OMRRA Crowns Schmidt For A Record 9th Time At Portland International Raceway
OMMRA final round was steeped in high drama as many racers were vying for overall and class championships. The weather at Portland International Raceway was unseasonably warm and dry taking the elements out of the equation in the run for points.
In the 2-Fast Track Days Formula Ultra Championship, Alan Schmidt of Kamloops, B.C., entered the weekend 23 points ahead of Kevin Pinstaff of Portland, OR. With the grit one would expect to come from a perennial champion on the verge of making history by winning his 9th consecutive overall championship, Schmidt put the bit between his teeth and put on a textbook run on how to close out a championship on Saturday. Schmidt blasted out of the gates and never looked back. The only time Schmidt was challenged in the two Formula Ultra races was at the start when Anthony Manciu jumped out of the blocks and challenged Schmidt for the lead into turn 1. With lightning starts and the Open Supersport championship under his belt, Manciu showed signs he is ready to challenge the top 3 in Formula Ultra. With Schmidt out front the fight to watch was for the number two plate. Kevin Pinkstaff and Sam Verderico of Wenatchee, WA were separated by 20 points entering the weekend. Pinkstaff didn’t need to go bar-to-bar with Verderico as he had all season, he simply needed to finish no more than two positions behind Verderico. In Saturday’s contest, Verderico did what he needed to do and beat Pinkstaff by 2 seconds. That left Sunday’s contest, where Pinstaff needed to finish in the top five. Not willing to just manage a finish, Pinkstaff put the hammer down and finished ahead of Verderico by 2 seconds snatching the number two plate for 2013.
In KFG Racing/Pirelli-sponsored Clubman Championship news, the fireworks between Ryan Sutton of Camano Island, WA and Andy DiBrino of Tualatin, OR kicked off again in 600 Supersport. This was DiBrino’s rookie year and Sutton wasn’t about to let the new kid on the block show up his victory laps with three class championships and the #1 Clubman plate under his belt. DiBrino and Sutton locked horns from the start and were embroiled in an epic battle until the two tried to share the same space on lap 9 going into PIR’s hard-braking, fast turn 1. Sutton had the spot and DiBrino was on the outs and found himself in the dirt. The 13 second lead over 3rd allowed DiBrino to rejoin the race and hold onto second. DiBrino had to settle for the conciliation prize of setting the lap record for the class at 1:07.603. In their second contest in 750 Supersport, DiBrino lept out of the blocks and never looked back taking an easy win with Sutton’s R6 fading into the clutches of Sam Verderico’s Suzuki GSXR-750. Verderico’s displacement advantage allowed him to run Sutton down and outpace him to turn 1 on lap 8. Verderico kept Sutton at bay and beat him to the line. In Sunday’s Superbike contests, Sutton and DiBrino made adjustments to their machines in accordance with Superbike rules. DiBrino put on an electrifying performance, beating Sutton by 4 seconds in 600 Superbike. In the final contest between these two in the 2012 season, DiBrino pulled the pin in 750 Superbike and vaulted his EDR powered Yamaha R6 to the best time ever recorded on a 600cc machine at Portland International Raceway at 1:07.183. Up until that point, DiBrino looked untouchable. However, on the next lap, DiBrino’s determination to put his R6 in the 1:06’s almost cost him the win. He faltered on the next lap and took the scenic route through the grass and allowed Sutton to make up precious ground. DiBrino would have to settle in, deal with lapped traffic and beat Sutton to the the checkers by just 0.4 seconds. The battle between Sutton and DiBrino electrified the northwest racing scene this year. Both riders took home honors: Sutton with 3 class championships and the #1 Clubman plate and DiBrino having pushed through a season-interrupting hand injury now owns 3 class lap records once held by the greatest champion in OMRRA history, Alan Schmidt. Sutton is expected to return for the full season in 2013. DiBrino, on the other hand, is expected to make as many OMRRA rounds as possible as he plans to take his immense young talent to the AMA Supersport West rounds in 2013.
In other KFG Racing/Pirelli Clubman Championship news, Jason Harper returned and picked up two wins and four podiums in middleweight categories on his Suzuki SV650. Despite a crash that took him out of the September round, Harper’s domination had him collecting four class championships by the close of the weekend. Other newsworthy event was the growth of the Ninja 250 grid. A half dozen newcomers arrived with two racers cracking the top five. Thirteen year old Jeremy Coffey put his Ninja on the second step of the box three times in 250 Ninja Cup, Ultralightweight Superbike, and Lightweight Superbike. Coffey nearly took the win in Ultralightweight Superbike but veteran Kelly Johnson beat him to the line by 0.037 seconds. 2012 600 Supersport Senior and 750 Supersport Senior champion, Joshua Melanson, took 5th in the highly competitive Ultralightweight Superbike and Lightweight Superbike contests. The Ninja 250 grids continue to grow with veterans from Vintage, Formula Ultra and other Clubman classes looking to enter the fray in 2013 and go elbow-to-elbow with OMRRA’s fastest growing class.
In the Bridge City Cycles Vintage Championship, Cody Wood was absent from the last round with mechanical issues but had enough points in the category to take home championships in 250 Vintage, 500 Vintage and the overall 1v plate. Wood absence gave Patrick Leyshock a taste of dominating the field as he pilot his Yamaha DT1 250 to wins in both 500 Vintage and 250 Vintage securing the 2v plate for 2012. Mica Grohn showed signs of maturing as a racer in her first season by taking the fight to this years’ number two vintage racer, Ryan Shanahan. In both 250 Vintage on Sunday, Grohn and Shanahan swapped the 2nd place position multiple times each lap with Grohn taking the honors in both contests (Shanahan suffered a mechanical sending him to the pits briefly in the second contest). As silly season begins it is unclear as to which racers will return to contest the Vintage Championship in 2013. 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. Our races can be seen and heard by anyone with an internet connection, courtesy of PIRLive.com. The race day schedule is posted just prior to the weekend at www.facebook.com/omrra.racing. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/omrra.racing.
Saturday, October 6th Race Results
Formula Ultra – Saturday 1. Alan Schmidt (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R) 4. Marcel Irnie (BMW S1000RR) 5. Tony Porter (Kaw ZX-10R) 6. Anthony Manciu (Hon CBR1000RR)
750 Supersport 1. Andy DiBrino (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Mackenzie Ancien (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Joshua Melanson (Yam YZF-R6)
600 Supersport 1. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Andy DiBrino (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Brian Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-6R) 5. Jason Doody (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Sam Verderico (Kaw ZX-6R)
Ninja 250 Cup (Daily) 1. Jonathan Wood (Kaw EX250) 2. Jeremy Coffey (Kaw EX250) 3. Chris Page (Kaw EX250) 4. Kelly Johnson (Kaw EX250) 5. Andrew Pignataro (Kaw EX250) 6. Peter Kahn (Kaw EX250)
650 GP Twins 1. David James Moore (Kaw EX650) 2. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 3. Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650) 4. Star Herrmann (Kaw EX650)
Middleweight Supersport 1. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 2. Keith DiBrino (Suz SV650) 1. Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650)
600 Superbike Senior 1. Skyler Benoit (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Cody Wood (Yam YZF-R6) 3. John Soldano (Hon CBR600RR)
500 Vintage (Daily) 1. Patrick Leyshock (Yam DT1 250) 2. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175) 3. Daric Cheshire (Hon CL175) 4. Shawn McKnight (Hon CB160) 5. Simon-Pierre Smith (Yam DT1 250)
Formula III 1. Michael Caravatta (Apr 125RS) 2. Mike Orien (Hon RS125) 3. Rob Tatom (Hon RS125) 4. Shannon Lang (Hon RS125)
Novice 4 1. Tom Walsh (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Nate Silvers (Duc 848EVO) 3. Bryan O’Connor (Suz GSX-R600) 4. Paul Goldashkin (Yam YZF-R6)
Novice 5 1. David Wright (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Brian Tallant (Hon CBR1000RR) 3. Rohit Sharma (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Dodge Lebel (Suz GSX-R750)
SuperTeams 1 hr. mini endurance Middleweight Division 1. Little Wood, Big Johnson Racing (C. Wood / K. Johnson / S. Benoit)
Sunday, October 7th Race Results
Formula Ultra Sunday 1. Alan Schmidt (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R) 3. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Tony Porter (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. Anthony Manciu (Hon CBR1000RR) 6. Jason Doody (Yam YZF-R6)
Open Superbike 1. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Tony Porter (Kaw ZX-10R) 3. Anthony Manciu (Hon CBR1000RR) 4. Jason Gasparinatos (Kaw ZX-10R) 5. John Lippis (Suz GSX-R750)
750 Superbike 1. Andy Dibrino (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Sam Verderico (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Anthony Manciu (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Kris Aldeman (Yam YZF-R6)
600 Superbike 1. Andy DiBrino (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Ryan Sutton (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Brian Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-6R) 4. Matt Presting (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Jason Doody (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Anthony Manciu (Yam YZF-R6)
450 Superbike 1. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 2. Keith DiBrino (Suz SV650) 3. Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650)
Middleweight Superbike 1. Michael Caravatta (Apr 125RS) 2. Gene Brown (Yam TZ250) 3. Jason Harper (Suz SV650) 4. Keith DiBrino (Suz SV650) 5. Nobi Iso (Hon RS125) 6. Geoff Ford (Suz SV650)
Lightweight Superbike 1. Chris Page (Kaw EX250) 2. Jeremy Coffey (Kaw EX250) 3. Kelly Johnson (Kaw EX250) 4. Peter Kahn (Kaw EX250) 5. Joshua Melanson (Kaw EX250) 6. Chris Rizzo (Kaw EX250)
Ultralightweight Superbike 1. Kelly Johnson (Kaw EX250) 2. Jeremy Coffey (Kaw EX250) 3. Chris Page (Kaw EX250) 4. Andrew Pignataro (Kaw EX250) 5. Joshua Melanson (Kaw EX250) 6. Chris Rizzo (Kaw EX250)
250 Vintage (Daily) 1. Patrick Leyshock (Yam DT1 250) 2. Mica Grohn (Hon CL175) 3. Daric Cheshire (Hon CL175) 4. Ryan Shanahan (Hon CB160)
750 Supersport Senior 1. Skyler Benoit (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Gene Brown (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Brent Benoit (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Jon Leonard (Suz GSX-R750)
600 Supersport Senior 1. Joshua Melanson (YZF-R6) 2. Skyler Benoit (YZF-R6) 3. Brian Moe (Kaw ZX-6R) 4. Cody Wood (Yam YZF-R6)
Novice 5 1. David Wright (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Brian Tallant (Hon CBR1000RR) 3. Rohit Sharma (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Dodge Lebel (Suz GSX-R750)
Overall Championship Standings
2Fast Track Days Formula Ultra Championship 1. Alan Schmidt 258 pts 2. Kevin Pinkstaff 221 pts 3. Sam Verderico 201 pts 4. Anthony Manciu 126 pts 5. Tony Porter 103 pts
KFG Racing/Pirelli Clubman Championship 1. Ryan Sutton 297 pts 2. Sam Verderico 227 pts 3. Matt Presting 224 pts 4. Andy Dibrino 223 pts 5. Brian Pinkstaff 219 pts
Bridge City Cycles Vintage Championship 1v. Cody Wood 240 pts 2v. Patrick Leyshock 193 pts 3v. Daric Cheshire 124 pts 4. Mica Grohn 106 pts 5. Scott Elder 88 pts
2012 OMRRA Class Champions
Formula Ultra Alan Schmidt
250 Ninja Cup Andrew Pignataro
450 Superbike Jason Harper
600 Supersport Ryan Sutton
600 Superbike Ryan Sutton
600 Supersport Senior Joshua Melanson
600 Superbike Senior Steve Hildum
650 GP Twins Jason Harper
750 Supersport Sam Verderico
750 Superbike Ryan Sutton
750 Supersport Senior Joshua Melanson
Formula III Michael Caravatta
Lightweight Superbike Chris Page
Middleweight Supersport Jason Harper
Middleweight Superbike Jason Harper
Open Supersport Anthony Manciu
Open Superbike Alan Schmidt
Open Superbike Senior Mark Leslie
Ultralightweight Superbike Chris Page
500 Vintage Cody Wood
250 Vintage Cody Wood
Novice 4 Austin Carroll
Novice 5 David Wright