Local Racers Pianykh and Hicks dominate at Masters of the Mountains season opener
April 24, 2013. Tooele, Utah – The opening round of UtahSBA’s Masters of the Mountains race series saw local riders Oleg Pianykh and Gerry Hicks take a rout of victories in all of the premier races throughout the weekend.
Having already competed in the 2013 WERA National Series, Salt Lake City rider Oleg Pianykh took a series of wins on his immaculately-prepared Moto Station SLC Suzuki GSX-R1000. Pianykh secured the King of the Mountain title in 2012 and his results in the opening round bid well for a repeat performance in 2013.
The King of the Mountain ‘O’ race started with Ryan Brand getting his BMW S1000RR first into Turn One with Pianykh and journeyman racer, Peter de Graff, hard on his tail. The defining moment for Pianykh came early in the race as he slid his machine up the inside of Brand as they exited the fast Turn One.
If race strategy was domination, then Pianykh had it in spades, laying down a series of 1:31 lap times and progressively gapping the remainder of the field throughout the race. Pianykh’s victory was firmly secured by a comfortable seven-second margin over second-place finisher de Graff.
In pitlane Pianykh reflected on the successes of the weekend, saying: “I’m pretty pleased with a flag-to-flag win in Open Superbike, and another win in the King of the Mountain race. I want to thank my sponsors: Moto Station SLC, Evolution Machine, Fastline Racetire, Pirelli, CT Racing, Motul and ACT Leathers.”
Another strong performance from Gerry Hicks saw him taking two wins in Middleweight Superstock and the King of the Mountain ‘U’ classes. A pleasantly surprised Hicks reflected after the wins: “It was a rough start to the weekend. We didn’t have the bike put together until late Friday night and bad weather on Saturday cut our practice short. This weekend I just wanted to finish.”
The King of the Mountain ‘U’ race saw Hicks getting the holeshot in to the fast Turn One on Miller’s West configuration and he never looked back. On lap two, Canadian Scott Decker attempted a bold inside maneuver at the Blackrock Hairpin but could not make it stick. In relentless pursuit, Decker tried again at the triple apex Diablo corners but again ran wide, relinquishing any chance of a podium finish. This left Hicks with a comfortable margin to take his first win in the expert class.
“I still can’t believe I took my first win in this class,” a jubilant Hicks reflected. “I want to thank my sponsors: Honda Suzuki of Salt Lake, Fastline Race Tire, Corporate Suspension and also Aaron Clark for his advice and counsel this winter.”
Round one of UtahSBA’s Masters of the Mountains series also saw the introduction of the Production 250 class. With the line of eligible machinery expanding, this class makes an attractive (and affordable) option for the prospective racer. The inaugural class saw a young Gauge Rees taking victory on his Kawasaki 250R sponsored by Trackstar. Amanda Maheu took second on another Trackstar-prepared Kawasaki 250R. Amanda embodies the success of UtahSBA’s RacingExperience program. Throughout the weekend she is a graduate of the Advanced Rider Training (ART) and New Racer Certification class. Race School Director, Brian Childree spoke highly of the program: “We had eight new racers this weekend and all students got through the program, which is great. Everybody had a good time and learned a lot. We look forward to its continued success.”
UtahSBA would also thank the class sponsors and all of the supporting vendors for their help this season; Apex Trackdays, BMW/Triumph of Salt Lake, Cortech Leathers, Darkside Tactical, ECS HVAC, Edge Powersports, Fastline Racetire, Fulmer Helmets, Honda Suzuki of Salt Lake, Lamonicas Restaurant Equipment Service, Maverik Kickstart Radio, Moto Station SLC, South Valley Motorsports, Trackstar, Wrights Parts & Accessories, Redline Motorsports and SBS Performance.
The Masters of the Mountains is a motorcycle road racing series organized by the Utah Sport Bike Association, held at Miller Motorsports Park, and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). The UtahSBA is a member-based non-profit organization committed to furthering the sport of motorcycle road racing through racing, rider education and safety. For more information on schedule, rulebook, class sponsors, purses and contingency please visit www.utahsba.com/racing or link to the UtahSBA page on Facebook.
The Masters of the Mountain race series returns to Miller Motorsports Park on May 25-26 on the perimeter course. Masters of the Mountains Race Schedule May 25-26: Miller Motorsports Park Perimeter Course June 29-30: Miller Motorsports Park East Course July 27-28: Miller Motorsports Park Perimeter Course (In conjunction with WERA) August 24-25: Miller Motorsports Park West Course October 5-6: Miller Motorsports Park East Course
Masters of the Mountains 2013 Round 1 Results:
Endurance: 1. Jim King (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Dana Wilson (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Gary Gerber (Yam YZF-R1) 4. Tim Gallagher (Suz SV650) 5. Gauge Rees (Kaw 250R) 6. Riley Hicks (Hon CBR1000RR)
Formula 5: 1. John Hopperstad (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Kevin Dolan (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Jonathon Howard (Yam YZF-R6) 4. David Petersen (Suz GSX-R750) 5. Ryan Luke (Suz GSX-R600) 6. Danny Egbert (Yam YZF-R6)
Super Twins: 1. Eric Grimm (KTM RC8R) 2. Courtney Lindorff (Duc 1199) 3. Brian Childree (Mor MD250H) 4. Jeff Masters (Buell 1125R) 5. Brad Moore (Suz SV650)
Middleweight Superstock: 1. Gerry Hicks (Hon CBR600RR) 2. Randy Callicoat (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Kinzer Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R) 4. Brian Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R) 5. Aaron Nourbakhsh (Tri 675) 6. Dana Wilson (Yam YZF-R6)
Womens GTO: 1. Amanda Maheu (Kaw 250R) 2. Lindsey Willis (Suz SV650)
Novice GTU: 1. Devin Husband (Kaw ZX-6R) 2. James Peterc (Tri 675) 3. Tarik Alnaqeeb (Suz GSX-R600) 4. Ryan Luke (Suz GSX-R600) 5. Mike Testa (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Drew Collins (Kaw ZX-6R)
Open Superbike: 1. Oleg Pianykh (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Peter de Graff (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Ryan Brand (BMW S1000RR) 4. Michael Bradshaw (BMW S1000RR) 5. Shane White (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Mark Harper (Hon CBR600RR)
MOTO 3: 1. Brian Childree (Mor MD250) 2. Gauge Rees (Hon RS125)
Combined GTO: 1. Erik Grimm (KTM RC8) 2. David Peterson (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Ted Perkins (Kaw ZX-10R) 4. Jeff Masters (Buell 1125R)
King of the Mountain U: 1. Gerry Hicks (Hon CBR600RR) 2. Dylon Husband (Kaw ZX-6R) 3. Jeff Stern (Kaw ZX-6R) 4. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R600) 5. Mark Harper (Hon CBR600RR) 6. Matthew Lewis (Yam YZF-R6)
Combined GTU: 1. Damon Stewart (Kaw ZX-6R) 2. Aaron Nourbakhsh (Tri 675) 3. Devin Husband (Kaw ZX-6R) 4. Nicholas Nelson (Tri 675) 5. Cody Steggell (Suz GSX-R600) 6. James Peterc (Tri 675)
Twins GTU: 1. Brian Childree (Mor MD250H) 2. Tim Gallagher (Suz SV650) 3. Amanda Maheu (Kaw 250R) 4. Gauge Rees (Kaw 250R) 5. Lindsey Willis (Suz SV650)
Open Superstock: 1. Ryan Brand (BMW S1000RR) 2. Michael Bradshaw (BMW S1000RR 3. Shane White (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Erik Grimm (KTM RC8) 5. Justin Bradshaw (BMW S1000RR) 6. Erik Postnieks (BMW S1000RR)
Heavy Weight Superstock / Sportsman: 1. David Peterson (Suz GSX-R750) 2. Damon Stewart (Kaw ZX-6R) 3. Tarik Alnaqeeb (Suz GSX-R600) 4. James Peterc (Tri 675) 5. Scott Peck (Suz GSX-R600) 6. Damien Olson (Hon CBR1000RR)
Novice GTO: 1. Tarik Alnaqeeb (Suz GSX-R600) 2. Damien Olson (Hon CBR1000RR) 3. Marshal Miller (Yam YZF-R1) 4. Ted Perkins (Kaw ZX-10R) 5. Steve Olson (Hon CBR1000RR) 6. Scott Peck (Suz GSX-R600)
Middleweight Superbike: 1. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Mark Harper (Hon CBR600RR) 3. Matthew Lewis (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Kinzer Naylor (Kaw ZX–R) 5. Brian Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R) 6. Jim King (Yam YZF-R6)
King of the Mountain O: 1. Oleg Pianykh (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Peter de Graff (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Michael Bradshaw (BMW S1000RR) 4. Jeff Stern (Kaw ZX10R) 5. Ryan Brand (BMW S1000RR) 6. Justin Bradshaw (BMW S1000RR)
Formula 40: 1. Ryan Brand (BMW S1000RR) 2. Peter de Graff (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Michael Bradshaw (BMW S1000RR) 4. Kevin Dolan (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. John Hopperstad (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Erik Postnieks (BMW S1000RR)