MotoAmerica Superstock 600 racer and OMRRA #1 plate holder Andy DiBrino wins the RSD Super Hooligan National Championship and the Indian Motorcycle FTR-750 factory flat track bike grand prize at the Moto Beach Classic
This past weekend on Saturday, October 14th, was the first-ever Moto Beach Classic at Bolsa Chica Beach off Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, California, and the finale for the Roland Sands Design Super Hooligan National Championship. The series has held 10 races at different tracks all over the United States, including two combined events with American Flat Track.
Andy DiBrino, age 23, came into the weekend 7 points down from 1st in the championship standings, Joe Kopp, and 6 down from Brad Spencer who was 2nd. The finale was a double-points event, leaving the door wide open for DiBrino to take the championship with some good riding and a little luck. DiBrino led the series up until round 7, which he missed due to a conflicting race that weekend with OMRRA in Portland, Oregon. DiBrino went on to win the OMRRA #1 plate, but suffered a serious points loss and was relegated to 3rd in the championship. With a 4th place at round 8, and a 3rd place at round 9, DiBrino was back in the hunt.
DiBrino was 4th fastest in seeded practice out of 30 racers, earning a pole position start in his heat race. There was 6 heat races, with the top 2 transferring straight to the main event. He took a clear win in his heat, also setting the fastest lap of the day in the process.
Going into the main event, DiBrino had 1st pick on the front row, and series rival Joe Kopp joined him on the front row as well. Brad Spencer finished 2nd in his heat race, giving him a starting spot on row 2. When the lights went out and the race started, DiBrino was 3rd coming out of turn 1 behind Frankie Garcia and Mikey Virus. The small slippery short track next to the beach made for interesting racing all night. “I tried to make some passes, but it was so easy to make a mistake. You didn’t want to override the track, because it could cost you dearly. I knew I was ahead of Kopp and Spencer. I didn’t know exactly where they were. I did my best to ride calm, cool and collected. I didn’t want to crash trying to overtake the guys ahead of me. I was right on their heels waiting for a mistake. Overall I just focused on what was ahead of me, rather that what was behind me.” DiBrino said.
It paid off for DiBrino, as he took a 3rd place finish in the main event, and more importantly, series rivals Kopp and Spencer finished 6th and 10th. With that finishing order and the double-paying points, DiBrino took the overall championship by 1 single point over former Grand National Champion Joe Kopp.
Commenting on the championship, Andy said, “I couldn’t believe I won! It was an amazing event and amazing outcome. I honestly didn’t expect it. I couldn’t be more grateful and happy about it. Thank you to See See Motorcycles for putting me on their Harley-Davidson Street 750 this year. I can’t believe I won the same bike Jared Mee’s won the American Flat Track title with! Thank you Roland Sands and the SHNC crew and sponsors for an amazing series and prizes.”
Andy DiBrino Racing would like to thank See See Motor Coffee Co, Harley-Davidson, EDR Performance, Latus Motors Harley-Davidson, K-Tech Suspension, Maxima Racing Oils, ASV Inventions, Oregon Motorcycle Attorney, MotoSport.com, Fox Racing, Alpinestars, Bell Helmets, Ride 100 Percent, Superlite Sprockets, Lightshoe, Vanilla Cycles, WeBig Inc, and his Mom and Dad.