Young Guns Fill Grids at USGPRU Las Vegas West Coast Round 1
ODENTON, MD. The USGPRU powered by AlwaysOnline.net kicked off the West Coast Regional Series at the Las Vegas Classic Course this weekend. The Red Bull Mobile Energy Team was on hand to energize racers in the 125GP and 250GP events chasing the $3500 cash purse.
Four of the top six finishers in the 125GP event were the new generation of road racers. With big change-ups in the first few laps, Will Gruy, riding with a broken right hand, stepped out to take the lead early in the race and hold a comfortable advantage over the lead pack. Meanwhile a five-way battle followed with Erik Dadej, Mike Orien, Tommy Aquino, Tyler McDonald, and Tyler Reiswig bumping elbows and exchanging positions in intense wheel-to-wheel racing. Dadej and Orien slugged it out for 2nd and 3rd. Fourteen year old Aquino made his USGPRU debut by leading the first lap and managed to stay in the battle with the lead pack to finally finish 4th. Tyler McDonald stole 5th from Ryan Ferris in a nearly dead-even photo finish. Tyler Reiswig was forced to retire early when he lost his brakes on the eighth lap.
While the grids filled up with young talent, some notable old timers and retirees came out to show the kids they still had what it takes. Ben Solis, having not been on a GP bike for five years, held onto the lead pack for the first half of the race. He did this all while nursing a broken arm! Tony Bell was back in the pits as tuner for Solis’s Honda RS125. Still in retirement, Bruce Lind stepped out of the casinos long enough to take a “Sunday Ride” aboard an all Japan Champion Yamaha TZ125.
The 250GP event launched with big-time bumping in Turns 1 and 2 as riders jockeyed for position. Youngster Bradley Adams snuck past Vince Rolleri early in the race to hold the lead in the 250GP event. Under pressure from Rolleri, Adams tossed his TZ250 in Turn 5 on lap 11. Notable hard chargers from the back of the grid were Alex White aboard a TZ250 and Erik Dadej on a RS125 finishing 9th and 10th.
The USGPRU would like to thank CCS Southwest for allowing us to race with them this weekend. Randy Stem and his crew did a spectacular job.
125GP Results Rider, Bike, Laps
1. Will Gruy Honda RS125 15
2. EriK Dadej Honda RS125 15
3. Mike Orien Honda RS125 15
4. Tommy Aquino Honda RS125 15
5. Tyler McDonald Honda RS125 15
6. Ryan Ferris Yamaha TZ125 15
7. John Hjelm Honda RS125 15
8. Jon Schendel Yamaha TZ125 15
9. Ben Welch Yamaha TZ125 15
10. Jeff Lim Honda RS125 15
11. Ben Solis Honda RS125 15
12. Debra Kuick Honda RS125 15
13. Darrell Baker Honda RS125 15
14. Bruce Lind Yamaha TZ125 15
15. Kirk Snell Honda RS125 15
16. Britt Arechiga Honda RS125 15
17. Phillip Krenn Honda RS125 14
18. Paul Hoyt Nelson Honda RS125 14
19. Niko Bolas Honda RS125 14
20. Darrin Kuebler Honda RS125 14
21. Don Roberts Yamaha TZ125 14
22. Joe Melchionda Honda RS125 14
23. Kim Brauneis Yamaha TZ125 14
24. David Matthews Honda RS125 14
25. Dave Walther Yamaha TZ125 14
26. Shellie Matthews Honda RS125 14
27. Brian Heess Honda RS125 14
28. Amanda Cornelius Honda RS125 10
29. Tyler Reiswig Honda RS125 7
250GP Results
Rider, Bike, Laps
1. Vincent Rolleri Yamaha TZ250 15
2. Mark Watts Yamaha TZ250 15
3. Kory Gill Yamaha TZ250 15
4. Will Gruy Honda RS125 15
5. Bruce Lind Yamaha TZ250 15
6. Tyler Reiswig Honda RS125 15
7. Ryan Ferris Yamaha TZ250 15
8. Jon Schendel Yamaha TZ125 15
9. Alex White Yamaha TZ250 15
10. Erik Dadej Honda RS125 15
11. Mike Wright Yamaha TZ250 15
12. Jeff Lim Honda RS125 15
13. Zachry Lee Honda RS250 15
14. Paul Hoyt Nelson Honda RS250 15
15. Mike Lytle Yamaha TZ250 15
16. Darrell Baker Honda RS125 14
17. Dale Whelan Yamaha TZ250 14
18. John Lee Honda RS250 14
19. Andy Edwards Aprillia RSR250 14
20. Joseph Melchionda Yamaha TZ250 14
21. David Matthews Yamaha TZ250 14
22. Andrew Trace Honda RS250 14
23. Derek Dutt Honda RS250 14
24. Roger Baker Yamaha TZ250 14
25. Niko Bolas Honda RS125 14
26. Dane Walther Yamaha TZ125 13
27. Keith Almond Yamaha TZ250 13
28. Anthony Digati Aprillia RS250 12
29. Bradley Adams Yamaha TZ250 10
30. Zachariah Seasly Yamaha TZ250 10
31. Darrin Kuebler Honda RS125 9
32. Tyler McDonald (DNF) Honda RS125 1