The Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) was pleased to hold its fifth race round of the season this last weekend, August 6-7 at Pueblo Motorsports Park (PMP) in Pueblo, Colorado. The Full Course configuration was on offer for the competitors of this event and the usual fare of sprint races, endurance races, and the premier event of Race of the Rockies was to be the focus of the weekend’s activities.
The weather was largely favorable for the weekend, with ample sun and a light breeze for most of it. However, one could not escape the summer heat yet again and some serious dusty wind storms turned up in the afternoon hours as the cloud fronts rolled through the region.
On Saturday, the competition was intense. The Novice classes ran quickly and with a lot of real racing happening throughout. The day was ultra clean and sharp in all the sprint classes with few flags and no medical transports all day. The MRA Board of Directors held a fundraiser for Safety Team equipment and vehicle maintenance that evening. In the form of a ‘dunk tank’ the paddock activity was something of a hit. Every single Board member took a dunk for the cause with a great deal of support and laughter from family and the club. Special mention to Chris Nami, MRA President for wearing a special set of patriotic overalls, that really helped to sell the ‘fun’ of the event. (Note – a few hundred bucks were raised for the much-needed safety maintenance fund!)
On Sunday, Race of the Rockies GTO & GTU (RORO & RORU) were teed up and the club was ready to watch the races. A super clean start and race saw some fantastic battles and some cat and mouse type strategies unfold at the front of RORO. The action included James Wilkerson battling with Mike Applegate and Ray Thornton, the current #1 plate holder for the club! Thornton went on to see the checkered in first, his vast experience with the PMP circuit coming to the fore.
In the RORU class, Jared Dear continued to stretch his championship points lead out over his closest rivals. Ken Yee and Cameron Lee would finish out the podium places, respectively!
Special thanks and nods to the city operators in Pueblo, the PMP facility/staff and the MRA safety team/trackside operations staff. Thanks to all of those that lent a hand in one fashion or another during the event. Thanks to all that participated in the Dunk Tank!
Dedicated to family friendly and close, competitive racing, the MRA thanks everyone involved for their support and patronage this last weekend, and hopes to see everyone again for round six coming August 27-28 at High Plains Raceway.
