Kyle Ohnsorg wrapped up the 2016 Central Roadracing Association championship in style by taking the win in the final sprint race of the year on his Mike Husman tuned BMW S1000RR. Returning to Brainerd International Raceway’s Donnybrooke course, the scene of his amazing 197mph run on the way to a new lap record, Ohnsorg took it easy for most of the day’s races as he was still nursing a few injuries. Those injuries were a broken right hand and still-healing left wrist which made his win on the Husman BMW (rumored to be putting out more than 240hp) even more impressive. He didn’t have it all his own way in the Unlimited GP race as Scott Stall put forth a valiant effort to make a break at the front during his debut weekend on his 2016 Kawasaki ZX-10R, but the reigning champion had no answer to Ohnsorg and settled for second place in front of a very impressive Kaleb DeKeyrel on the Anderson Racing Yamaha R6.
On the topic of DeKeyrel, the 2013 CRA champion made his return to the club in fine form, showing that he still has the speed that carried him to the championship and the AMA podium. DeKeyrel simply dominated Middleweight and Heavyweight proceedings on the Worldwide Machining & Welding Yamaha R6 taking victory in every race and challenging for the win against the 1000cc machinery in the Unlimited class. Without a doubt, DeKeyrel’s performance was one of the many highlights of the weekend. A special mention has to go to Willy “The Boss” Vossberg on his Shakeweight, Inc. Kawasaki ZX-6R. Vossberg suffered a vicious near high-side out of the lead of the Middleweight Supersport race. While he somehow managed to save the bike from crashing, his chain came off and he had the presence of mind to stop on the side of the track (not in an impact zone), put the chain back on and charge back through the field, laying down the best lap of the race on his way to sixth place, .026 seconds behind the fifth place rider, Fisk Bros. Racing/Dryject, Inc.’s Brian Hebeisen. Much like DeKeyrel in the Expert division, Joe Mastain cleaned house in the Novice Middleweight & Heavyweight with Patrick Wagaman following him across the line in multiple races.
The Lightweight classes were the scene of the biggest upset of the weekend with Matt Cina putting the moves on perennial frontrunner Jon Champ and handing him his first defeat of the season followed closely by first year racer Chris Mattson who put in a remarkable ride to keep up with the top experts on his aging first-generation SV650.
The combined Featherweight/Ninja 250 race on Saturday afternoon was the most entertaining of the weekend with more than a handful of riders donning costumes for their final race of the season. With rarities like a panda bear, a mermaid, a minion and a unicorn lining up for the grid the race became an instant CRA classic and was a perfect example of the fine line between serious racing and fun that the CRA has become known for.
Sunday was completely dedicated to the annual 5-hour endurance race. In what has become the normal pecking order in regional endurance races, Team Worldwide entered the race as the team to beat but this time they were fielding a completely new rider roster with Kaleb DeKeyrel, Aaron Anderson and Bell Helmets rider Shane Keaveny looking to bring Team Worldwide back into victory lane as the overall winners after getting beat to the finish line in 2015 by Drew See’s team. See put together an all star cast for the 2016 running of the race with Jake Schmotter, Chase Sellers and Erik Devaan joining him to form Drew’s Cheap Goats (a mediocre attempt at combining their three existing team names – this writer would have suggested “Drew Thrills Goats”). Another team in the big bike (GP3/GP4) classes looking for the overall win was MAKE CRA GREAT AGAIN, featuring Brandon Punt, Todd Larson and Willy Vossberg.
The GP2 class win was anything but certain with multiple teams putting together very potent lineups. The pre-race talk centered around Milton’s GP2 Ions with Christian Schmidt, Harry Jensen, Adam Harrison and Matt Cina and Collar Poppin’ (named in honor of team stalwart Steve Johnson’s recently broken collarbone) with riders Jon Champ, Chris Mattson and Kris Skellenger but midway through the race, the Pub Scouts had shown that they meant business. The GP1 race was a race to stay out of trouble (which was much more difficult than usual in this race) as the Kramer Motorcycle USA team of Joe Karvonen, Mark Praska, Jack Barton and Dan Mataczynski made up the only GP1 team in the race.
With the riders taking the green flag under cloudy skies, the wet weather came after an hour and a half, causing havoc on the track with multiple riders going down while they tried to get back to pit lane on their slick tires. This resulted in a red flag and during the short delay the rain stopped and the 30+mph winds started to dry the track. This saw a wide variety of tire strategies take shape for the restart of the race with some teams starting on rain tires, some on DOT’s and some on slicks. Each rider and team were gambling on what they thought the weather would do, which is notoriously difficult in the Brainerd Lakes region. The restart initially favored the riders on rain tires but as the stint wore on the riders on slicks were able to begin to reel in the riders on rains. After a short period of this, Mother Nature was irritated with the consistency and decided some sprinkles would be the perfect solution. When the light rain came again the riders on rain tires began to pull away, only for it to immediately start drying again.
This pattern would repeat itself many times throughout the five hours and the only time consistent weather arrived was roughly 30 minutes from the end when there was a steady rain that under normal circumstances would have necessitated rain tires. Due to the fact that there was less than 30 minutes left in the five hour race and many teams weren’t using quick-change pit equipment, a change to rain tires could cost them more time to their competition than running around a soaked track, dodging puddles while on slicks. Most teams stayed out to finish the race in the worst conditions in recent memory and everyone who finished the race most definitely earned their finishing position after that race.
Congratulations go out to Team Worldwide, John Anderson, Kaleb DeKeyrel, Aaron Anderson and Shane Keaveny as they brought the win back to Superior, WI and to all of the other class winners and podium finishers.
RESULTS:
Unlimited SS Expert
1 Shane Keaveny (Kaw ZX-10R)
2 Zach Hughes (Yam YZF-R1)
3 Ryan Fors (Kaw ZX-6R)
4 Christian Schmidt (Kaw ZX-10R)
Unlimited SB Expert
1 Scott Stall (Kaw ZX-10R)
2 Kyle Ohnsorg (BMW S1000RR)
3 Kaleb De Keyrel (Yam YZF-R6)
4 Lucas Wygant (Yam YZF-R1)
5 Shane Keaveny (Kaw ZX-10R)
6 Tony Mahto (Yam YZF-R1)
Unlimited SB Novice
1 Josh Harein (Hon CBR1000RR)
2 Patrick O’Daniel (Yam YZF-R1)
3 David Stone (Hon CBR1000RR)
Unlimited GP Expert
1 Kyle Ohnsorg (BMW S1000RR)
2 Scott Stall (Kaw ZX-10R)
3 Kaleb De Keyrel (Yam YZF-R6)
4 Lucas Wygant (Yam YZF-R1)
5 Brandon Punt (BMW S1000RR)
6 Zach Hughes (Yam YZF-R1)
Unlimited GP Novice
1 Patrick O’Daniel (Yam YZF-R1)
2 Josh Harein (Hon CBR1000RR)
3 David Stone (Hon CBR1000RR)
Heavyweight SS Expert
1 Billy Vossberg (Kaw ZX-6R)
2 Justin Ebnet (Hon CBR600RR)
3 Brett Donahue (Suz GSX-R750)
4 Kyle Ohnsorg (Yam YZF-R6)
5 Brian Hebeisen (Yam YZF-R6)
6 Ryan Fors (Kaw ZX-6R)
Heavyweight SS Novice
1 Ken Nielsen (Yam YZF-R6)
2 Nathan Dotson (Yam YZF-R6)
3 James Michaelson (Yam YZF-R6)
4 Martin Holte (Hon CBR600RR)
5 Patrick Wagaman (Hon CBR600RR)
6 Daniel O’Day (Kaw ZX-6R)
Heavyweight SB Expert
1 Kaleb De Keyrel (Yam YZF-R6)
2 Aaron Anderson (Suz GSX-R750)
3 Justin Ebnet (Hon CBR600RR)
4 Brian Hebeisen (Yam YZF-R6)
5 Brett Donahue (Suz GSX-R750)
6 Drew See (Yam YZF-R6)
Heavyweight SB Novice
1 Joe Mastain (Yam YZF-R6)
2 Patrick Wagaman (Hon CBR600RR)
3 James Michaelson (Yam YZF-R6)
4 Nathan Dotson (Yam YZF-R6)
5 Adam Bastien (Yam YZF-R6)
6 Martin Holte (Hon CBR600RR)
Heavyweight GP Expert
1 Kaleb De Keyrel (Yam YZF-R6)
2 Aaron Anderson (Suz GSX-R750)
3 Brian Hebeisen (Yam YZF-R6)
4 Brett Donahue (Suz GSX-R750)
5 Erik DeVaan (Yam YZF-R6)
6 Lucas Wygant (Yam YZF-R6)
Heavyweight GP Novice
1 Joe Mastain (Yam YZF-R6)
2 Patrick Wagaman (Hon CBR600RR)
3 James Michaelson (Yam YZF-R6)
4 Nathan Dotson (Yam YZF-R6)
5 Adam Bastien (Yam YZF-R6)
6 Martin Holte (Hon CBR600RR)
Ultralight #3 Expert
1 Jack Barton (Kra HKR Evo2)
2 Trevor Treviranus (Yam YZ450F)
Ultralight #3 Novice
1 Mark Praska (Kra HKR-Evo2)
2 Justin Pittman (Yam YZ450F)
FWGP Expert
1 Brad Zajic (Yam YZF-R3)
2 Adam Knauer (Kaw EX250R)
3 William Miller (Yam YZF-R3)
FWGP Novice
1 William Nystrom (Yam YZF-R3)
2 Roy Konicek (Yam YZF-R3)
Ninja 250 Novice
1 Sean Stettnichs (Kaw EX250R)
2 Jayme Schmit (Kaw EX250R)
3 Brian O’Mara (Kaw EX250R)
Ninja 250 Expert
1 Bryan Lachmiller (Kaw EX250R)
2 Sam Miller (Kaw EX250R)
3 Scott Laudon (Kaw EX250R)
New Rider Championship
1 Josh Harein (Hon CBR 1000)
2 Patrick Wagaman (Hon CBR600RR)
3 Dillon Baumeister (Yam YZF-R6)
4 David Stone (Hon CBR1000RR)
5 David Juntunen (Kaw ZX-6R)
6 Sonia Pond (Suz SV650)
Middleweight GP Expert
1 Kaleb De Keyrel (Yam YZF-R6)
2 Justin Ebnet (Hon CBR600RR)
3 Drew See (Yam YZF-R6)
4 Brian Hebeisen (Yam YZF-R6)
5 Lucas Wygant (Yam YZF-R6)
6 Harry Jensen (Duc 848)
Middleweight GP Novice
1 Joe Mastain (Yam YZF-R6)
2 Patrick Wagaman (Hon CBR600RR)
3 Nathan Dotson (Yam YZF-R6)
4 James Michaelson (Yam YZF-R6)
5 Adam Bastien (Yam YZF-R6)
6 Mark Nutter (Suz GSX-R600)
Middleweight SS Novice
1 Ken Nielsen (Yam YZF-R6)
2 Nathan Dotson (Yam YZF-R6)
3 James Michaelson (Yam YZF-R6)
4 Martin Holte (Hon CBR600RR)
5 David Juntunen (Kaw ZX-6R)
6 Brandon Connett (Tri D675)
Middleweight SB Expert
1 Kaleb De Keyrel (Yam YZF-R6)
2 Justin Ebnet (Hon CBR600RR)
3 Brian Hebeisen (Yam YZF-R6)
4 Drew See (Yam YZF-R6)
5 Lucas Wygant (Yam YZF-R6)
6 Kyle Ohnsorg (Yam YZF-R6)
Middleweight SB Novice
1 Nathan Dotson (Yam YZF-R6)
2 James Michaelson (Yam YZF-R6)
3 Dillon Baumeister (Yam YZF-R6)
4 Mark Nutter (Suz GSX-R600)
5 Martin Holte (Hon CBR600RR)
6 Adam Bastien (Yam YZF-R6)
Supertwins Expert
1 Matt Cina (Yam FZ-07)
2 Jeff Touhey (Suz SV650)
3 David Hanson (Yam FZ-07)
4 Pierre Champon (Suz SV650)
Supertwins Novice
1 Bill Plucky (Suz SV650)
2 Chris Mattson (Suz SV650)
3 Jesse Vanderweide (Suz SV650)
4 Anthony Marcinek (Suz SV650)
5 Sonia Pond (Suz SV650)
6 Nathan Jessup (Suz SV650)
Sportsman Lightweight Expert
1 Jack Barton (Kra HKR Evo2)
2 Adam Harrison (Hon CBR600F2)
Sportsman Lightweight Novice
1 Mark Praska (Kra HKR-Evo2)
Ultralight #2 Expert
1 Jack Barton (Kra HKR Evo2)
2 Barry Schmidt (KTM 450)
3 Trevor Treviranus (Yam YZ450F)
Ultralight #2 Novice
1 Mark Praska (Kra HKR-Evo2)
2 Justin Pittman (Yam YZ450F)
FWSB Expert
1 Brad Zajic (Yam YZF-R3)
2 Adam Knauer (Kaw EX250R)
3 William Miller (Yam YZF-R3)
FWSB Novice
1 William Nystrom (Yam YZF-R3)
2 Roy Konicek (Yam YZF-R3)
Ninja 250 Novice
1 Sean Stettnichs (Kaw EX250R)
2 Jayme Schmit (Kaw EX250R)
3 Brian O’Mara (Kaw EX250R)
Ninja 250 Expert
1 Bryan Lachmiller (Kaw EX250R)
2 Scott Laudon (Kaw Ex250R)
Lightweight GP Expert
1 Jon Champ (Suz SV650)
2 Jack Barton (Kra HKR Evo2
3 Matt Cina (Yam FZ-07)
4 Adam Harrison (Suz SV650)
5 pierre Champon (Suz SV650
6 Katie Champ (Suz SV650)
Lightweight GP Novice
1 Chris Mattson (Suz SV650)
2 Bill Plucky (Suz SV650)
3 Mark Praska (Kra HKR-Evo2)
4 Jesse Vanderweide (Suz SV650)
5 Anthony Marcinek (Suz SV650)
6 David Burke (Suz SV650)
Formula 40 – F2
1 Shane Keaveny (Kaw ZX-10R)
2 Tony Mahto (Yam YZF-R1)
3 Brett Donahue (Suz GSX-R750)
4 Harry Jensen (Duc 848)
5 Mark Dargis (Kaw ZX-10R)
6 John Anderson (Yam YZF-R6)
Formula 40 – F1
1 Matt Cina (Yam FZ-07
2 Barry Schmidt (KTM 450)
Lightweight SS Novice
1 Jesse Vanderweide (Suz SV650)
2 David Burke (Suz SV650)
3 Chris Mattson (Suz SV650)
4 Anthony Marcinek (Suz SV650)
5 Nathan Jessup (Suz SV650)
6 Sonia Pond (Suz SV650)
Lightweight SS Expert
1 Jon Champ (Suz SV650)
2 David Hanson (Yam FZ-07)
3 Katie Champ (Suz SV650)
Middleweight SS Expert
1 Justin Ebnet (Hon CBR600RR)
2 Ryan Fors (Kaw ZX-6R)
3 Karl Rehpohl (Kaw ZX-6R)
4 Kyle Ohnsorg (Yam YZF-R6)
5 Brian Hebeisen (Yam YZF-R6)
6 Billy Vossberg (Kaw ZX-6R)
Lightweight SB Expert
1 Matt Cina (Yam FZ-07)
2 Jon Champ (Suz SV650)
3 Pierre Champon (Suz SV650)
4 Katie Champ (Suz SV650)
5 David Hanson (Yam FZ-07)
Lightweight SB Novice
1 Chris Mattson (Suz SV650)
2 Bill Plucky (Suz SV650)
3 Jesse Vanderweide (Suz SV650)
4 Anthony Marcinek (Suz SV650)
5 David Burke (Suz SV650)
6 Nathan Jessup (Suz SV650)
250GP Expert
1 Jack Barton
Ultralight #1 Expert
1 Jack Barton (Kra HKR Evo2)
2 Trevor Treviranus (Yam YZ450F)
3 Barry Schmidt (KTM 450)
Ninja 250 Novice
1 Sean Stettnichs (Kaw EX250R)
2 Jayme Schmit (Kaw EX250R)
3 Brian O’Mara (Kaw EX250R)
FWSS Expert
1 William Miller (Yam YZF-R3)
2 Adam Knauer (Kaw EX250R)
Ninja 250 Expert
1 Bryan Lachmiller (Kaw EX250R)
Ultralight #1 Novice
1 Justin Pittman (Yam YZ450F)
Endurance GP3
1 Team Worldwide (Yam YZF-R6)
2 Drew’s Cheap Goats (Yam YZF-R6)
3 DCTC Racers (Hon CBR600RR)
4 The Gorilla’s (Hon CBR600RR)
5 Nutter’s Nuts (Suz GSX-R600)
6 JP Racing (Yam YZF-R6)
Endurance GP4
1 MAKE CRA GREAT AGAIN (Kaw ZX-10R)
2 Team Hoff (Yam YZF-R6)
3 The Kid, Gramps and THE Ginger (Suz GSX-R750)
Endurance GP2
1 Collar Poppin’ (Suz SV650)
2 Pub Scouts (Suz SV650)
3 Milton’s GP2 Ions (Hon CBR600F2)
4 Wild Bill & The Young Guns (Suz SV650)
5 Chump Racing (Yam FZ-07)
6 44 and Young (Suz SV650)
Endurance GP1
1 Kramer Motorcycle USA (Kra HKR-Evo2)