McDonough Wins Formula Ultra Championship and Recaptures the Lap Record at Portland International Raceway
OMRRA’s 2014 season came to an end this past weekend at Portland International Raceway (PIR) under ideal conditions. For the first time in a decade, OMRRA crowned a new #1 plate holder. A woman earned a major championship for the first time in OMRRA history in the Langlitz Leathers Vintage Championship series. Many OMRRA classes set new class lap records with new contenders emerging every round. Throughout the 2014 race season, OMRRA lap record was under assault numerous times and reset again over the weekend.
Heading into the final round of OMRRA’s 2015 season, the battle for the KFG Racing Formula Ultra Championship was down to two young contenders: Devon McDonough and Andy DiBrino. McDonough had the insurance of a 29 point lead heading into the weekend, needing to merely finish and not succumb to misfortune. In Saturday’s race, DiBrino put in a valiant effort to close the gap by putting his head down, claiming the holeshot ahead of WMRRA #1 plate holder Ryan Sutton with McDonough in third. On lap 3 Sutton ran off track in turn 1 dropping 5 positions as DiBrino and McDonough checked out. Sutton regained his footing and charged back through the field overtaking Kevin Pinkstaff on the last lap. With the win, McDonough had enough points to be the first new #1 plate holder at OMRRA in over a decade. On securing the championship, McDonough said,”What a great team effort! Thanks to KFG Racing, Pirelli, Motorcycle Superstore, Bell Helmets & Pilot Leathers. This year has been a rollercoaster, we set an extremely high goal for our first full year on a 1000. It feels amazing to accomplish that goal and to ride the way I did for the team.” At 19 years old, McDonough is the youngest champion in OMRRA history. Fittingly, he was presented with the overall trophy by OMRRA legends and past champions Shawn Roberti and Gene Brown.
Although McDonough had closed out the championship, there was still another race to run on Sunday. Ryan Sutton came out swinging and snatched the holeshot ahead of DiBrino with McDonough chasing. The trio battled incessantly with DiBrino successfully overtaking Sutton on Lap 5, followed by McDonough overtaking second place from Sutton with three laps to go. They would finish in that order, despite McDonough posting an astounding 1:05.398 on the final lap shattering DiBrino’s month-old track record by over half a second! McDonough’s lap record was icing on the cake and he said of the flying lap, “I was just trying to be as smooth as possible. I had broken the record a couple laps earlier when I got by Ryan but we started running into lapped traffic. I hit my marks and didn’t make any mistakes. It just feels great to have reached all of our goals this year and shattering the lap record by almost a second from the start of the season. It shows how much we’ve grown as a team.”
The championship battle between McDonough and DiBrino was one of the most compelling championships to watch in years. Both racers are talented, professional and hungry.One has the feeling both these young racers will be at it even harder at OMRRA in 2015.
In the EDR Performance Clubman Championship, Andy DiBrino and his R6 held a slim margin over Kelly Johnson and her Ninja 250 in the points chase. The two wouldn’t battle head to head but the slightest misfortune for either could be the difference in the points chase. DiBrino made sure to win all his races in Supersport, 750 Supersport, 750 Superbike and Open Superbike to retain the slim points over Johnson and claim the Clubman Championship. The Clubman series races saw notable returns. Six-time OMRRA champion and legend Shawn Roberti returned to PIR on a 600 in his first race since the 1990’s. Roberti wasted no time in getting back to business winning 600 Superbike in an intense race-long battle with veteran Michael McBrady. After a four year hiatus which included racing overseas, Dan Wilson returned to OMRRA. Showing no signs of rust, Wilson claimed a victory in Formula 40 and clocked impressive lap times with a best in the 1:06’s on his way to claiming a third behind DiBrino and McDonough in Open Superbike.
The final round of racing was fierce in the middleweight classes. Points battles were close making each point was critical. Middleweight Supersport started it off with Michael Caravatta reeling in Peter Kahn who had taken the holeshot around midpoint in the race and never looking back. Josh Melanson overtook Kahn in a last turn lunge to take second. Kahn’s third place finish and season long consistency put him at the top of the class leaderboard. Only 8 points separated the top 3 with Caravatta and Melanson ending the seasonr 2nd and 3rd respectively. The GP Twins race saw Ducati riders Matt O’Rourke and Brian Osborne jump into the lead with Kahn making chase on his SV650. O’Rourke took a detour through the grass on lap 4 and would fight his way back up front to take a hard-earned second. While Osborne sailed to a clear win, Kahn was locked in a battle with Derrick Edwards for much of the race. On the final lap, Edwards’ determination resulted in a third just beating Kahn to the line. Kahn’s consistency awarded him a second class title with O’Rourke second with Osborne elevating to third.
The 30-minute Middleweight GP class debuted in 2014. Entering the weekend a mere two points separated Peter Kahn and Joshua Melanson. When the green flag dropped Melanson wasn’t on the grid due to an incident earlier in the weekend. Kahn led early until Osborne passed him a few laps in. Kahn and Osborne swapped the lead several times in the first half of the race. Osborne took over in the second half and eased away from Kahn and Edwards. Edwards mounted a chase and beat Kahn to the line by a bike length for second. Kahn received his third class championship with Melanson in 2nd with Edwards moving into third overall. In 450 Superbike, racer Patrick Leyshock had a commanding first lap lead when disaster struck in Turn 7 catapulting his 1978 GS1000 end-over-end in spectacular fashion. Leyshock was unhurt. On the restart, leaders Gene Brown and Michael Caravatta retired early allowing Kahn to take an easy win. Despite his early retirement, Michael Caravatta takes the 450 Superbike class championship. Middleweight Superbike saw Osborne and Edwards take the early lead and remain in that order to finish. Nobi Iso ended third. Peter Kahn would collect his fourth class championship with consistency. Finally, in Middleweight Sportsman race (AKA Lightweight Classic SBK), Brad Pinstaff won the race ahead of Doug Harvey and Sam Bogges. As the season came to a close, Brad Pinkstaff’s trips to the podium earned him the class championship.
Coming into the weekend, Kelly Johnson had a six point deficit to Andy DiBrino in the Clubman Championship. Johnson lined her Ninja 250 up all weekend in lightweight classes and pulled off impressive wins but with DiBrino winning on his R6, Johnson ends her season in a very respectable second place in the Clubman Championship. In races featuring Kawasaki’s Ninja 250, Kelly Johnson asserted her dominance winning Ninja 250 Cup races and securing the hotly contested class crown. Matt O’Rourke’s combined finishes had him in second for the day and in the runner-up position in the championship. Returning from WA for the final round, Philip Melnyk scored third in the two-race Ninja 250 Cup format battling Austin McCabe all day. McCabe’s 2014 efforts paid dividends in the form of a third place finish in the championship. Relative newcomer Alex Taylor experienced his first win in Lightweight Supersport. Alex continues to improve and will be a factor at the front in 2015. Sunday morning’s 30 minute Ultralightweight GP saw Austin McCabe make a carbon copy of past races and run away at the front for the win and claim the class championship. Alex Taylor finished second, while Shannon Lang in her first race on a Ninja 250, finished third. In Lightweight Superbike and Ultralightweight Supersport action, Kelly Johnson came out swinging and emerged victorious in what had been a nail-biting 5-way battle. McCabe grabbed 2nd in both races with O’Rourke claiming third in Ultralightweight Supersport, with Adam Faussett taking third in Lightweight Superbike.
The Langlitz Leathers Vintage Championship finished in history making fashion with Mica Grohn becoming the first woman in OMRRA history to win a major championship. A handful of women have won class championships at OMRRA in the past but Grohn is significant because she becomes the first to win a multi-class points championship. Grohn was never off the podium in the final weekend which was enough to keep her lead over defending Vintage Champion Eirik Neilsen and claim the title. While not retaining the crown, Nielsen finished the season as the Middleweight Vintage class leader and reset the lap record for the class. Montesa-mounted Jared Kenyon came into the weekend fourth in class but was surging and expecting to have a good weekend to unseat Daric Cheshire for third in class. However, Kenyon would suffer mechanical difficulties and the opportunity would slip away. Mica Grohn and Daric Cheshire finished the class in second and third, respectively. Honda rider Ryan Shanahan held onto the 2014 Lightweight Vintage class championship with consistent finishes. Shanahan battled Daric Cheshire wheel-to-wheel nearly every lap of both heat races. Cheshire would finish ahead of Shanahan with Grohn beating out both of them in both contests. Grohn’s point deficit was too much to overcome and Shanahan claimed the Lightweight Vintage class championship. Defending class champion Eirik Neilsen retired early from the day’s racing with a mechanical DNF.
The Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association (OMRRA) developed the two-race per weekend Formula Ultra Championship, the ‘your best two classes’ Clubman Championship and the two-race per day, Olympic-scored Vintage Championship, promoting safe, competitive road racing in all categories.OMRRA, incorporated in 1972 as a non-profit, volunteer run organization, has members ranging in age from 12 to over 70, racing motorcycles of many brands, sizes and ages. OMRRA operates at Portland International Raceway, a city park and world class track.For more information, visit www.omrra.comand join us at www.facebook.com/omrra.racing
Saturday, September 13th Race Results
Novice 2
1. Tullio Celano (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Alex Lou (Duc 848EVO)
3. Anthony Patten (Hon CBR600RR)
4. Lewis Hans Hellfritsch (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Gordon Lawrence (Yam YZF-R6)
Novice 3
1. Q. Thornton (BMW S1000RR)
2. Patrick McDonald (Suz GSX-R750)
3. Fred Jones (Suz GSX-R750)
Formula Ultra
1. Andy DiBrino (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. Devon McDonough (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Ryan Sutton (Suz GSX-R1000)
4. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R)
5. Dan Wilson (BMW S1000RR)
6. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000)
Ninja 250 Cup
1. Kelly Johnson (Kaw EX250)
2. Philip Melnyk (Kaw EX250)
3. Matt Orourke (Kaw EX250)
4. Austin McCabe (Kaw EX250)
5. Valentine Welch (Kaw EX250)
6. Jay Floyd (Kaw EX250R)
Middleweight Vintage
1. Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB350)
2. Jared Kenyon (Mon 250)
3. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175)
4. Douglas Willett (Yam SR500)
600 Supersport
1. Andy DiBrino (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Devon McDonough (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Jason Doody (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Michael Mcbrady (Kaw ZX-6)
5. Luke Luciano (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Chris Jablonski (Yam YZF-R6)
Middleweight Supersport
1. Michael Caravatta (Apr 125RS)
2. Joshua Melanson (Hon NSF250R)
3. Peter Kahn (Suz SV650)
4. Nobi Iso (Hon RS125)
5. Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650)
6. Doug Harvey (Kaw EX650)
Lightweight Supersport
1. Alex Taylor (Kaw EX250R)
2. Valentine Welch (Kaw EX250)
3. Richard Kenney (Kaw EX250)
Formula 40
1. Dan Wilson (BMW S1000RR)
2. Tony Porter (Kaw ZX-10R)
3. Jason Lauritzen (Kaw ZX-10R)
4. Joe Rocha (Kaw ZX-10R)
5. Shawn Roberti (Hon CBR600RR)
6. Stuart Johnson (Yam YZF-R1)
Ninja 250 Cup
1. Kelly Johnson (Kaw EX250)
2. Matt Orourke (Kaw EX250)
3. Austin McCabe (Kaw EX250)
4. Philip Melnyk (Kaw EX250)
5. Jay Floyd (Kaw EX250R)
6. Valentine Welch (Kaw EX250)
Middleweight Vintage
1. Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB350)
2. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175)
3. Douglas Willett (Yam SR500)
750 Supersport
1. Andy DiBrino (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R750)
3. Jason Doody (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Michael Mcbrady (Kaw ZX-6)
5. Luke Luciano (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Nobi Iso (MV Agusta F3 675)
GP Twins
1. Brian Osborne (Duc 650R)
2. Matt O’Rourke (Duc 992)
3. Derrick Edwards (Suz SV650)
4. Peter Kahn (Suz SV650)
5. David Moore (Kaw EX650)
6. Bennie Goodson (Suz SV650)
Open Sportsman
1. Josh McKay (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Brent Benoit (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Dave Wanzer (Hon CBR600RR)
4. Tim Brodovsky (Suz GSX-R600)
5. Patrick McDonald (Suz GSX-R750)
6. G. Brian Tallant (Hon CBR1000RR)
Open Supersport
1. Ryan Sutton (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Dan Wilson (BMW S1000RR)
Sunday, September 14th Race Results
Ultra-Lightweight GP
1. Austin McCabe (Kaw EX250)
2. Alex Taylor (Kaw EX250R)
3. Shannon Lang (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Patty Gardner (Kaw EX250R)
5. Richard Kenney (Kaw EX250)
6. Max Maduro (Kaw EX250R)
Middleweight GP
1. Brian Osborne (Duc 650R)
2. Derrick Edwards (Suz SV650)
3. Peter Kahn (Suz SV650)
4. Gene Brown (Yam TZ250)
5. Bennie Goodson (Suz SV650)
6. Derek Stotz (Suz SV650)
Open Sportsman
1. Steve Naito (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Eirik Nielsen (Tri 675)
3. Tim Griffin (Yam YZF-R 6)
4. Alex Lou (Duc 848EVO)
5. Andrew Hume (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Tullio Celano (Duc 899)
Lightweight Vintage
1. Eirik Nielsen (Hon CB175)
2. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175)
3. Daric Cheshire (Hon CL175)
4. Ryan Shanahan (Hon CB175)
5. Michael Fontanarosa (Hon CB160)
6. Shane Furrer (Hon CB175)
450 Superbike
1. Peter Kahn (Suz SV650)
2. Derek Stotz (Suz SV650)
3. Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650)
4. Doug Harvey (Kaw EX650)
5. Sam Boggess (Suz SV650)
6. Danny Houghton (Suz SV650)
600 Superbike
1. Shawn Roberti (Hon CBR600)
2. Michael Mcbrady (Kaw ZX-6)
3. Chris Jablonski (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Andrew Pignataro (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Luke Luciano (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R600)
Middleweight Superbike
1. Brian Osborne (Duc 650R)
2. Derrick Edwards (Suz SV650)
3. Nobi Iso (Hon RS125)
4. Peter Kahn (Suz SV650)
5. David Moore (Kaw EX650)
6. Matt O’Rourke (Duc 992)
Middleweight Classic Superbike
1. Kelly Johnson (Yam YZF 600)
2. Jason Iverson (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Bennie Goodson (Suz SV650)
4. Matt Alfonso (Suz GSX-R1100)
5. Robert Wortman (Hon CBR600)
6. Martin Rogers (Yam Yamaha r6)
Ultra Lightweight Supersport
1. Kelly Johnson (Kaw EX250)
2. Matt O’Rourke (Kaw EX250)
3. Austin McCabe (Kaw EX250)
4. Adam Faussett (Kaw EX250R)
5. Valentine Welch (Kaw EX250)
6. Jay Floyd (Kaw 250R)
Formula Ultra
1. Andy DiBrino (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. Devon McDonough (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Ryan Sutton (Suz GSX-R1000)
4. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R)
5. Dan Wilson (BMW S1000RR)
6. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000)
Lightweight Vintage
1. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175)
2. Daric Cheshire (Hon CL175)
3. Ryan Shanahan (Hon CB175)
4. Michael Fontanarosa (Hon CB160)
5. Shane Furrer (Hon CB175)
6. Rodney Bender (Hon CL175)
Lightweight Superbike
1. Kelly Johnson (Kaw EX250)
2. Austin McCabe (Kaw EX250)
3. Adam Faussett (Kaw EX250R)
4. Jay Floyd (Kaw EX250R)
5. Valentine Welch (Kaw EX250)
6. Max Maduro (Kaw EX250R)
Lightweight Classic Superbike
1. Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650)
2. Doug Harvey (Kaw EX650)
3. Sam Boggess (Suz SV650)
4. Maurice Miller (Suz SV650)
5. Danny Houghton (Suz SV650)
6. Star Herrmann (Suz SV650)
750 Superbike
1. Andy DiBrino (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Michael Mcbrady (Kaw ZX-6)
3. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Luke Luciano (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Gene Brown (Suz GSX-R750)
Ultra Lightweight Supersport
1. Kelly Johnson (Kaw EX250)
2. Austin McCabe (Kaw EX250)
3. Adam Faussett (Kaw EX250R)
4. Matt O’Rourke (Kaw EX250)
5. Valentine Welch (Kaw EX250)
6. Jay Floyd (Kaw EX250R)
Novice 2
1. Alex Lou (Duc 848EVO)
2. Anthony Patten (Hon CBR600RR)
3. Tullio Celano (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Lewis Hans Hellfritsch (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Gordon Lawrence (Yam YZF-R6)
Novice 3
1. Patrick McDonald (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Fred Jones (Suz GSX-R750)
3. Ron Wyman (Suz GSX-R750)
Open Superbike
1. Andy DiBrino (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. Devon McDonough (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Dan Wilson (BMW S1000RR)
4. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R)
5. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000)
6. Tony Porter (Kaw ZX-10R)
KFG Racing Pirelli Formula Ultra Championship
Devon McDonough – 225 points
Andy DiBrino – 206 points
Sam Verderico – 151 points
Kevin Pinkstaff – 116 Points
Lenny Hale – 106 points
EDR Performance Clubman Championship
Andy DiBrino – 228 points
Kelly Johnson – 222.5 points
Peter Kahn – 201 points
Michael Carravata – 200 points
Devon McDonough – 190 points
Langlitz Leathers Vintage Championship
Mica Grohn – 156.5 points
Eirik Nielsen – 150.5 points
Ryan Shanahan – 104.5 points
Daric Cheshire – 99.5 points
Jared Kenyon – 44 points