OMRRA’s Round 4 Heats Up Portland International Raceway 

Schmidt Dominates Formula Ultra. Sutton Wins Four And Seizes The Clubman Championship Lead. Wood Takes The Vintage Competition To The Shed. 

OMRRA’s faithful were ready for the summer and conditions delivered for round 4 of 7. The favorable weather and the high-speeds of Portland International Raceway had many classes flirting with track records, establishing three new best times. Steve Hildum (#8), of Beaverton, OR, reset the 600 Supersport Senior record. Two visiting Ninja 250’s burned up the tarmac with Adam Faussett (#204), of Kent, WA, and Brian Bartlow (#29x) of Kelseyville, CA, instituting new records in Ultralightweight Superbike and the Ninja 250 Cup, respectively. 

In the 2-Fast Track Days Formula Ultra Championship, the eight-time consecutive #1 plate holder, Alan Schmidt of Kamloops, B.C., stretched his race muscles and threw down the hammer in Saturday’s Formula Ultra race, decimating the competition and running away with the win by over 8 seconds. Kevin Pinkstaff (#21) would have to settle for the distant 2nd spot on Saturday with Sam Verderico (#2) rounding out the podium in a lonely third. However, Pinkstaff and Verderico would find pace and work together for the first half of Sunday’s race and keep Schmidt from getting away. Schmidt would go on to win Sunday’s race but by less than half the margin. All eyes were on Verderico and Pinkstaff as they picked up the pace to get on par with Schmidt but remained locked in an epic battle for 2nd. Verderico, on lap 6 and in dramatic fashion, passed Pinkstaff on the outside apron heading into PIR’s notorious turn1 from 180mph. Pinkstaff fought back a few laps later but ran out of tarmac and put his Kawasaki ZX-10R on the track’s ragged edge of the ultrafast turn 6 sweeper. Pinkstaff would lose ground and finish 3rd behind Verderico but he maintains a 3 point advantage over Verderico for 2nd place in the championship standings. Schmidt still leads the championship by 29 points, but with Verderico’s and Pinkstaff’s improved pace and tight passes, Schmidt shouldn’t get too comfortable being uncontested in the lead. They’re coming. 

By the end of the weekend, The KFG Racing/Pirelli-sponsored Clubman Championship standings got shuffled. Entering the weekend, Matt Presting (#122) held the top spot with WMRRA’s Ryan Sutton (#214) of Camano Island, WA, in 2nd. The weekend’s first meeting between the two set the tone for the entire weekend. Leading the 600 Supersport race, Presting suffered from a dramatic highside in turn 4 of the third lap, bringing out the red flag. Presting didn’t return to contest the remainder of the 600 Supersport race, leaving the door open for Sutton to take his first race of the weekend. Brian Pinkstaff (#121) of Portland, OR, took 2nd with a first ever podium in class for Steve Hildum of Beaverton, OR. Pinkstaff would go on to take another 2nd place finish in 600 Superbike solidifying his 4th position in the championship. With the absence of Andy Dibrino (#4c), who suffered a hand injury shortly after establishing the track record at The Ridge Motorsports Park and Presting ailing, Sutton would go on to three more victories in 600 Superbike, 750 Supersport and 750 Superbike. With the wins, Sutton takes over the lead in the championship. Sam Verderico, 3rd in the championship, had to fight hard in the 750 Superbike race to maintain his position. Shawn Brown (#171), of Milwaukie, OR, pushed Verderico to the limits. Mired in lap traffic on lap 10 of 12, Brown took the advantage over Verderico, relegating him to 3rd and seemingly dropping him for the remaining two laps. However, on the last lap, Brown suffered from an ill-timed run up on lap traffic and Verderico was able to reclaim 2nd and take it to the line. The Clubman Championship standings are in the thick of it with mid-season surges and retreats promising a war to the wire at season’s end. 

 In other noteworthy KFG Racing/Pirelli Clubman Championship news, Jason Harper, fresh off a 4-win weekend, managed a hat trick 3-win weekend with young gun Skyler Benoit, of Canby, OR, denying Harper a win in 450 Superbike. Benoit took the win with a decisive pass in Turn 7 in the waning laps and out-driving Harper to the strip by .032 seconds. The strength of Harper’s three wins and 2nd have him holding onto the fifth spot in the championship. Teen rider, Mackenzie Ancien (#42), added to her top 5 finishes with two this time around in 600 Superbike and 750 Supersport. 

 The rumors proved true from last month’s roundup that the Ninja 250 Cup, Lightweight and Ultralightweight classes would be invaded by competitors from Washington and California, turning the Ninja 250 classes into a West Coast Battle Royale. In Saturday’s two-race, 6 laps per race Ninja 250 Cup, Portland’s Chris Page, representing OMRRA, took the fight to Brian Bartlow and Vision Hayes of California and Adam Faussett of Washington. The foursome locked into a bar-to-bar cage match from the green flag to the checkers. Page would lose out on the podium with Faussett taking both wins, Vision Hays and Brian Bartlow rounding out the overall top 3. The aforementioned Bartlow established a new 250 Ninja Cup track record of 1:25.480. In Sunday’s 12 lap Ultralightweight and Lightweight Superbike races, youngster Vision Hayes beat Faussett to the line by .025 and .276 seconds, respectively. Though Faussett played runner up to Hayes, his Ninja was the quickest of the weekend, setting a record of 1:25.071 in Ultralightweight Superbike. The 250 series are growing each round with each track position hotly contested. 

 In the Bridge City Cycles Vintage Championship, Cody Wood rebounded and regained control of the field, sweeping the four races making up the 250 Vintage and 500 Vintage classes, continuing to lead the championship. Patrick Leyshock, solidified his 2nd spot in the championship and put up a valiant fight all weekend but his Yamaha DT1 doesn’t quite have the pace to beat Wood’s Suzuki X6 Hustler. Cheshire Motorsports’ tuner, Daric Cheshire, returned and rounded out the podium in 500 Vintage. Scott Elder, fresh off wins with WMRRA at The Ridge Motorsports Park had mechanical troubles and struggled most of the weekend. Elder will undoubtedly return with a vengeance at OMRRA’s biggest event of the year, Vintage Days on August 4th and 5th. Sunday’s 250 Vintage looked much the same as Saturday’s races with Wood and Leyshock leading the way. Casey Meyer, of Portland, OR, bumped Cheshire from the podium. Despite the setback, Cheshire, with Elder’s woes, moves into the third spot by a single point in the Vintage Championship. SuperTeams returned for 2012, with the first of the three 1-hour mini-endurance races closing out Saturday’s race action. The crowd and competitors were treated to a LeMans start with a dozen competitors sprinting across the track to their waiting, idling bikes. The event went off without a hitch with the Civil Rock Racing Squad, piloted by Chris Ray and Stuart Johnson taking the overall win. Jason Doody of Team Half Fast from Vancouver, WA finished first in the middleweight class and second overall opting to ride solo and iron man the event post to post. SuperTeams returns in September with the finale in October. 

 OMRRA would like to acknowledge and give some ink to our second batch of novices that graduated our New Racer School on July 20th. Bryan O’Connor, of Salem, OR proved to be the king of the class, taking two wins in the Novice 4 category (600cc). Also graduating and taking to the track for the first time as a racer, after 19 years with the club, is Eric Dorn, tuner & owner of EDR Performance of Beaverton, OR. Congratulations to all of our novices. 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. Our races can be seen and heard by anyone with an internet connection, courtesy of PIRLive.com. The race day schedule is posted just prior to the weekend at www.facebook.com/omrra.racing. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/omrra.racing.

Saturday, July 21st Race Results Formula Ultra – Saturday 1. Alan Schmidt (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R) 3. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Jason Gasparinatos (Kaw ZX-10R) 5. Thomas Stevens (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Anthony Manciu (Hon CBR1000RR) 

Open Supersport 1. Thomas Stevens (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Anthony Manciu (Hon CBR1000RR) 3. Mike McKim (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Joe Rocha (Kaw ZX-10R) 5. Colin Purcell (Hon CBR600RR) 

 750 Supersport 1. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Andrew Rogers (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Mackenzie Ancien (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Andrew Brackett (Suz GSX-R750) 

 600 Supersport 1. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Brian Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-6R) 3. Steve Hildum (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Andrew Rogers (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Jason Doody (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Mike McBrady (Kaw ZX-6R) 

Ninja 250 Cup (Daily) 1. Adam Faussett (Kaw EX250) 2. Vision Hayes (Kaw EX250) 3. Brian Bartlow (Kaw EX250) 4. Chris Page (Kaw EX250) 5. Jonathan Wood (Kaw EX250) 6. Andrew Pignataro (Kaw EX250) 

 650 GP Twins 1. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 2. David James Moore (Kaw EX650R) 3. Keith Dibrino (Suz SV650) 4. Mike Gray (Suz SV650) 5. Brian Osborne (Suz SV650) 6. Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650) 

 Middleweight Supersport 1. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 2. Skyler Benoit (Suz SV650) 3. Mike Gray (Suz SV650) 4. Brian Osborne (Suz SV650) 5. Keith DiBrino (Suz SV650) 6. Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650) 

500 Vintage (Daily) 1. Cody Wood (Suz Super6) 2. Patrick Leyshock (Yam DT1 250) 3. Daric Cheshire (Hon CB175) 4. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175) 5. Scott Elder (Hon CB160) 

Formula III 1. Michael Caravatta (Apr 125RS) 2. Shannon Lang (Hon RS125) 3. Rob Tatom (Hon RS125) 4. Jeremy Coffey (Hon RS125) 5. Valentine Welch (Yam TZ125) 

Open Superbike Senior 1. Chris Ray (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Brian Rose (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Mark Leslie (Suz GSX-R1000) 

750 Superbike Senior 1. Keegan Reinke (Suz GSX-R750) 2. Jon Leonard (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Joshua Melanson (Yam YZF-R6) 

 600 Superbike Senior 1. Steve Hildum (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Mike McBrady (Kaw ZX-6R) 3. Joshua Melanson (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Brian Moe (Kaw ZX-6R) 

 Novice 4 1. Bryan O’Connor (Suz GSX-R600) 2. Nate Silvers (Duc 848EVO) 3. Eric Dorn (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Jason Iverson (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Nick Apperson (Suz GSX-R600) 6. Amber Harriman (Yam YZF-R6) 

Novice 5 1. Matt Hunt (Suz GSX-R750) 2. Chris Herrin (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Brian Tallant (Hon CBR1000RR) 4. David Wright (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. Sean Uhlich (Suz GSX-R750) 6. Lance Monagon (Hon CBR1000RR) 

SuperTeams (1hr Mini Endurance) 1. Team Half Fast (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Team SDS (Duc 848EVO) 3. Roxy Racing (Suz GSX-R600) 4. PinkSaw Racing (Hon CBR600RR / Suz SV650) 5. Team Little Wood Big Johnson (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Fast Guy Slow Guy (Yam YZF-R6)

Sunday, July 22nd Race Results

Formula Ultra Sunday 1. Alan Schmidt (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R) 2. Tony Porter (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Anthony Manciu (Hon CBR1000RR) 2. Thomas Stevens (Suz GSX-R1000) 

Open Superbike 1. Tony Porter (Kaw ZX-10R) 2. Thomas Stevens (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Anthony Manciu (Hon CBR1000RR) 4. Jason Gasparinatos (Kaw ZX-10R) 5. Chase McFarland (Buell 1125R) 6. Michael Alton (Suz GSX-R750) 

750 Superbike 1. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Shawn Brown (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Chase McFarland (Buell 1125R) 6. Andrew Brackett (Suz GSX-R750) 

600 Superbike 1. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Brian Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-6R) 3. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Steve Hildum (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Mackenzie Ancien (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Michael McBrady (Kaw ZX-6R) 

450 Superbike 1. Skyler Benoit (Suz SV650) 2. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 3. Ronnie Saner (Suz SV650) 4. Mike Gray (Suz SV650) 5. Keith DiBrino (Suz SV650) 6. Jeff Brooks (Suz SV650) 

Middleweight Superbike 1. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 2. David James Moore (Kaw EX650R) 3. Michael Caravatta (Apr 125RS) 4. Skyler Benoit (Suz SV650) 5. Ronnie Saner (Suz SV650) 6. Keith DiBrino (Suz SV650) 

Formula II 1. Gene Brown (Yam TZ250) 2. Jeremy Coffey (Hon RS125) 3. Valentine Welch (Yam TZ125) 

Lightweight Superbike 1. Vision Hayes (Kaw EX250) 2. Adam Faussett (Kaw EX250) 3. Brian Bartlow (Kaw EX250) 4. Chris Page (Kaw EX250) 5. Paul Sicurezza (Kaw EX250) 6. Drat Diestler (Kaw EX250) 

Ultralightweight Superbike 1. Vision Hayes (Kaw EX250) 2. Adam Faussett (Kaw EX250) 3. Brian Bartlow (Kaw EX250) 4. Chris Page (Kaw EX250) 5. Jonathon Wood (Kaw EX250) 6. Andrew Pignataro (Kaw EX250) 

250 Vintage (Daily) 1. Cody Wood (Suz Super 6) 2. Patrick Leyshock (Yam DT1 250) 3. Casey Meyer (Hon CB160) 4. Daric Cheshire (Hon CL175) 5. Jared Kenyon (Hon CB175) 6. Scott Elder (Hon CB160) 

Open Supersport Senior 1. Brian Rose (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Gene Brown (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Jon Leonard (Hon CBR600RR) 

750 Supersport Senior 1. Joshua Melanson (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Brent Benoit (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Brian Moe (Kaw ZX-6R) 

600 Supersport Senior 1. Michael McBrady (Kaw ZX-6R) 1. Joshua Melanson (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Brian Moe (Kaw ZX-6R) 

 Novice 4 1. Bryan O’Connor (Suz GSX-R600) 2. Rohan Wanchu (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Eric Dorn (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Nick Apperson (Suz GSX-R600) 5. Noah Bayer (Kaw ZX-6R) 6. Jason Iverson (Yam YZF-R6) 

 Novice 5 1. Chris Herrin (Suz GSX-R750) 2. David Wright (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Matt Hunt (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Lance Monagon (Hon CBR1000RR) 5. Sean Uhlich (Suz GSX-R750) 

 Overall Championship Standings 

2Fast Track Days Formula Ultra Championship 1. Alan Schmidt 143 pts 2. Kevin Pinkstaff 114 pts 3. Sam Verderico 111 pts 4. Anthony Manciu 79 pts 5. Tony Porter 49 pts 

KFG Racing/Pirelli Clubman Championship 1. Ryan Sutton 171 pts 2. Matt Presting 160 pts 3. Sam Verderico 152 pts 4. Brian Pinkstaff 137 pts 5. Jason Harper 135 pts 

Bridge City Cycles Vintage Championship 1. Cody Wood 134 pts 2. Patrick Leyshock 92 pts 3. Daric Cheshire 57 pts 4. Scott Elder 56 pts 5. Jared Kenyon 46 pts