Hicks Takes UtahSBA King Of The Mountain GTO Victory At Miller

Hicks Takes UtahSBA King Of The Mountain GTO Victory At Miller

© 2015, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

May 16-27, 2015 Miller Motorsports Park West Course, Tooele, Utah

Chilly conditions and mixed weather made for great racing at round 2 of the Vortex Masters of the Mountains race series hosted by the Utah Sport Bike Association at Miller Motorsports Park. Round 2 was held on Miller’s fast and flowing West Course configuration which provides racers with a little bit of everything and provided the backdrop for some amazing racing.

Saturday afternoon began dry but during the Moto2 race the rain started and the track stayed wet all afternoon. Young Gauge Rees took victory in the Moto2 class after chasing down Brian Childree and making a last-lap pass in the tricky conditions. Last-lap passes became a theme throughout the weekend including the Open Superbike race on Saturday with Jerry Hicks and Ryan Brand battling until the very last lap with Brand ultimately taking the win.

Sunday begin with cold weather and the threat of rain throughout the morning but fortunately the storm passed and though the track stayed cool throughout the day it was at least dry. The premier middleweight class, King of the Mountain GTU was full of drama throughout the race. Childree took the holeshot and led most of the race. On lap 4 Rees was closing the gap to Childree but made a mistake entering the fast turn 8 and crashed out of the race. On lap 9 Kinzer Naylor passed Childree going into turn 1 and the battle began. Childree followed Naylor as they made their way through lap traffic. On the final lap Childree made his move into the final turn with a block pass on Naylor. The move proved effective and Childree went on to win the King of the Mountain GTU race.

“I had a good start and got into the lead right away,” said Childree, “but by the second lap I knew I was in trouble. I went out on a slightly worn rear tire and it did not hold up like I expected. By the third lap it was spinning and sliding everywhere. On lap 9 when Naylor passed me I was really surprised, I had no idea he was even near me! I knew my tire was gone and I wouldn’t be able to get past him and pull a gap so I decided to wait. On the last lap I passed him going into the last turn and held him off to the finish. It was a really good feeling to win that race. I want to thank the Moto Station crew for their support this weekend. Thanks everyone!”

Up next was the King of the Mountain GTO race. The race began with Oleg Pianykh taking the lead and controlling the pace but by lap 4 he was being hounded by Jerry Hicks, who started the race from the third row. Lap after lap the two riders ground out a pace that was unmatched by anyone else on the grid. On the last lap of the race Hicks made a bold pass on Pianykh in the triple D’s (turn 7) and went on to take the victory and his first ever King of the Mountain GTO win.

“Starting on the third row had me pretty nervous going into the race,” said Hicks, “but luckily I had a great start and was in third place by the end of the first lap. I saw Oleg starting to get away so on the third lap I passed Mike Bradshaw and started trying to close the gap. Once I was behind Oleg I watched his line to see where I could make a pass. I decided it would have to be in the middle of the triple left-hander. On the last lap I made my move and it worked! I was able to hold on and take the win. I need to thank Kory and all the guys from Moto Station. What an awesome race!”

May 16-17, 2015 @ MMP West Track – Results

Street GP

1. Eddie Hofeling 
2. Bobby Johnson 
3. Wesley Lapierre

Production 500 1

1. Sean Thomas (Kaw 300)
2. Anthony Morgan (Kaw 250)
3. Duncan Biles (Kaw 250)
4. Braden Randall (Kaw 250)

Moto2

1. Gauge Rees (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Brian Childree (Hon CBR600RR)
3. David Purcell (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Clint Gibson (Kaw ZX-6R)
5. Kinzer Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Ryan Richardson (Yam YZF-R6)

Moto1

1. Ryan Brand (BMW S1000RR)
2. Ryan Luke (Hon CBR1000)

Deseret Dash 1 – GTO – Novice

1. Travis Larsson (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Thomas MacNiece (Suz GSX-R750)
3. Todd Mauer (Suz SV650)

Deseret Dash 1 – GTO – Expert

1. Kinzer Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Scott Rybarik (Duc 899)
3. Brian Dobrowlski (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Shane White (Suz GSX-R1000)
5. Albert Andrade (Suz GSX-R1000)
6. Tj Hathaway (Suz SV650)

Novice GTU

1. Joshua Smith (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Jerry Carson (Suz GSX-R600)
3. Jason Koth (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Joseph Tapia (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Trevor Beard (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Landon Grimshaw (Suz GSX-R600)

Middle Wt. Superbike

1. Gauge Rees (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Kinzer Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Clint Gibson (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Brian Childree (Hon CBR600RR)
5. David Purcell (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Ryan Richardson (Yam YZF-R6)

Production 250

1. Anthony Morgan (Kaw 250)
2. Braden Randall (Kaw 250)

Open Twins

1. Scott Rybarik (Duc 899)
2. Brad Moore (Suz SV650)
3. Don Losee (Duc 996)
4. Jeff Masters (Bue 1125R)
5. TJ Hathaway (Suz SV650)

Open Superbike

1. Ryan Brand (BMW S1000RR)
2. Gerald Hicks (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Scott Rybarik (Duc 899)
4. Damien Olson (Kaw ZX-10R)
5. Ryan Luke (Hon CBR1000)

Deseret Dash 2 – GTO – Novice

1. Thomas MacNiece (Suz GSX-R750)
2. Todd Mauer (Suz SV650)

Deseret Dash 2 – GTO – Expert

1. Ryan Brand (BMW S1000RR)
2. Clint Gibson (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Brian Dobrowlski (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Scott Rybarik (Duc 899)
5. Damien Olson (Kaw ZX-10R)
6. Scott Peck (Suz GSX-R600)

Combined GTO

1. Albert Andrade (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. Jason Koth (Suz GSX-R600)
3. Joseph Tapia (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Chris Canada (Kaw ZX-6R)

Sportsman 1

1. Joshua Smith (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Travis Larsson (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Don Losee (Duc 996)
4. Jerry Carson (Suz GSX-R600)
5. Heidi Olivas (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Landon Grimshaw (Suz GSX-R600)

TimeAttack 1

1. Trevor Beard (Suz GSX-R600)
2. Lance Case (Yam YZF-R6)
3. John Hopperstad (Suz GSX-R1000)
4. Brian Dobrowlski (Suz GSX-R600)
5. Gerald Hicks (Suz GSX-R1000)

Lightweight Twins 1

1. Brad Moore (Suz SV650)
2. Tj Hathaway (Suz SV650)
3. Ryan Luke (Suz SV650)
4. Sean Thomas (Kaw Ninja300)
5. Duncan Biles (Kaw Ninja250)
6. Braden Randall (Kaw Ninja250)

Sportsman 2

1. Joshua Smith (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Travis Larsson (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Thomas MacNiece (Suz GSX-R750)
4. Marshall Miller (Yam YZF-R1)
5. Joseph Tapia (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Darren Knepper (Hon CBR1000RR)

Moto3

1. Anthony Morgan (Kaw 250)
2. Duncan Biles (Kaw 250)
3. Braden Randall (Kaw 250)

Modern Vintage GTU

1. Brad Moore (Suz SV650)
2. Michael Hawkins (Suz GSX-R600)
3. Donavon Mortensen (Hon CBR600RR)
4. Joseph Tapia (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Lindsey Willis (Tri 675)
6. Chris Canada (Kaw ZX-6R)

Modern Vintage GTO

1. Shane White (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. Albert Andrade (Suz GSX-R1000)
3. Marshall Miller (Yam YZF-R1)

Novice GTO

1. Joshua Smith (Yam YZF-R6)
2. Travis Larsson (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Chris Canada (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Joseph Tapia (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Trevor Beard (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Jerome Samarjian (Yam YZF-R6)

King of the Mountain GTU

1. Brian Childree (Hon CBR600RR)
2. Kinzer Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. David Purcell (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Ryan Richardson (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Brian Dobrowlski (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Scott Peck (Suz GSX-R600)

King of the Mountain GTO

1. Gerald Hicks (Suz GSX-R1000)
2. Oleg Pianykh (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Michael Bradshaw (BMW S1000RR)
4. Erik Grim (KTM RC8R)
5. John Hopperstad (Suz GSX-R1000)
6. Jeff Stern (Hon CBR1000RR)

Heavy Wt. Superbike

1. Brian Childree (Hon CBR600RR)
2. Kinzer Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. David Purcell (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Brian Dobrowlski (Suz GSX-R600)
5. Michael Hawkins (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Scott Peck (Suz GSX-R600)

Lightweight Twins 2

1. Brad Moore (Suz SV650)
2. Ryan Luke (Suz SV650)
3. Tj Hathaway (Suz SV650)
4. Anthony Morgan (Kaw 250)
5. Sean Thomas (Kaw 300)
6. Duncan Biles (Kaw 250)

Open Superstock

1. Oleg Pianykh (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Erik Grim (KTM RC8R)
3. Albert Andrade (Suz GSX-R1000)
4. Sherwick Min (Apr RSV4)
5. Marshall Miller (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Scott Rybarik (Duc 899)

Middle Wt. Superstock

1. Gauge Rees (Yam YZF-R6)
2. David Purcell (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Kinzer Naylor (Kaw ZX-6R)
4. Ryan Richardson (Yam YZF-R6)
5. Brian Dobrowlski (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Scott Peck (Suz GSX-R600)

Formula 40 GTO

1. Michael Bradshaw (BMW S1000RR)
2. Ryan Brand (BMW S1000RR)
3. John Hopperstad (Suz GSX-R1000)
4. Sherwick Min (Apr RSV4)
5. Scott Rybarik (Duc 899)
6. Ted Perkins (Kaw ZX-10R)

Production 500 2

1. Anthony Morgan (Kaw 250)
2. Sean Thomas (Kaw 300)
3. Duncan Biles (Kaw 250)
4. Braden Randall (Kaw 250)

Formula 40 GTU

1. Michael Hawkins (Suz GSX-R600)

Combined GTU

1. Brad Moore (Suz SV650)
2. Joshua Smith (Yam YZF-R6)
3. Joseph Tapia (Yam YZF-R6)
4. Ryan Luke (Suz SV650)
5. Trevor Beard (Suz GSX-R600)
6. Lance Case (Yam YZF-R6)

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