lightweight bike with a 1:56.504 lap time.
Danny Spina was fastest on an American Twin with a 2:00.528 lap time.
Saturday Races
Once racing got underway the skies darkened as rain approached the track. Two races were completed in the dry, but the rain started towards the end of the second race. The club delayed racing for about an hour to allow racers to mount wet-weather tires. The rain continued throughout the day with many riders taking advantage of the conditions to get some race experience on wet weather tires in preparation for the upcoming MotoAmerica race season.
The first race in the rain was Amateur Formula Open, which Justin Gibbs won. Second in the race was Kevin Hoffman who completed his first race ever after getting his racing license the previous day.
Stars of the show in the rain included Justin Gibbs who won two races on his open-class bike and Brenden Ketelsen winning two middleweight races.
Sunday Shootouts
The sun returned to Chuckwalla Valley Raceway on Sunday morning and dry conditions were welcomed by all.
In the premier race of the day, the Stock 1000 Shootout, Michael Gilbert got the holeshot and led the first three laps with Corey Alexander and Manuel Segura following. On the third lap, Alexander was able to pass Gilbert entering the bowl (turn 13) but ran a little wide. Alexander was able to hold off Gilbert and cut back down the banking and get a good drive out of the corner to secure the position. Alexander then put some distance between himself and the chasing Gilbert throughout the race and was first at the finish. Gilbert finished second and Segura third.
The Formula Lightweight Twins Shootout started with Gio Alvarez getting the holeshot, Alexander Enriquez second, and Justin Bordonaro third. Alverez and Enriquez ran nose to tail for the first few laps until Enriquez made a brave pass on the brakes at the end of the back straight entering turn ten to take the lead. Once in front, Enriquez was able to extend his lead and secured the win with Alvarez second and Bordonaro third.
At the start of the Formula Ultra Lightweight Shootout, Jayden Fernandez, who was gridded on pole, had a mechanical problem on the out lap and had to pull off to make repairs. Juliana Fernandez was able to get the holeshot with Solly Mervis second and Quinn Swift third. Fernandez and Mervis traded the lead a couple of times on the first few laps, but unfortunately, Mervis fell on lap three. At the halfway mark Fernandez led, Swift was in second, and Ashten Bush third. Swift was able to close on Fernandez in the later half of the race but was unable to challenge for the lead. In the end, it was Fernandez for the win, Swift second, and Bush third.
In the final shootout race of the day, the Middleweight Shootout, Owen Williams got off the line well and led into the first turn with Corey Alexander second, and Brenden Ketelsen third. Ketelsen was able to pass both Alexander and Williams to take the lead on the second lap. Alexander passed Williams on the third lap setting up a great battle for the win. Ketelsen was able to hold onto the lead for the first five laps with Alexander and Williams in tow. On lap six Alexander made his move and took the lead, demoting Ketelsen to second. Ketelsen made several attempts to pass Alexander during the remaining laps but was unable to make any stick. In the end, it was Alexander for the win, Ketelsen second, and Williams third.
Full race results can be found on Speedhive: https://speedhive.mylaps.com/events/2540388
The unexpected rain threw a curveball at the event on Saturday, but the continued after a short delay and the racing action in the wet was pretty awesome! The competition in the shootout races on Sunday was intense and with more favorable conditions the racers were motivated to do their best in hopes of getting one of the “Big Checks” and the chance to stand on the podium.
One more round remains and a final chance for racers to score double points in their efforts to win those coveted class championships. Come out and join us for the final round of the CVMA 23/24 Winter Series on April 6-7. We have several special events and prizes planned for the weekend and it is sure to be a blast!
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.
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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
