Mesa Takes Home #1 Plate – Silva Wins Season Finale

CCSS Florida – Homestead-Miami Speedway

December 4, 2016

Stefano Mesa wrapped up the Championship Cup Series Florida region’s 2016 season as the Overall Expert points leader and was presented with the number one plate for his third consecutive year. To date, he is the only Florida region competitor to have won three years in a row. “It’s been a great year,” Mesa exclaimed. “I can go home and work a little bit harder, and come back next year even stronger, and give it another run.”

The CCS Florida region season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway got off to a rough start for Mesa. Mechanical issues with his Yamaha YZF-R6 rendered the machine unable to compete in the middleweight classes, and issues with his Kawasaki ZX-10R left him scrambling early race morning for clutch plates. With some help from Gerald Glass and TTR, Mesa was able to compete and pulled off two wins, two second place finishes, and third in the final and most exciting race of the day, Unlimited Grand Prix.

Mesa started off race day strong with an early lead in the GTO race. The race was red flagged in the first lap when Fernando Silva crashed in turn three and sent all the bikes back to the grid. The race was reset from ten to eight laps, and Mesa was out front again at the restart with Frankie Babuska, Jr. and Sean Dwyer in hot pursuit. Babuska took over the lead early in the race, but Mesa was back out front a lap later and the two battled it out for the remainder of the race with Mesa holding on to the advantage to take the first checkered flag of the day. Babuska finished second, with Dwyer, Barrett Long, and Felipe MacLean rounding off the top five.

Mesa was out front early again in the Unlimited Supersport race. By lap two, Babuska had worked his way through the field and into second place. But, he would not be able to get around the leader and Mesa claimed his second victory of the day. Babuska finished second with Silva, Dwyer, and Silva rounding off the top five.

Mesa was out front early again in the Unlimited Grand Prix race and led the first two laps with Sean Dwyer taking over the top spot and everybody scrambling behind him, looking for a way to the front. Two laps later, Bruno Silva made his passing maneuver through turn twelve to take over the lead and shuffle the entire pack behind him. Mesa ran the fastest lap of the race 1:24.559 in the last lap and final sprint for the checkered flag. But, it was Silva took the win in the final race of the day, knocking Mesa off the top block and winning streak for the class. Mesa finished second with Babuska, Michael Barnes (on the little 600 that could), and Barrett Long rounding off the top five in the final race of the season.

“It wasn’t really close enough to make a pass that would stick,” Babuska said when asked about his dominance all day in turn eight. “And, these guys coming down to Florida, they’re phenomenal riders down here. They definitely know their way around this place. So it’s always good to come down here when I can. As far as that pass, I couldn’t get it to work. And, everybody’s got their bikes dialed in pretty good and it’s pretty insane how fast they’re actually going towards turn eight. I couldn’t get it there. Dwyer’s flying. I couldn’t find a gap around him by any means. I got a good drive out of the last corner and luckily I was able to pass him going into turn one. And then, by that time, Stefano and Bruno, they had already checked out. Other than that, it was a good race. Hat’s off to these guys. They’re flying down here. You can’t take anything away from them. They sure know their way around this place and they really ride to the top level. I’m at a loss for words. They’re really competitive and it’s really good to see at a club race.”

Earlier in the day, Babuska won the Unlimited Superbike race after battling for the lead and swapping positions with same top five riders. He also finished second in the GTO and Unlimited Supersport races. “I’d like to thank Dunlop,” stated Babuska. “They’ve been helping out all weekend pretty much, and giving us tires we need to run the pace. Arai Helmets, Vortex, Maxima, the list goes on and on ,but I’d like to thank everybody who contributes to this program. And my dad and Tim Bemisderfer. I can’t leave him out!”

On the podium, Mesa exclaimed, “I mean, what a race, man! My hat’s off to all of us. We’re all going so hard at it pushing up the limits. Hat’s off to Frankie and team coming down here and giving us a run. It’s always amazing to have them and people to come down here to prove that all of us have a little talent down here too. My hat’s off to Bruno, man. He would run his ass off. Impressive riding. I gave it my best. Thanks to Eric Gray for the whole weekend for giving me a hand with my bike. Very nice of him coming from the other team. My hat’s off to WestSide Performance, SBS Brakes, Shoei Helmets, my dad, my mom, everybody who makes this such a great event, Henry (DeGouw), the CCS officials, everybody!” He added, “My hat’s off to Dunlop Tires. Those tires are just amazing. The grip that they give us, that’s how we can go fast and win.”

After the race, Silva commented, “Actually it was really hard at the beginning. It was hard to pass those guys. Stefano, Dwyer, I had to put to the limits in turn eight and turn twelve was a hard pass. Always getting better, and better, and better.” Of his winning pass, Silva stated, “Dwyer was strong all over the track, so I had to try a move that he maybe wasn’t expecting for turn twelve. I pushed hard. I really thought I was going to crash. But, I didn’t. I want to say thanks, first of all to God, for the opportunity to be here. And, my team, ART Performance, Fernando, my brother for all his support. All his dedication to these bikes. My family, my wife, my daughter, Eric Gray from GMD Computrack. I have to say big thanks to Pirelli Tires. They helped us all year long and it was a good race. It was a good year. Thanks God, we did good!”

In the Amateur ranks, Max Angles wrapped up the day with ten first place finishes and finished the season as Overall Amateur Points leader. Angles won the Amateur GTO, GTU, Unlimited Supersport, Middleweight Supersport, Heavyweight Supersport, Unlimited Superbike, Middleweight Superbike, Heavyweight Superbike, Middleweight Grand Prix, and Unlimited Grand Prix races on his WestSide Performance prepped Kawasaki ZX10-R and Yamaha YZF-R6 machines. He will be racing in the Expert classes next season.

The 2017 CCS Florida season opener is schedule for February 11-12th at Homestead-Miami Speedway. For the 2017 race schedule, lap times, points standings, full results, and additional information on past and future events, please go to: www.ccsracing.us.

EXPERT UNLIMITED GRAND PRIX RESULTS:

1. Bruno Silva (Kaw ZX-10R)

2. Stefano Mesa (Kaw ZX-101R)

3. Frankie R. Babuska, Jr. (Yam YZF-R1)

4. Michael Barnes (Yam YZF-R6)

5. Barrett Long (Yam YZF-R6)

6. Sean Dwyer (Suz GSX-R1000)

7. Felipe MacLean (Kaw ZX-10R)

8. Jeremy Krasny (Kaw ZX-10R)