Phoenix, Ariz. Showing why he is the No. 1 expert plate-holder for the Southwest region, Ray Thibedeau piloted the XCEL Trackdays Honda CBR1000RR around the wreckage of a first-lap crash and raced uncontested for the win in the opening 2011 CCS-Southwest Iron Horse BMW / Evan Steel Performance Unlimited Grand Prix on Sunday, February 27. Racing at Firebird International Raceway’s Main track, Dave Siminski was in the lead and high-sided the No. 61 Evolution Racing Suzuki GSX-R 1000 as he exited turn 4 on the first lap. “When he high-sided, the bike literally flew up in the air, I had to gas it to get by and keep it from hitting me I just didn’t want to run him over,” said Thibedeau of Phoenix, who exited the melee on his Dunlops with the race lead. “I was able to put a couple of decent laps together and built up a big gap. From there, I just sat up and rode around for the rest of the race. I’d like to thank Jim Cox Racing and Dunlop tires. Also, Tyler and Patrick of XCEL Trackdays for giving me the opportunity to defend my number one plate. Looks like we’re off to a good start.” Siminski did not finish the race but left the track under his own recognizance. Riding the No. 13 Tractive Technology Yamaha R6, Nathan Mitchell, a Michelin rider from Phoenix, narrowly avoided hitting Siminski and went on to finish in second place. “After Ray got a little gap on me, I conceded second place,” said Mitchell, “I had tucked the front in Unlimited Superbike, so I was a little bit leery still. I knew the only place I could have caught Ray was on the back corners where the 600 has the advantage because I knew he would get me on the straight-aways and the drag-strip. I tried to finish my best. I want to thank Tractive Technology and Michelin for their support – as well as my Mom and Dad, my sister Brittany and my girlfriend Elizabeth.” James Romero III, of San Clemente, Calif., finished in third on the Dunlop-shod No. 65 In the Scene Limousine Suzuki GSX-R 1000. Romero slipped past Bill Davis of Gilbert, Ariz., on the No. 23 Honda CBR1000 on the drag-strip on Lap 9 and held on for third place. “I wanted to wait until the last couple of laps,” Romero explained. “I knew I had power on him on the straight, and if it came to a last lap, I knew I could get him in other places as well.” Davis finished in fourth place. The CCS-Southwest season resumes March 26-27 at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix. To register for that race or related track days, please visit www.xceltrackdays.com. To learn more about race schedules, license requirements and new riders school for those looking to break into this exciting sport, please visit www.roadracesw.com. Lightweight SuperSport 1. Andrew Gluvna (Suz 650) 2. Chaz Abbott (Suz 650) 3. Alan Chook (Suz 650) Amateur Middleweight SuperSport 1. John Vernon (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. Benjamin Ferland (Suz GSX-R600) 3. Colin Schroeder (Kaw ZX-6RR) 4. Andy Leszczynski (Suz GSX-R600) 5. Brion Muscarella (Kaw ZX-6RR) 6. Richard McGee (Hon CBR600RR) Expert Middleweight SuperSport 1. Trevor Van Horn Jr (Hon CBR600RR) Amateur Unlimited SuperSport 1. Mike Carver (Hon CBR1000RR) 2. Brion Muscarella (Kaw ZX-6RR) 3. Kimberly Prichard (Tri Daytona 675) 4. Dylan Franco (Yam YZF-R6) Expert Unlimited SuperSport 1. Nathan Mitchell (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Trevor Van Horn Jr (Hon CBR600RR) 3. Scott Ladd (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. David Siminski (Suz GSX-R1000) Ultra Light Superbike 1. Andrew Gluvna (Suz 650) 2. Matther Kellerman (Hyo 650) 3. Kyle Wiebe (Suz 650) 4. Anthony Dinobile (Suz 650) 5. Alan Chook (Suz 650) 6. Joel C. Dennis (Suz 650) Lightweight Superbike 1. Matther Kellerman (Hyo 650) 2. Andrew Gluvna (Suz 650) 3. Anthony Dinobile (Suz 650) 4. Alan Chook (Suz 650) 5. Billy Pedro (Suz 650) 6. Joel C. Dennis (Suz 650) Amateur Middleweight Superbike 1. John Vernon (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. Andy Leszczynski (Suz GSX-R600) 3. Benjamin Ferland (Suz GSX-R600) 4. Richard McGee (Hon CBR600RR) 5. Kimberly Prichard (Tri Daytona 675) Amateur Unlimited Superbike 1. Mike Carver (Hon CBR1000RR) Expert Unlimited Superbike 1. Ray Thibedeau (Hon CBR1000RR) 2. David Siminski (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. James Romero III (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Bill Davis (Hon CBR1000RR) 5. Trevor Van Horn Jr (Hon CBR600RR) 6. Jason McDonnell (Suz GSX-R1000) Lightweight Grand Prix 1. Andrew Gluvna (Suz 650) 2. Matther Kellerman (Hyo 650) 3. Kyle Wiebe (Suz 650) 4. Billy Pedro (Suz 650) 5. Anthony Dinobile (Suz 650) Amateur Middleweight Grand Prix 1. John Vernon (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. Benjamin Ferland (Suz GSX-R600) 3. Andy Leszczynski (Suz GSX-R600) 4. Richard McGee (Hon CBR600RR) Iron Horse/ESP Unlimited GP 1. Ray Thibedeau (Hon CBR1000RR) 2. Nathan Mitchell (Yam YZF-R6) 3. James Romero III (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Bill Davis (Hon CBR1000RR) 5. Scott Bergen (BMW S1000RR) 6. Patrick Bertinelli (Suz GSX-R1000) Thunder Bike 1. Andrew Gluvna (Suz 650) 2. Chaz Abbott (Suz 650) 3. Alan Chook (Suz 650) 4. Joel C. Dennis (Suz 650) 5. Billy Pedro (Suz 650) Formula 40 1. Patrick Bertinelli (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Bill Davis (Hon CBR1000RR) 3. Jason McDonnell (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Scott Ladd (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. Billy Pedro (Suz 650) Lightweight Vintage 1. Alan Hill (Hon 450) Heavyweight Vintage 1. Dave Turner (Suz 1000) Super Vintage 1. Dave Turner (Suz 1000) About Road Race Southwest, Inc. Road Race Southwest, Inc. has been an affiliate of the Championship Cup Series for over 5 years in the southwest region serving local and national motorcycle racers of all kinds. Championship Cup Series is the largest grass roots motorcycle roadracing organization in the United States with 4,000 riders and a schedule of 51 events for 2010. CCS is constantly pushing the envelope to deliver the best club level road racing in the nation. XCEL Trackdays, a sister company of RRSW, conducts track-days and racer training at Firebird International Raceway and Inde Motorsports Park, as well as other venues throughout the southwest.