Kelsey Battles at MSR Cresson
RPSRaceTeam.com’s Danny S. Kelsey continued with his winning ways at MSR Cresson posting 4 more championship victories against some very tough competition and a few off-track challenges. With only 3 rounds remaining, round 8 for Kelsey would provide an opportunity to start solidifying his CMRA Sprint Championship Series class and overall points lead(s). As temperatures topped 100 degrees, the task would prove to be more challenging than the team could have imagined.
Plagued by two generator failures as the weekend started, the team scrambled all weekend just to keep power going in their pit. This would prove to be a critical issue as the weekend unfolded. With a visiting AMA Pro National Guard Superbike rider added to the competition in addition to the normal competitors, the racing was guaranteed to be intense. The team was not able to gain much setup data on Friday as unusually heavy practice grids created a very busy track with less than 5 clear laps the entire day for the Georgetown, Texas rider to improve the setup of the Pirelli shod GSXR-750 and GSXR-1000. The team entered Sunday morning a bit “blind”, but still felt confident that Kelsey would be able to set the pace needed to win.
Sunday’s completion started with the Breast Cancer Research Awareness Formula One qualifying. The session resembled an AMA Pro qualifying session as riders were circulating looking for a tow. Kelsey however was not concerned and entered as the first bike on the track and put the hammer down on his opening lap then pulled in. The result was Kelsey posted the fastest qualifying lap with a 1:14.363 on the RPSRaceTeam.com Silkolene lubricants GSXR-1000 . With less than a half second between Kelsey and the lap record, the team felt confident they had the “right stuff”.
With two solid wins in B Supertock Expert and A Superstock, Kelsey prepared for a real battle in the Breast Cancer Research Awareness Formula One featured event. As the starting lets set the field off, Kelsey took the lead and set the pace early posting a 1:14.217 in the opening laps. By lap three, Kelsey was dealing with a challenge from second place. The pace picked up. On lap 3, the lower belly pan was beginning to fall off the DP Brakes outfitted GSXR-1000.
On lap 4, Kelsey was starting to get a lot of sliding from the rear tire. By lap 5, the problem with the sliding was becoming exponentially worse. Kelsey was forced to surrender the lead as lap 6 began. Within three turns, Kelsey was off the track at the very dangerous “ricochet” turn as he was very surprised to find no grip at the rear. With body now about ready to fall off and tire situation that Kelsey had never experienced, he pulled of the track.
Upon inspection of the tire and review of video, it was realized that the tire was sent out with too high of a pressure and that caused the problem Kelsey experienced. “The belly pan was actually schedule to be replaced at this event as it took some damage a few races ago. Unfortunately, we were trying to time the replacement of the bodywork with a sponsor that gave us a verbal and never came through. We were left having to wait until next round to replace the bodywork. Also, we used a total of 5 different generators this weekend. Each generator was powering the tire warmers at different levels. The one we used Sunday just wasn’t putting out the juice to get the tire up to full temp on the warmer. We realized that Danny was likely 6lbs over the highest pressure we like to see on the rear tire at time the anomaly occurred. At the pace that the front runners were posting, it was not going to work,” explained Crew Chief Marcus McBain.
The team was obviously disappointed with the result. Despite this, the team re-grouped to get Kelsey back on top of the box in the liter bike class. With A Superbike up, Kelsey pulled the trigger on the RPSRaceTeam.com GSXR-1000 and quickly put it into the lead. By lap three, Kelsey was being pursued heavily. As the half way flags were displayed Danny was now in 2nd place shadowing the new leader. Confident that he now had an optimal tire setup, Kelsey set himself up for a last lap pass. The moment came three turns from the finish line in the turn known as “buzzard’s neck”. Kelsey drove the Dynojet and M4 equipped GSXR-1000 into the turn and emerged the leader. At the line, Kelsey took the win by 0.015 seconds. The race was so intense, the leaders finished 28 seconds clear of 3rd place after 8 laps.
With a win in B Superbike to close the day, Kelsey would garner 4 wins out of 5 races entered. Despite the numerous challenges, the team faced the obstacles and overcame them. “I knew it was going to be a tough weekend. Ty (Howard) and Dustin (Dominguez) are two really great competitors. We have been racing against each other for years. Ty is all healed up now, so I knew he would be on the gas. I was really pleased that the team was able to perform through all the issues we were experiencing and still win 4 of the 5 races entered. I also need to thank DP Brakes. I really used the Brakes a lot at the end of the day as I was still feeling out the rear (traction). I always know that the DP Brake pads will get me in turn first and I want to thank Larry and his team from DP Brakes for taking care of us,” stated Kelsey.
The team thanks KMC Controls, Dynojet, Pirelli, JRi Shocks, GP Suspension, Silkolene, M4 Exhausts, RS-Taichi Apparel, Moto Liberty, South Central Race Center, Motopia, DP Brakes, K’s Motorsports, Lone Star Track Days, Racing Engine Services, Hotbodies Racing, WRW Racing, Shoei Helmets, and Raceworx for their tremendous Support. Danny Kelsey and RPSRaceTeam.com will be back in action October 5-6 at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas.
More, from a press release issued by HSBK Racing:
Dustin Dominguez Sets New CMRA Track Record at MSR Cresson Onboard the HSBK RSV4 Factory
Cresson, TX. , August 26, 2013. The weather for the CMRA Sprints at MSR Cresson provided the perfect opportunity to break the record on the 1.7 mile track. HSBK Racing has actively pursued breaking CMRA track records for the past two years and contacted Dustin Dominguez to pilot for the remaining CMRA rounds. Dominguez has been racing CMRA for 13 years and is currently racing in the AMA for Team RSRacecraft EBR in the National Guard SuperBike Class.
A previous test with Dominguez proved that the record was obtainable and final setup of the bike was completed Sunday morning with Jim Cambora of Raceworxx. The preparation and experience led the team to a record breaking lap of 1:13.812 during the Formula 1 race. The previous track record of 1:13.899 was set August 26, 2007 by Ty Howard. HSBK Racing will continue to campaign the Aprilia RSV4 in the remaining CMRA rounds and has its sights set on the track record at Texas World Speedway.
HSBK Racing would like to thank Aprilia Racing, Raceworxx, K-Tech, Akrapovic, Dunlop, TAW Performance, and Catalyst Racing Composites.
Dustin Dominguez would like to thank HSBK Racing, Kicker Audio, RSR, Motosport.com, Dunlop, Arai, Sidi, Motoliberty and Jack Rhodes Mental Coach.
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