Melka Takes #1, May Wins Unlimited Grand Prix

CCS Mid-Atlantic/Southeast and ASRA Team Challenge

Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA

September 16-17, 2017

Greg Melka wrapped up the VIR End of Summer Cyclefest as the overall expert points leader in both the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the Championship Cup Series and will continue to don the number one plate in the 2018 season. He finished the 2017 season with a whopping ten class championships in the two regions after winning another four races at the event.

Melka was out front early in all of his races and won the Middleweight Supersport, Middleweight Superbike, Middleweight Grand Prix, and Heavyweight Superbike classes. He also finished second in Heavyweight Supersport, making him the winningest expert of the weekend.

In the amateur ranks, Nate Redding was not only the winningest racer of the weekend with five first place finishes, but also wrapped up the season as the Overall Points Leader for both the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions and a grand total of nine class championships. Redding won the GTU, Heavyweight Supersport, Middleweight Supersport, Middleweight Superbike, and Middleweight Grand Prix races over the weekend.

Geoff May dominated the unlimited classes, winning the hotly contested GTO, Unlimited Superbike and Unlimited Grand Prix races. May had to fight his way to the front of the Unlimited Grand Prix race on his Kawasaki ZX-10R, chasing down early race leader Tyler Smathers’ Yamaha YZF-R1. May was able to work his way through traffic to take over the lead and never looked back. May finished first with Smathers, Ricky O’Hare, Greg Ludt, and Anthony Giangrasso rounding off the top five.

The weekend event, which was the season finale for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of CCS, also featured the AMA Sanctioned ASRA Team Challenge Series presented by Michelin Tire, in which 12 teams came together with a combination of three classes to compete in an 89 lap endurance race. Team Bubblegum Racing led the field from start to finish and was the only team to complete all 89 laps of the 3 hour timed race. The Bubblegum Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R was piloted by Xavier Zayat and O’Hare for this event. Zayat started and ended the race with O’Hare on board midway through.

Zayat had nailed the lead from the green flag and immediately began to open a gap on the rest of the field as he worked his way through the course and methodically began lapping other teams. When O’Hare took over, the team was well ahead and swapped riders one more time to complete all 89 laps in less than two and a half hours, well under the time limit, as both the Overall and GTO class race winner.

Team Fairfax cycles, won the GTU class after completing 88 laps on board their Suzuki GSX-R 600 piloted by Jason Zelibor, Mark Miller, Jr., and Alex Shaw. Grease Monkey Racing won the GTL class in spite of a crash setback early in the race on board their Suzuki SV 650 piloted by father and son team of Eric and Jonathan Helmbach.

On the podium, Zayat stated, “Firstly, I’d like to thank Mr. Fontinopoulos. He’s let me ride his bike a few times here and it’s been nothing but fun. It’s such a fast bike and such a well built bike and I really appreciate that he was letting me have this opportunity. Me and Ricky you know, we exchanged tips over the weekend and we just helped each other go faster and faster, and learn the new bike, I think we’re starting to get used to it, and I really can’t thank Jimmy enough for letting us use the bike. And, also Mike Faillace was able to come out this round and help us out with the suspension and I think that was a big help for me. Also, Pirelli tires and Livengood for building, well it’s actually stock tuning of the bike. “

O’Hare said, “Thank you to Jimmy for giving me the opportunity to trust us enough to give up his seat, Pirelli Tires, everybody CCS, cornerworkers staff appreciate everybody for letting us come out here and do this.”

The final ASRA Team Challenge race of the season will take place at Daytona International Speedway during the 34th annual CCS Race of Champions event October 20-22. For lap times, points standings, full results, and additional information on past and future events, please go to: www.ccsracing.us.

RESULTS:

EXPERT UNLIMITED GRAND PRIX:

1. Geoff May (Kaw ZX-10R)

2. Tyler Smathers (Yam YZF-R1)

3. Richard O’Hare (Yam YZF-R1)

4. Gregory Ludt (BMW S1000RR)

5. Anthony Giangrasso (Yam YZF-R1)

6. Donny Kelley (Kaw ZX-10R)

7. Todd Lewis (Kaw ZX-10R)

8.Y evgeniy Maystrovoy (Hon CBR1000RR)

9. Luigi Mora (Yam YZF-R1)

10. Matt Spinak (Suz GSX-R750)

ASRA TEAM CHALLENGE OVERALL:

1. Bubblegum Racing (Kaw ZX-10R)

2. Jones Express (BMW S1000RR)

3. LB Sports (Kaw ZX-10R)

4. TSE – Wolfpack BMW (Kaw ZX-6R)

5. Fairfax Cycles Racing (Suz GSX-R600)

6. Jinba Ittai Motorsport (Yam YZF-R1)