Los Angeles, CA Aprilia makes it to the top of the podium after over one year of Ducati dominance in BOTT Heavyweight and Formula Twins classes at WSIR (Willow Springs International Raceway) this past weekend. Ademar Nunes (#48) rode the Spectrum Motorsports-prepped RSV1000R to three podium finishes after having a problematic previous month at WSIR. Bike owner and Mechanic Mr. Amauri Nunes [Ademar’s Brother] commented: “We switched to Michelin tires last month and due to the rain we had absolutely no track time for testing before racing. This month, friendly weather allowed for a reasonable amount of testing and we got the wins we wanted.” This weekend was Nunes’ first time using 16.5-inch rims on the Aprilia. He added: “The Michelin 16.5s had a lot more corner grip than I am used to and we only had time to focus on a steering problem I was experiencing in three areas of the track. We have it almost resolved but I was forced to patch for the time being by adjusting my ride position. Spectrum and my brother should be able to resolve it by next month and then I can focus on the increased lean angles that the tire offers.” Cold windy conditions stimulated a high number of unfortunate crashes at the WSMC event and the Nunes brothers hope that the fallen racers have a good and quick recovery. More, from another press release: MOROSO MOTORSPORTS PARK March 18-19, 2006 Under clear skies with great racing weather, the MIVA/Superbikes & Ski race team had a relatively successful weekend at Moroso Motorsports Park (Palm Beach), winning a couple races, placing on the podium multiple times and leaving as points leaders in a number of regional classes. And no one fell, which is always a good thing. The Fort Myers Harley-Davidson/Buell is receiving an exhaust modification and new swingarm and will return to action at the Jennings GP event in May. The Track: Moroso Motorsports Park is located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The track is 2.25 miles with 13 turns of mixed up, patched and bumpy pavement. The track hosts drag racing (oiling down the drag strip) and auto racing (braking bumps and tearing up corners), making motorcycle racing at Moroso all the more interesting. Due to a couple of deaths in the 90s they added 3 chicanes (quick left/right or right/left transitions) designed to slow down track speeds. While not a high-speed track like Daytona, the modifications were deemed necessary at Moroso as there are concrete walls and light poles, tire barriers and an alligator-infested canal that you can end up in (none this weekend). The end result is a bumpy hodge-podge of corners that we race in blistering heat, humidity and usually “liquid sunshine”. But, as in all racing, all competitors race under the same conditions, so we don’t bitch about it too much. You can see the track at http://www.morosomotorsportspark.com The motto at this track is “Moroso: Tastes like Chicane”. RESULTS: Steve Hill: 2/1/4/2 Matt Sewell: 4/4/3*/4 Scott Robertson: 5/4/2/2/1 (hey, I get better with age!) #81 Steve Hill: 2/1/4/2 Steve continued his winning ways by finishing on the podium 3 times in 4 races. Steve won Amateur Formula 40, took second in Amateur GT Lights and Amateur Lightweight Supersport, and fourth in Amateur Lightweight Superbike. “My most exciting moment”, by Steve Hill: “I battled for the lead the entire length of my GT Lights race. After a great start, I picked off a couple of riders and tucked in behind the Amateur class leader, a big guy on a big Ducati. The Duc had a major horsepower advantage over me and was much faster in the straights but I could easily catch him in the corners. We traded the lead multiple times with me passing on the inside and outside of the turns. But despite my best efforts that big Duc kept motoring by on the straights. I knew my best chance for a win was to pass him in the right-hand turn 11, hold him off on the short straight between 11 and 12, square off 12 for a good run to the finish and the checkered flag. Unfortunately as I drove by him around the outside of that right turn my front tire “tucked” and slid, killing my momentum (and scaring the crap out of me). I had to back off to save the bike from crashing and he got by me on the inside as we exited turn 11 onto the short straight. I couldn’t gather enough of a drive to catch him entering turn 12 and he beat me to the finish line by a bike length. I think I need a Ducati…” #191 Matt Sewell: 4/4/3/4 Matt “Crash” Sewell did not crash for the second race weekend in a row, causing us to reconsider his nickname. We would go back to “Young Gun” but it’s been overused. Send me suggestions. Matt had a decent weekend with a string of 4ths in Amateur GTU, Amateur Middleweight Supersport and Amateur Middleweight Superbike. In Amateur Heavyweight Supersport Matt ran hard against bigger bikes to finish third and was promptly screwed out of his finish (and regional points lead) by bad officiating. At the risk of pissing off any race officials who may be reading this message, the following is an extremely biased explanation: certain “supersport” classes require the top 3 finishers to report directly to tech inspection to ensure that they are not cheating with highly modified bikes. Seems as though the large number of racers and spectators this weekend left the officials overwhelmed and understaffed when it came to tech. Matt finished 3rd, but was surrounded by Experts and lappers as he completed the race and was unsure of his finish. It happens. Ever conscientious, he pulled in to tech anyway. He told the tech inspector that he thought he had finished 4th but was unsure. The tech inspector told him that if he finished 4th he did not have to tech. Matt returned to the pits, sad and dejected. We later learned that Matt was shown by official scoring as having finished 3rd, but was disqualified FOR NOT REPORTING TO TECH! The good folks at CCS/ASRA were understanding and apologetic, but their tech official had made incomplete notes and their ruling will stand. We know he made incomplete notes because a similar thing happened to Steve in the Lightweight Supersport race (with Scott and another rider as a witness). We love these guys and they all work hard to run a good clean event, so we won’t hold it against them. At least not for too long. The biggest loss here is Matt’s overall points lead in the Heaveyweight Supersport class at the regional level. #91 Scott Robertson 5/4/2/2/1 I had a pretty good weekend, maintaining my regional points lead in Expert Lightweight Formula 40 with a 2nd place finish and winning Expert Lightweight Supersport. I used the GT Lights race for track time on my supersport bike and finished a respectable 5th despite being outgunned by bigger machines. I had a good run and great battle in the Expert Lightweight GP class with Adam Loeffler, finishing just off the podium in 4th position. I finished second in Expert Lighweight Superbike. I should have won this race but a big crash in front of me held me up for too long (details below). In that previously mentioned Expert Lightweight Formula 40 race, fast-guy and “arch rival” (I know he’s reading this) Mark Tenn came from nowhere and passed me while I was playing around with the Heavyweight Formula 40 race leaders. I didn’t even see him coming and got what I deserved for letting those guys slow me down. So far this year Mark and I are 1-1. It doesn’t count in the points race but it sure is fun to have a bud to race with! “My most exciting moment”, by Scott Robertson: I knew I had a good chance to win Expert Lightweight Superbike. Earlier I found that I could beat the guys I thought were my biggest competitors, Todd Keesee and Rob Cole, during the Formula 40 race. So now I expected that my fiercest competitor would be Christopher Boy on his big Ducati powered Bimota. I had a great start from the second row and reached turn 1 in second position just behind Todd Keesee. As we braked and tipped into the fast left turn some fool on a Ducati tried to shove past me on the outside and to the inside of Keesee. He chopped across my front tire and tried to brake waaay too late and too hard on the inside curbing. He locked the tire and lost the front, crashing hard and taking Keesee with him as they crashed together and slid to the outside of the turn. I saw it coming and had to swerve to the right to avoid their tumbling bikes. I was slowly pushed to the outside of turn 1 and into the grass. Thankfully I did not fall. Whew. I returned to the track at the back of the ENTIRE field which included both Expert and Amateur Superbikes as well as the Vintage class that was running behind us, certain that the race would be red-flagged and re-started due to the carnage. I dithered around the first few turns, thinking about the restart and looking forward to a battle – and hopefully a win – against Chris Boy. Long about oh…halfway through the first lap I notice that there are NO red flags. I couldn’t believe it. I was pissed at The Big Duc Fool for screwing up my race (and taking out Keesee) and myself for not charging until I saw red. I put my head down and ran the fastest laps of my weekend, passing all the Vintage, all the amateur and every one of the experts EXCEPT Chris Boy to finish a distant second. I couldn’t even see Chris when I crossed the finish line. Keesee was relatively unscathed but his bike suffered damage. The Big Duc Fool was taken to the hospital. Hope he’s ok. Fool. Crap. Our next race is at Jennings GP in North Florida on April 1-2. Please let me know if you are planning to attend.