Robertino Pietri won the first Unlimited Grand Prix race at the newly-rebuilt Palm Beach International Raceway this weekend. CCS Florida held the first motorcycle event at the redesigned course after a year-long hiatus from the facility formerly known as Moroso Motorsports Park during its construction process. CCS Florida also held its first round of night-time races under the lights of the facility, as well as a qualifying session for the Unlimited Grand Prix. Pietri turned the fastest qualifying time for the Unlimited Grand Prix race on Saturday night with a lap time of 1:17.345. Barrett Long and Seth Starnes also ran lap times in the low 1:17s around the 2.034-mile-long road course. And, it was during the Unlimited Grand Prix race, that Pietri ran the fastest lap of the weekend setting a brand new record at 1:16.847 on the Prieto Performance-prepped Suzuki GSX-R1000. Pietri commented on his first Shootout victory at the new facility stating that “It was a great race. I got a good start from the pole.” He went on to thank team E.S.P. Venemotos for letting him compete in the CCS Florida regional rounds, Prieto Performance, and Eric Gray of GMD Computrack. UNLIMITED GRAND PRIX RESULTS: 1. Robertino Pietri (Suz GSX-R1000); 2. Barrett Long (Duc 1098R); 3. Seth Starnes (Kaw ZX-10R); 4. Sean Dwyer (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Gustavo Sanchez (Yam YZF-R1); 6. Michael Rouleau (Suz GSX-R1000); 7. Lars Remsen (Suz GSX-R1000); 8. Andres Londono (Yam YZF-R6); 9. Greg Gorman (Kaw ZX-10R); 10. Pablo Castro (Hon CBR1000RR). More, from a press release issued by The Way To Happiness Racing Team: Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter, FL – The Way to Happiness Racing Team finished in the top ten of all four races it entered and had a best ever finish of 4th. Greg Gorman, riding a 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R prepared by Corsa Motorworks, was finally able to display his cornering skills at a track that has connected turns and not just hairpin turns leading to straights. He was able to run laptimes that were only 2.5 to 3 seconds slower than the best laps than the best times of the event. The Saturday night GTO race found Greg starting from 5th of 5 rows and last into turn 1. He finished a provisional 6th. The race results are provisional due to a protest and subsequent appeal due to an incident at the start in turn 1. “I didn’t want a better start there. Too many guys going into to tight a turn. It was a real mess and I’m glad no one went down. So I just put my head down and went for for it after turn 1. I was turning laptimes in the low 1:20s and just kept passing people. The laptimes were coming surprisingly easy and I kept moving forward and I just missed out on passing Robert Dougherty for 5th. Riding under the lights is very cool. I can’t wait to do it again.” The Sunday morning Unlimited SuperSport race saw Greg get his best ever expert finish, 4th. “That’s just awesome! Thanks to the new clutch put in by Corsa Motorworks, I got a decent start from the back row and was 5th in turn 1. After a quick pass to 4th I tried to gain on the top 3 but that wasn’t happening. I had a gap back to 5th so I slowed down and brought it home safe.” Greg also finished 6th and 9th in Unlimited Superbike and Unlimited GP respectively. “The tire was just wearing out. This track has a lot of grip and it’s tearing up the medium compound tires. We’re running the same tire we ran last night and it’s just tearing under acceleration and running out of grip mid-corner. I still ran good laptimes but I just couldn’t push it any more. I know I can close the laptime gap to the leaders and will do just that at the next race at Jennings.” The Way to Happiness Racing Team is sponsored by The Waterin’ Trough Dance and Saloon, Dunlop Race Tire Services, and Corsa Motorworks. Find out more at ~http://twthracing.org~ More, from a press release issued by Shan Moore, for CMRA: Heavy rains the day before and on the morning of round two of the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association’s championship series at Eagles Canyon Raceway near Decatur, Texas, this past weekend left the 2.5-mile undulating course heavily saturated and with water flowing across the track at several points. However, that didn’t discourage 427 entries from competing in 17 sprint races on the final day of competition, not to mention 23 teams during Saturday’s 6-hour endurance race. In Sunday’s sprint-racing action, several riders claimed multiple wins with former CMRA champion Ty Howard walking away with the most cash at the end of the day, including purse and contingency payout, with victories in the Island Racing Services C Superbike, South Central Race Center C Superstock and Formula 1 Expert races. Howard also logged a pair of seconds, finishing behind former Horizon Award winner Cory Burleson in the RaceworX A Superstock race, and then losing out to current CMRA champion Dustin Dominguez in the AVTEQ A Superbike race. Meanwhile, Eric Falt finished the day with the most victories, claiming four in all, after taking wins in the Exel Transport Formula 2, Lightweight Twins, Formula 40 Lightweight and the D Superbike races. Conner Blevins ended up with two wins, taking the GMAN 125 win over Jake Chapman and the Road & Track Suspension Clubman race over Ryan Warren. While Cory Burleson also had two, adding a win in the B Superstock race to his previously mentioned victory in the A Superstock race. Other Experts getting wins included Tyler McDonald (Unlimited Motard), Wayne Nielsen (Superstock D), Cecil Keeling (F40 Heavyweight), Robert Bradlaw (Super Motard), Chris Vinson (Road & Track Suspension Classic Unlimited), and Keith Hertell (Road & Track Suspension Superstock E). In the Novice divisions, John Houch claimed three wins (F40 Lightweight, Ridesmart LW Twins, D Superbike), while Alonzo Contreras claimed two (B Superstock, Moto Liberty C Superstock). In Saturday’s 6-hour CMRA Endurance race, CSCarey Racing (Chris Carey, Greg Anderson, Matt Hall, Brent Wood) rode a YZF-R6 to a one-lap margin of victory over GSX-R1000-mounted Team Mancuso Powersports (Paul Wilkinson, Craig Clark, Bryan West, Dustin Meador). Meanwhile, another YZF-R6-mounted team, Village Idiots, consisting of John Orchard, Chris Headley, Craig Montgomery, and Chad Tieszen, finished third overall and first in the C Superbike class, another two laps back. Lone Star Track Days (Gabe McClendon, Mark Niemi, Derek Thomas) won the C Superstock class by claiming fourth overall, beating Moto-Ace Racing (Cory Burleson, Derek Wagnon, Joe Prussiano) by one a one lap margin to do so. Faltless Racing (Eric Falt, Robert Bradlaw, Clayton Schutz, Bill Erzal, Chase Vivion) won the Formula 2 division with a sixth overall finish in an SV650. The CMRA returns to action on April 11-12 at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas, with a full slate of sprint racing and a 6-hour Big Bike Endurance race. More, from a press release issued by Team Velocity Racing: TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha on Endurance Podium in First Race on Michelin Tires POOLER, Ga.–Team Velocity Racing (TVR) began the WERA National Endurance Series season last weekend in style, earning the Heavyweight Superstock class win and finishing second overall in the four-hour race at Roebling Road Raceway. The race also marked TVR’s debut as a Michelin-sponsored team. Chuck Ivey, Zac Chapman and Brett Champagne piloted the TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha YZF-R1. Before the team ever arrived at the track, though, there was a lot happening behind the scenes. EBC Brakes, a longtime sponsor and supporter of TVR, decided to increase their involvement with the four-time champions in 2009. “EBC brakes has been instrumental in helping us finalize our plans for this year,” noted rider and team owner Chuck Ivey. He added that TVR’s 2009 R1s are currently being tested, and will debut at round two. In addition, TVR’s switch to Michelin rubber marks the first time the team has changed tire brands since they entered the series six years ago. “We’re always trying to move forward, and Michelin has a positive plan for the future, and a great tire,” said Ivey. “They’re focusing a lot of energy on this series, and we’re excited about partnering with them. It felt great to put Michelin on the box in our first race, but we won’t be satisfied until we’re first.” As for the race itself, everyone agreed that it was the perfect way to start the season, with thorough preparation, quick pit stops, and riders who were in tune with the TVR Yamaha R1. “I got the holeshot at the start, then it was a drag race to turn one and I led for a few laps,” commented Chapman. “I took the lead again and got a good gap before I had to come in for fuel. The bike and tires worked well. The Michelins are great: the rear held up for the whole stint, and the tires were very predictable.” Champagne is making his TVR debut this year, but in the past he has been one of their fiercest competitors. “I’ve known these guys for a while, and being a part of the team was everything I expected. Everyone gets along, works well together, and we had fun,” he said. “I feel I could have ridden better, but I hadn’t thrown a leg over a bike since October. Hopefully I can give it some more next weekend.” TVR’s sponsors include EBC Brakes, Michelin, Yamaha, Aiken Motorcycle, XES Leather, MotoHeaven.com, Arai, Vortex, Repsol, EK Chains, VP Fuels, and Dyno Jet. Find out more about the team online at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com.