Unusually good weather greeted the opening round of the 2011 MRA season, held at High Plains Raceway on May 7th & 8th. With the sun out and temps in the 80’s, Shane “Tornado” Turpin impressed the crowds with a blistering pace in the premier Race of the Rockies on his Boulder Motor Sports Ducati 1098R.

Dalton Dimick got the Race of the Rockies holeshot on his BMW S1000RR, but Turpin immediately charged past to take control of the lead on the first lap. MRA #1 plate Dan Turner quickly moved up to pressure Dimick for 2nd, and the two of them distracted each other as Turpin began to pull a small gap. The three leaders were lapping down to times not seen during the 2010 season, making the crowds at T1 gasp and shout as they came through lap after lap. Within a few laps Turner had made his move by Dimick into 2nd place. Mike Applegate, running in 5th on an open superbike, was trying desperately to catch Josh Galster on his little 600 in 4th, when Applegate made a critical error and went dirt tracking off high speed T4 on his GSX-R1000. By sheer luck Applegate stayed on the bike as it crested the T4 hill, and he came scrambling back onto the track in front of Doug Kahl and Colter Dimick in T5 to renew his pursuit of Galster. That was the final finishing order of the race, Turpin taking the win, Turner in 2nd and Dimick rounding out the podium.

Some of the closest racing of the weekend was in the new Production 250 Cup doubleheader races, thanks to the strict stock rules keeping the bikes on par with one another. The 250s riders rode in long drafting lines ala Moto2, and strategy began to emerge as the rider who caught the double draft could slingshot around the bikes in front of him. Tracy Schram, Jason Madama and Geoff Cesmat led the field, amazing the crowd going three wide into T4 lap after lap during the races. Schram took home both wins with Cesmat going 2nd in each race. Jason Madama rounded out 3rd on Saturday and Tony Baker took the final podium spot in Sunday’s race.

Round 2 will be held May 21st & 22nd at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Race tickets are just $10 at the gate and kids under 12 get in free; stop by any Colorado motorcycle dealership to pick up a free 2 for 1 gate entry. In 2011 the MRA is honoring our Armed Forces, just present military ID and get in free to all MRA races!

Race of the Rockies Championship Series Overall 1 Shane Turpin (Duc 1098R) 2 Dan Turner (Suz GSX-R1000) 3 Dalton Dimick (BMW S1000RR) 4 Josh Galster (Yam YZF-R6) 5 Mike Applegate (Suz GSX-R1000) 6 Doug Kahl (Suz GSX-R1000)

Fay Myers Motorcycle World Race of the Rockies GTO 1 Shane Turpin (Duc 1098R) 2 Dan Turner (Suz GSX-R1000) 3 Dalton Dimick (BMW S1000RR) 4 Mike Applegate (Suz GSX-R1000) 5 Doug Kahl (Suz GSX-R1000) 6 Rob Christman (Kaw ZX-10R)

Vickery Motorsports Race of the Rockies GTU 1 Josh Galster (Yam YZF-R6) 2 Colter Dimick (Yam YZF-R6) 3 Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-6R) 4 Mike Applehans (Suz GSX-R600) 5 Tony Ross (Yam YZF-R6) 6 Jon Glaefke (Pierobon FO42)

MotoGear Outlet Solo Lightweight Endurance 1 Shannon Moham (Suz SV650) 2 Keith Lincoln (Suz SV650) 3 Geoff Snyder (Suz SV650) 4 Ray Gaimara (Suz SV650) 5 Will Chambers (Suz SV650) 6 Martin Hester (Hon RS125)

WyethHomes Solo Middleweight Endurance 1 Mike Applehans (Suz GSX-R600) 2 Matt Dunn (Hon CBR600RR) 3 Erik Cromer (Kaw ZX-6R) 4 Christopher Coonshead (Yam YZF-R6) 5 Tim Young (Yam YZF-R6) 6 Aaron Fisk (Kaw ZX-6R) Kahl & Partners Solo Heavyweight Endurance 1 Mike Applehans (Suz GSX-R750) 2 Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6) 3 Christopher Coonshead (Yam YZF-R6) 4 Casey Smith (Apr RSV-R) 5 John Burr (Tri Daytona 675) 6 Zach Hill (Suz GSX-R750)

ABATE of Colorado Solo Open Endurance 1 Rob Christman (Kaw ZX-10R) 2 Doug Kahl (Suz GSX-R1000) 3 Keith Eastin (Hon CBR1000RR) 4 Chris Fuller (Yam YZF-R1) 5 Jim Wilson (Suz GSX-R1000) 6 Aaron Petrie (Hon CBR1000RR) MotoAdventure Kawasaki Production 250 Cup (Saturday) 1 Tracy Schram (Kaw EX250) 2 Geoff Cesmat (Kaw EX250) 3 Jason Madama (Kaw EX250) 4 Tony Baker (Kaw EX250) 5 Christopher Coonshead (Kaw EX250) 6 Matt Diehl (Kaw EX250)

MotoAdventure Kawasaki Production 250 Cup (Sunday) 1 Tracy Schram (Kaw EX250) 2 Geoff Cesmat (Kaw EX250) 3 Tony Baker (Kaw EX250) 4 Matt Diehl (Kaw EX250) 5 Lars Lofgren (Kaw EX250) 6 David Mobley (Kaw EX250) Vickery Motorsports Amateur GTU 1 Zach Shearon (Yam YZF-R6) 2 Michael Bradshaw (Hon CBR600RR) 3 Peter Tabor (Kaw ZX-6R) 4 Aaron Fisk (Kaw ZX-6R) 5 Bill Andrews (Kaw ZX-6R) 6 Wesley Seems (Kaw ZX-6R)

BMW of Denver Amateur GTO 1 Jason Patton (Suz GSX-R1000) 2 Peter Tabor (Kaw ZX-6R) 3 Aaron Fisk (Kaw ZX-6R) 4 Louis Ortiz Jr (Suz GSX-R1000) 5 Wesley Seems (Kaw ZX-6R) 6 Zach Amick (Yam YZF-R6)

Brighton Radiator & Muffler Middleweight SuperSport 1 Josh Galster (Yam YZF-R6) 2 Colter Dimick (Yam YZF-R6) 3 Matt Dunn (Hon CBR600RR) 4 Zach Shearon (Yam YZF-R6) 5 Steven Grubbs (Kaw ZX-6R) 6 Christopher Coonshead (Yam YZF-R6) Grand Prix Motorsports Middleweight SuperBike 1 Josh Galster (Yam YZF-R6) 2 Shane Turpin (Duc 749R) 3 Colter Dimick (Yam YZF-R6) 4 Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-6R) 5 Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6) 6 Anthony Ross (Yam YZF-R6) Apex Sports, Inc. Heavyweight SuperSport 1 Josh Galster (Yam YZF-R6) 2 Colter Dimick (Yam YZF-R6) 3 Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-6R) 4 Steven Grubbs (Kaw ZX-6R) 5 Matt Dunn (Hon CBR600RR) 6 Zach Shearon (Yam YZF-R6) Factory Trained Auto Repair Heavyweight SuperBike 1 Shane Turpin (Duc 749R) 2 Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6) 3 Justin Bradshaw (Suz GSX-R750) 4 Carlton Sorensen (Tri Daytona 675) 5 Tim Young (Yam YZF-R6) 6 John Burr (Tri Daytona 675) Coyote Motorsports Open SuperSport 1 Dalton Dimick (BMW S1000RR) 2 Rob Christman (Kaw ZX-10R) 3 Chris Fuller (Yam YZF-R1) 4 Jason Patton (Suz GSX-R1000) 5 Louis Ortiz Jr (Suz GSX-R1000) 6 Jarret Scarberry (Yam YZF-R6) Colorado Powersports Open SuperBike 1 Shane Turpin (Duc 1098R) 2 Dan Turner (Suz GSX-R1000) 3 Dalton Dimick (BMW S1000RR) 4 Mike Applegate (Suz GSX-R1000) 5 Doug Kahl (Suz GSX-R1000) 6 Rob Christman (Kaw ZX-10R) Colpar Hobbies Formula 40 1 Patrick Lansu (Duc 1098R) 2 Christopher Coonshead (Yam YZF-R1) 3 John Burr (Tri Daytona 675) 4 Tim Young (Yam YZF-R6) 5 Aaron Fisk (Kaw ZX-6R) 6 Peter Emsley (Yam YZF-R6)

HPR Ladies of the Rockies 1 Donna Turner (Yam YZF-R6) 2 Wyeth Jackson (Kaw ZX-6R) 3 Kimberly Prichard (Tri Daytona 675) 4 Siobhan Bennett (Hon CBR600RR) 5 Samantha Coleman (Yam YZF-R6) 6 Trina Dawson (Yam YZF-R6) Boulder Motor Sports Thunderbike 1 Jon Glaefke (Pierobon FO42) 2 Carlton Sorensen (Tri Daytona 675) 3 John Burr (Tri Daytona 675) 4 Aaron Petrie (Hon RC-51) 5 Sam Roberts (Tri Daytona 675) 6 Scott Rybarik (Duc 748) Foothills BMW Triumph Colorado Class 1 Tracy Schram (Hon RS125) 2 Jeff Winter (Hon RS450F) 3 Anthony Ross (Hon CRF450R) 4 Mark Hoyt (Kaw KZ750) 5 Christopher Weed (Hon CRF450R) 6 Geoff Cesmat (Kaw EX250) Scooter News Lightweight GrandPrix 1 Shannon Moham (Suz SV650) 2 Keith Lincoln (Suz SV650) 3 Tracy Schram (Hon RS125) 4 Geoff Snyder (Suz SV650) 5 Will Chambers (Suz SV650) 6 Ray Gaimara (Suz SV650) The Walnut Room Modern Vintage GTU 1 Aaron Hersh (Yam YZF-R6) 2 Scott Rybarik (Duc 748) 3 Aaron Fisk (Yam YZF-R6) 4 Mike Hellerstedt (Suz SV650) 5 Lincoln Todd (Suz SV650) 6 Scott Dawson (Yam YZF-R6) Un!nk Printworks Modern Vintage GTO 1 Aaron Hersh (Yam YZF-R6) 2 Aaron Petrie (Hon RC-51) 3 Aaron Fisk (Yam YZF-R6) 4 Scott Rybarik (Duc 748) 5 William Van Marter (Suz GSX-R750) Woody’s Wheel Novice GTU 1 Peter Tabor (Kaw ZX-6R) 2 Louis Ferrari (Yam YZF-R6) 3 Kevin Finnegan (Yam YZF-R6) 4 Raymond Trout (Kaw ZX-6R) 5 David Purcell (Yam YZF-R6) 6 Zach Amick (Yam YZF-R6) Rocky Mountain Kawasaki Novice GTO 1 Peter Tabor (Kaw ZX-6R) 2 Zach Hill (Suz GSX-R750) 3 Louis Ferrari (Yam YZF-R6) 4 David Neighbour (Kaw ZX-6R) 5 Stephen Robards (Yam YZF-R1) 6 Zach Amick (Yam YZF-R6)

Scooter News SuperTwins GTU 1 Ray Gaimara (Suz SV650) 2 Will Chambers (Suz SV650) 3 Jeff Winter (Hon RS450F) 4 Lincoln Todd (Suz SV650) 5 Charlie Coyner (Suz SV650) 6 Mike Hellerstedt (Suz SV650) Alliance Motorsports SuperTwins GTO 1 Patrick Lansu (Duc 1098R) 2 Jon Glaefke (Pierobon FO42) 3 Aaron Petrie (Hon RC-51) 4 Shannon Moham (Suz SV650) 5 Scott Rybarik (Duc 748) 6 Scott Monchunski (Duc 749R) Chicane Track Days Clubman Points Championship 1 Shannon Moham 2 Tracy Schram 3 Josh Galster 4 Aaron Fisk 5 Aaron Petrie 6 Shane Turpin

The MRA is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to www.mra-racing.org or call the MRA hotline at 303-530-5678.