Solis Jr. Takes 1st in USGRPU 125 Season Opener Benny Solis Jr., a 12-year-old out of Los Angeles, California took his first victory of the season as he debuted his 2004 Honda RS125 at the 2007 USGPRU season opener, hosted by CCS at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, AZ. Solis who last season took the SCminiGP youth road racing series premier 80GP title is proving that time in miniGP can pay off. With a 22-second lead over 2nd place Solis took the holeshot from pole and led the entire race until taking the checkered flag. This was not the only podium this young rider took as he also raced in the 250cc class qualifying third and finishing 3rd behind two 250cc riders, less than 15 seconds off the lead riders and roughly 20 seconds ahead of the fourth-place rider. Although this is Benny’s first season on his RS125 he is no stranger to the big track as he is one of the few riders who is supported by the SCminiGP/Fastrack Riders relationship to provide youth MiniGP riders free track time. It seems this support system has helped contribute to his success, but there is no doubt little Solis is out to prove his incredible riding skills. Solis Jr. plans to race the entire USGPRU West region and the required qualifier to make the finals in Mid Ohio in September. You can also catch him and father Ben Solis participating regularly in the WERA West series. More, from a press release issued by USGPRU: USGPRU Round 1 Season Opener Goes to Solis Jr. and Ferris ODENTON, MD March 28, 2007 The USGPRU West Coast Region kicked off the 2007 season last weekend in Chandler, Arizona at Firebird East, hosted by CCS/RoadRace Southwest. The weather was perfect and the spectators were treated to some exciting racing. Newcomer Benny Solis, all of 12 years old, wowed the crowd during 125 GP qualifying, snatching pole position away from veterans Jon Schendel and John Hjelm on Saturday afternoon with a 1:00.480 lap. Both Jon and John put the pressure on the kid with lap times of 1:00.845 and 1:01.373 respectively. Kyle Ferris qualified fourth on his Team Infinity Replicast machine, filling up the front row. The 250 GP qualifier had young gun Ryan Ferris returning with fine form hitting sub-minute times (0:59.307), with Vince Rolleri following in second at 0:59.946. Youngster Benny Solis qualified third with Schendel right behind him in fourth rounding out the front row. When the green flag fell on the 125 GP race, Benny Solis, who in his first race weekend on a 125cc machine, showed that he will be a force with which to be reckoned. Riding a near-perfect race for the fans, he took off from the start and never looked back. The battle was for second place, with John Hjelm and reigning regional 125 GP champ Schendel riding like the true veterans they are. Swapping positions several times, Schendel took advantage of Hjelm, who had run wide in turn 3, to take second place with 2 laps to go. Teenager Tyler Odom gained a position and landed in fourth early in the race when Kyle Ferris’ bike seized after the third lap. Boyd Bruner from Chicago and Oregonian Mike McDonough touched levers a few times, and Bruner eventually took fifth. The 250 GP race had Vince Rolleri breathing down Ryan Ferris’ neck throughout the entire race. It was a real battle to the finish, but in the final few laps Ferris opened up a one second gap on Rolleri. Solis kept Schendel out of third place, with a back-and-forth battle. Tyler Odom rode another strong race with a solid 5th place finish. Daniele Lenarduzzi made the trip from Tennessee to see 6th place, with Bruner, Kyle Ferris and Mike McDonough right behind him. 125 GP Results 1. Benny Solis, Jr. 2. Jon Schendel 3. John Hjelm 4. Tyler Odom 5. Boyd Bruner 6. Mike McDonough 7. Robert Johnston 8. Kim Brauneis 9. Rick Moreau 10. Kyle Ferris DNF 11. Kevin Murray DNS 250 GP Results 1. Ryan Ferris 2. Vincent Rolleri 3. Benny Solis, Jr. 4. Jon Schendel 5. Tyler Odom 6. Daniele Lenarduzzi 7. Boyd Bruner 8. Kyle Ferris 9. Mike McDonough 10. Rick Moreau 11. Dale Murphy DNF 12. Daniel Qualtire DNS