Ryan Burke, Mark Rhoades claim Race of the Rockies victories at Pueblo Motorsports Park
Pueblo, Colorado – The season finale for the MRA was officially a rescheduled Round 1 of 2017 at Pueblo Motorsports Park over the weekend of October 21-22. The MRA hasn’t been back to PMP since 2016, so there was some reacquainting needed for the veteran racers and some learning for racers new to the club.
Even though this was a late season race in Colorado, the weather was spectacular. The PMP staff did a great job of preparing the 2.2 mile track by removing practically all of the debris left in the dragstrip launch area. This opened up a couple of racing options for finishing off the notoriously tricky turn 10. Additionally, the staff hosted a very reasonably priced open track day on Friday to enable maximum practice time for everyone.
As usual, Sunday’s open superbike proved to be an exciting preview of that afternoon’s Race of the Rockies main event. As has been the case all year, Ryan Burke set the pace by checking out on lap 1. A real battle ensued for second place with Brad Hendry, Brad Morris, Ray Thornton, Zach Ritchey, and Dan Turner all looking for podium spots. In the end, Morris claimed that second spot, with Hendry on the final box step. The finishing difference between second and sixth place was 1.9 seconds!
For Race of the Rockies GTO, Ryan Burke again got a great start and kept a multiple second lead over the field. Burke never looked back and put an exclamation point on his already secured championship and #1 plate for 2018. Meanwhile a repeat battle for second raged on with the same cast of characters from open superbike. While holding down fourth place, Zach Ritchey was the first to retire with a harrowing get off in Pueblo’s very fast turn 1. Zach got banged up but has time to heal in the off season.
This left Hendry, Morris, Thornton, and Turner to sort out the final podium positions. Hendry’s BMW S1000RR was consistently wheeling out of turn 10, which Hendry said was something they’d been trying to get under control most of the weekend. On lap 6, Morris took advantage of Hendry’s trouble by starting a series of position swaps for second for the closing laps of the race. With Thornton close behind, it was Morris who finally got the better of Hendry with Thornton also getting by Hendry for the final podium spot.
Race of the Rockies GTU had a surprise guest of MotoAmerica’s Mark Rhoades. Rhoades qualified well in the hunt with the traditional MRA fast guys of Shannon Moham, Brian Dobrowolski, and Nile Gourlie. On the start, Moham, Dobrowolski, and Rhoades all entered turn two almost side by side when a domino like progression standing up occurred to avoid an inside collision. Rhoades was able to recover, but Moham crashed and Dobrowolski lost significant time that was too much to make up later in the race. This left Rhoades to battle with the open bikes for most of the race while Gourlie and Ken Yee took the final positions on the RoR GTU podium.
Ryan Burke is supported by Imperial Sportbikes, Mark Schellinger from YCRS, Geoff Cesmat, Dunlop Tires, Boulder Motorsports, and all of his family.
Mark Rhoades is sponsored by Rhoades Racing/Farrell Performance.
Next up for the MRA is the annual rule change meeting on November 4th followed by the annual awards banquet on November 18th. The MRA will be next on track for the new racers’ school coming up on April 14-15, 2018 at the newly paved High Plains Raceway. The 2018 race season will officially kick off on May 5-6 at Pikes Peak International Raceway.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
Fay Myers Motorcycle World’s Race of the Rockies GTO
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Brad Morris (Yam YZF-R1M)
3. Ray Thornton (Yam YZF-R1)
4. Brad Hendry (BMW S1000RR)
5. Dan Turner (Suz GSX-R1000)
6. Mike Applehans (Suz GSX-R1000)
Vickery Motorsports’ Race of the Rockies GTU
1. Mark Rhoades (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Nyles Gourlie (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Ken Yee (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Dennis Stowers (Tri Daytona)
5. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
Race of the Rockies Championship Overall
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Brad Morris (Yam YZF-R1M)
3. Ray Thornton (Yam YZF-R1)
4. Brad Hendry (BMW S1000RR)
5. Dan Turner (Suz GSX-R1000)
6. Mike Applehans (Suz GSX-R1000)
High Plains Raceway’s Ladies of the Rockies
1. Wyeth Jackson (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Katie Malone (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Samantha Coleman (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Cindy Wulf (Suz GSX-R750)
5. Tiffany Maestas (Hon CBR500R)
6. Parissa Azarvand (Yam YZF-R3)
Imperial Sportbikes’ Amateur GTO
1. John McKown (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Bruce Browning (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Matthew Neuberger (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Andrew Schrems (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Erik Sipila (Kaw ZX-10R)
6. Aaron Tritt (Kaw ZX-10R)
XL3 Rigging’s Amateur GTU
1. Matthew Neuberger (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Bruce Browning (Yam YZF-R6)
3. James Hinton (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Nick Kaplan (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Mick Derner (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Brett Leveque (Tri Daytona)
Un!nk Printworks’ Modern Vintage GTO
1. Andrew Schrems (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Aaron Tritt (Kaw ZX-10R)
3. Randy Throckmorton (Suz GSX-R1000)
4. Scott Weitmann (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Mark Weidner (Hon RC51)
Total Control’s Modern Vintage GTU
1. Andrew Schrems (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Robert McNiel (Suz GSX-R600)
3. Scott Weitmann (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Randall Turner (Hon CBR600RR)
5. David Attwood (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Santiago Shirtz (Duc ST2)
Northern Colorado Powersports’ Open Superbike
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Brad Morris (Yam YZF-R1M)
3. Brad Hendry (BMW S1000RR)
4. Ray Thornton (Yam YZF-R1)
5. Zach Ritchey (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Dan Turner (Suz GSX-R1000)
Quik Cycles’ Open Supersport
1. Ray Thornton (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Brad Morris (Yam YZF-R1M)
3. Mike Applehans (Suz GSX-R1000)
4. Dennis Stowers (Tri Daytona)
5. Justin Lamkin (Kaw ZX-10R)
6. Erik Sipila (Kaw ZX-10R)
Mod Works’ Solo Endurance Open
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Ray Thornton (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Zach Ritchey (Yam YZF-R1)
4. John Borst (Yam YZF-R1)
5. Chris Nami (BMW S1000RR)
6. Travis Newbold (Kaw ZX-10)
Performance Cycle’s Heavyweight Superbike
1. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Dennis Stowers (Tri Daytona)
3. Ken Yee (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Bruce Browning (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Andrew Schrems (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Zach Friley (Hon CBR600RR)
Apex Motorsports’ Heavyweight Supersport
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Mark Rhoades (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Dennis Stowers (Tri Daytona)
6. Nyles Gourlie (Yam YZF-R6)
Fun Center’s Solo Endurance Heavyweight
1. Shannon Moham (Duc Evo)
2. Mark Rhoades (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Ken Yee (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Dennis Stowers (Tri Daytona)
5. Bruce Browning (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Jared Dear (Suz GSX-R600)
ACES’ Middleweight Superbike
1. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Ken Yee (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Mark Rhoades (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Bruce Browning (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Dennis Stowers (Tri Daytona)
Sol Performance’s Middleweight Supersport
1. Ryan Burke (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Nyles Gourlie (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Mark Rhoades (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Dennis Stowers (Tri Daytona)
Wyeth Homes’ Solo Endurance Middleweight
1. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Brian Dobrowolski (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Mark Rhoades (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Bruce Browning (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Nick Kaplan (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Andrew Schrems (Kaw ZX-6R)
Spencer Russell Youth Racing’s Lightweight Grand Prix
1. Joe Clark (KTM 690)
2. Ricky Orlando (Kaw 650)
3. Michael Surratt (KTM Duke)
4. Jason Redman (Suz SV650S)
5. Ryan Smith (Hon CBR500R)
6. Brian Jackson (Kaw 500)
Brighton Radiator & Muffler’s Solo Endurance Lightweight
1. Ricky Orlando (Kaw 650)
2. Jason Redman (Suz SV650S)
3. Tyler Valentine (Yam YZF-R3)
4. Warren Cook (Kaw 650)
5. Cindy Wulf (Suz SV650S)
6. Joseph Maher (Duc Monster)
Novo Advisors’ Solo Endurance Ultralight
1. Joe Clark (KTM 690)
2. Michael Surratt (KTM Duke)
3. Ryan Smith (Hon CBR500R)
4. Sean Thomas (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Brandon Fosbinder (Apr SXV450)
6. Aaron Hersh (Yam YZF-R3)
Damage Control’s SuperTwins GTO
1. Shannon Moham (Duc Evo)
2. Robb Weins (Duc 999S)
3. Brian Pottebaum (Duc 1198)
4. Mark Weidner (Hon RC51)
5. Jason Redman (Suz SV650S)
6. Bobby Mills (Duc 848)
Factory Trained Auto Repair’s SuperTwins GTU
1. Ricky Orlando (Kaw 650)
2. Joe Clark (KTM 690)
3. Michael Surratt (KTM Duke)
4. Jason Redman (Suz SV650S)
5. Sean Thomas (Yam YZF-R3)
6. Warren Cook (Kaw 650)
Absolute Michelin & Automotive’s Thunderbike
1. Shannon Moham (Duc Evo)
2. Dennis Stowers (Tri Daytona)
3. Brett Leveque (Tri Daytona)
4. Robb Weins (Duc 999S)
5. Ricky Orlando (Kaw 650)
6. Michael Surratt (KTM Duke)
Moto Garage’s Formula 40 GTO
1. Ray Thornton (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Chris Nami (BMW S1000RR)
3. Mike Applehans (Suz GSX-R1000)
4. Justin Lamkin (Kaw ZX-10R)
5. Michael Surratt (BMW S1000RR)
6. Randy Throckmorton (Suz GSX-R1000)
Moto Garage’s Formula 40 GTU
1. Shannon Moham (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Wyeth Jackson (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Bruce Browning (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Rick Grosse (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Andrew Schrems (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. James Hinton (Suz GSX-R600)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s 500 Production Cup Sat Race
1. Brian Jackson (Kaw 500)
2. Ryan Smith (Hon CBR500R)
3. Aaron Hersh (Yam YZF-R3)
4. Warren Cook (Apr SXV450)
5. Tiffany Maestas (Hon CBR500R)
6. Parissa Azarvand (Yam YZF-R3)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s 500 Production Cup Sun Race
1. Ryan Smith (Hon CBR500R)
2. Brian Jackson (Kaw 500)
3. Warren Cook (Apr SXV450)
4. Parissa Azarvand (Yam YZF-R3)
5. Tiffany Maestas (Hon CBR500R)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s 400 Production Cup Sat Race
1. Jason Madama (Yam YZF-R3)
2. Kevin Boniface (KTM RC390)
3. Cameron Lee (Yam YZF-R3)
4. Joshua Baker (Yam YZF-R3)
5. Timothy Thornton (Kaw 250)
6. Sean Thomas (Yam YZF-R3)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s 400 Production Cup Sun Race
1. Jason Madama (Yam YZF-R3)
2. Kevin Boniface (KTM RC390)
3. Aaron Hersh (Yam YZF-R3)
4. Sean Thomas (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Tyler Valentine (Yam YZF-R3)
6. Cameron Lee (Yam YZF-R3)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s 250 Production Cup Sat Race
1. Mike Kionka (Kaw 250)
2. Erik Sipila (Kaw 250)
3. Daniel Clements (Kaw 250)
4. Adam Smith (Kaw 250)
Rocky Mountain Kawasaki’s 250 Production Cup Sun Race
1. Mike Kionka (Kaw 250)
2. Erik Sipila (Kaw 250)
3. Daniel Clements (Kaw 250)
4. Adam Smith (Kaw 250)
Woody’s Wheel Works’ Formula Colorado
1. Joe Clark (KTM 690)
2. Michael Surratt (KTM Duke)
3. Sean Thomas (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Tyler Valentine (Yam YZF-R3)
5. Michael Spero (Kaw KXF450)
6. Stephen Husbands (KTM 690)
RG3 Suspension Denver’s Supermoto
1. Brandon Fosbinder (KTM RC390)
2. Warren Cook (Apr SXV450)
Interstate Honda’s Novice GTO
1. John McKown (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Matthew Neuberger (Yam YZF-R6)
3. James Hinton (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Randy Throckmorton (Suz GSX-R1000)
5. Nick Kaplan (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Mick Derner (Yam YZF-R6)
Law Tigers’ Novice GTU
1. Matthew Neuberger (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Mick Derner (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Matthew Kiriazis (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Nick Kaplan (Yam YZF-R6)
5. James Hinton (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Katie Malone (Kaw ZX-6R)