Schmidt Distances The Competition On The Road To His Eighth Title During Round 5 Of The OMMRA Formula Ultra Championship at Portland International Raceway. 

 Entering the race weekend, Alan Schmidt, 7-time #1 plate holder of Kamloops, British Columbia, had a mere two point lead over Sam Verderico of Wenatchee, WA. With a multitude of challenges and misfortune in previous rounds, Schmidt was long overdue for a weekend befitting a champion. 

In Saturday’s Formula Ultra race, Schmidt walked away from the competition from the drop of the green flag, beating the field by 8 seconds. Coming up from the last row of the grid, Lenny Hale of Garberville, California catapulted his machine to 2nd position until Kevin Pinkstaff, aboard the new Kawasaki ZX-10R, took the spot and relegated Hale to 3rd. 

In Sunday’s Formula Ultra race, Schmidt would be pushed to the limit by Lenny Hale. Hale would again come from the back of the grid to challenge Schmidt. In this race, Hale was within striking distance for the win. Schmidt would have to wick it up, coming within .07 seconds of the track record he set two years ago, to keep the small gap to Hale. Hale, still coming up to speed at PIR with a setup to go the distance, had to give up the chase and settle for 2nd but not without showing Schmidt he can come within .23 of the track record. Sam Verderico was locked in a seesaw battle with Kevin Pinkstaff. Pinkstaff and Verderico were nose to tail, frequently swapping positions. By lap 10, Pinkstaff put a pass on Verderico that would stick to the checkers, taking 3rd by less than a bike length. Pinkstaff’s 2nd and 3rd place finishes put him within 6 points of Verderico’s second spot in the Formula Ultra Championship. Schmidt now leads the championship by 26 points over Verderico. 

In the Clubman Championship, Matt Presting of Vancouver, WA surged ahead with two wins in 600 Supersport and 600 Superbike classes. The 600 and 750 classes produced the most dramatic racing of the season with freight train battles to the bitter end. In the 600 Superbike race, young gun Devon McDonough and WMRRA’s Ryan Sutton finished within two tenths of Presting’s win. 

Kevin Pinkstaff was able to fend off Sam Verderico and Matt Presting for the win in the 750 Supersport race. The 750 Superbike race was an epic shootout for the ages with multiple lead changes and merely 1.5 seconds separating the top 5 at the finish. Pinkstaff took the win with Verderico, McDonough, Presting and Sutton rounding out the top five. 

Losing ground in the Clubman Championship with a slew of mechanical issues, Chris Ancien would have to settle for 6th in the hotly contested 750 Supersport race on his back-up bike. Ancien’s woes gave Matt Presting and Kevin Pinkstaff the opening they needed to ascend the standings. 

In the Vintage Championship, Cody Wood continued his domination in the class aboard his Honda CB175. In the first 500 Vintage race of the weekend, Joe Weir’s machine failed on the final lap, handing the race to Andrew Pignataro, with Wood conceding to 2nd. Wood would come back in the second 500 Vintage to beat Pignataro and increase his points lead in the championship, adding two more 2nd place finishes in the 250 Vintage class. Taking both 1st place finishes in 250 Vintage by nearly 2 seconds, Ryan Shanahan catapults himself up to 3rd in the Vintage championship. By pushing his Honda CB160 to its limit, Chris Page solidified his 2nd position in the championship by taking the last spot on the podium in both 250 Vintage races on Sunday. 

The Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association (OMRRA) developed the two-race per weekend Formula Ultra Championship, the ‘your best two classes’ Clubman Championship and the two-race per day, Olympic scored Vintage Championship, promoting safe, competitive road racing in all categories. 

OMRRA, incorporated in 1972 as a non-profit, volunteer run organization, has members ranging in age from 12 to over 70, racing motorcycles of many brands, sizes and ages. OMRRA operates at Portland International Raceway, a city park and world class track. For more information, visit www.omrra.com and join us at www.omrra.com

2011 OMRRA Remaining Schedule: 

September 17-18 – Superbike Weekend, Superteams 

October 8-9 Season Finale! 

Saturday, August 20 Race Results

Formula Ultra – Saturday 1. Alan Schmidt (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R) 3. Lenny Hale (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. Tony Porter (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Anthony Manciu (Suz GSX-R1000) 

Open Supersport 1. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Anthony Manciu (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Tony Porter (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Steve Suitor (Hon CBR1000RR) 5. Mike McKim (Suz GSX-R750) 6. Joseph Palmeri (Suz GSX-R1000) 

750 Supersport 1. Kevin Pinkstaff (Suz GSX-R750) 2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Devon McDonough (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Chris Ancien (Kaw ZX-6R) 

600 Supersport 1. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Devon McDonough (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Jacob Brown (Suz GSX-R600) 5. Sam Verderico (Kaw ZX-6R) 6. Brian Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-6R) 

650 Twin Superbike 1. Brian Osborne (Suz SV650) 2. David James Moore (Kaw EX650) 3. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 4. Tim Weig (Suz SV650) 5. Skyler Benoit (Suz SV650) 6. Keith DiBrino (Suz SV650) 

 Formula III 1. John Gessner (Hon RS125) 2. Mackenzie Ancien (Moriwaki) 3. Michael Caravatta (Apr 125RS) 4. Rob Tatom (Hon RS125) 5. Shannon Lang (Hon RS125) 

 Middleweight Supersport 1. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 2. Tim Weig (Suz SV650) 3. Brian Moe (Suz SV650) 4. Jeff Brooks (Suz SV650) 5. Geoff Ford (Suz SV650) 6. Skyler Benoit (Suz SV650) 

 Open Superbike Senior 1. Christine Porter (Yam YZF-R1) 2. Don Headrick (Kaw ZX-10R) 3. Aaron Miles (Suz GSX-R750) 4. James Moody (Hon CBR1000RR) 5. Shawn Tymer (Hon CBR1000RR) 6. Crystal Platt (Suz GSX-R1000) 

 750 Superbike Senior 1. Chuck Bannister (Suz GSX-R750) 2. Tim Benedict (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Aaron Miles (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Andrew Johnson (Suz GSX-R750) 5. Joshua Melanson (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Eric Iversen (Yam YZF-R6) 

600 Superbike Senior 1. Bryan Rothenburger (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Jason Doody (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Patrick Sanford (Suz GSX-R600) 4. Joshua Melanson (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Eric Iversen (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Nick Schuder (Yam YZF-R6) 

500 Vintage Race 1 1. Andrew Pignataro (Hon CB160) 2. Cody Wood (Hon CL175) 3. Shawn McKnight (Hon CB160) 4. Daric Cheshire (Hon CB160) 5. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175)

500 Vintage Race 2 1. Cody Wood (Hon CL175) 2. Andrew Pignataro (Hon CB160) 3. Daric Cheshire (Hon CB160) 4. Shawn McKnight (Hon CB160) 5. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175) 

 Novice 4 1. Steve Hildum (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Andrew Rogers (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Kinzer “Speedy” Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R) 4. Anthony Iven (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Wes Stults (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Jeremy Karmy (Yam YZF-R6) .

 Novice 5 1. Joe Rocha (Kaw ZX-10R) 2. Brian Rose (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Matt Metcalf (Yam YZF-R1) 4. Donny Schultz (Hon CBR1000RR) 5. David Wright (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Darren Dichow (Suz GSX-R750)

Sunday, August 21 Race Results

Formula Ultra – Sunday 1. Alan Schmidt (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Lenny Hale (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R) 4. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. Anthony Manciu (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Steve Suitor (Hon CBR1000RR) 

Open Superbike 1. Alan Schmidt (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Anthony Manciu (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Tony Porter (Yam YZF-R1) 5. Kevin Lafavor (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Steve Suitor (Hon CBR1000RR) 

750 Superbike 1. Kevin Pinkstaff (Suz GSX-R750) 2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Devon McDonough (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Lenny Hale (Yam YZF-R6) 

600 Superbike 1. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Devon McDonough (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Brian Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-6R) 5. Sam Verderico (Kaw ZX-6R) 6. Jason Zaslaw (Suz GSX-R600) 

Formula Female 1. Crystal Platt (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Jenny Besaw (Hon CBR600RR) 3. Christine Porter (Yam YZF-R1) 

Middleweight Superbike 1. Andy Dibrino (Suz SV650) 2. David James Moore (Kaw EX650) 3. Tim Weig (Suz SV650) 4. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 5. Skyler Benoit (Suz SV650) 6. Bez Cajee (Suz SV650) 

Ultra Lightweight Superbike 1. Adam Faussett – (Kaw EX250) 2. Bill Cameron (Kaw EX250) 3. Kelly Johnson (Kaw EX250) 4. Michael Tobin (Kaw EX250) 

750 Supersport Senior 1. Mike Alton (GSX-R750) 2. Jason Doody (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Andrew Johnson (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Joshua Melanson (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Aaron Miles (Suz GSX-R750) 6. Eric Iversen (Yam YZF-R6) 

600 Supersport Senior 1. Jason Doody (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Joshua Melanson (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Jerry Cowan (Triumph Daytona) 4. Nick Schuder (Hon CBR600RR) 

250 Vintage Race 1 1. Ryan Shanahan (Hon CB160) 2. Cody Wood (Hon CL175) 3. Chris Page (Hon CB160) 4. Andrew Pignataro (Hon CB160) 5. Matt Rask (Hon CB160) 6. Ronald Bloker (Hon CB160) 

250 Vintage Race 2 1. Ryan Shanahan (Hon CB160) 2. Cody Wood (Hon CL175) 3. Chris Page (Hon CB160) 4. Andrew Pignataro (Hon CB160) 5. Brian Skeahan (Hon CB160) 6. Daric Cheshire (Hon CB160) 

Novice 4 1. Steve Hildum (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Anthony Iven (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Kinzer “Speedy” Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R) 4. Wes Stults (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Jeremy Karmy (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Noah Bayer (Kaw ZX-6R) 

Novice 5 1. Brian Rose (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Matt Metcalf (Yam YZF-R1) 3. Daren Dichow (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Donny Schultz (Hon CBR1000RR) 5. Austin Carroll (Hon CBR600RR) 6. Andrew Nebergall (Apr RSV1000) 

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 

Formula Ultra Championship 1. Alan Schmidt 188 pts 2. Sam Verderico 162 pts 3. Kevin Pinkstaff 156 pts 4. Tony Porter 129 pts 5. Kevin Boisvert 74 pts 

Clubman Championship 1. Matt Presting 204 pts 2. Kevin Pinkstaff 195 pts 3. Chris Ancien 187 pts 4. Sam Verderico 175 pts 5. Jason Doody 165 pts 

Vintage Championship 1. Cody Wood 191 pts 2. Chris Page 111 pts 3. Ryan Shanahan 88 pts 4. Andrew Pignataro 87 pts 5. Joe Weir 82 pts