It was my first time visiting the Bondurant racing center and I wasn’t the least bit disappointed. Simply put, the Bondurant facility reeks of racing! In the short time I was there, I saw rows of race prepped Corvettes and Cadillac STX’s for their driving schools, Saturday night drag racing, and a track day for streetbikes. Once we entered the complex we pulled behind the pits of the kart track that we used for the USMGP event. After we unloaded all our bikes and equipment and set-up “camp” in the pits, it was the first time I had a chance to get a good look at the track. Standing back it’s easy to admire the layout, with a couple of banked turns, candy canes, and even a water fountain in the middle. Being my first time, I was anxious to get on the track and I’ll have to admit that once I did I was really intimidated from it on the first practice night. The track poses an interesting mix of high speed and technical elements. As my riding partner Neil Bautista put it, “The track fools a new rider and sets you up for failure!”

On race day you could feel the excitement in the air, as well as the prevalent triple digit heat that was beginning to swell up. The racing turned out to be as hot as the heat, with a lot of great battles. Starting out with the Jr. Hunter Coffin of AZ, Team MidSouth and TJ from Washinton state battle it out from the first lap to the last ….but at the end Hunter dominated and swept all of the junior classes by coming in 1st place in all the classes (6.2, Open & Super Production)

Next up …. Jimmy D and Rich Santos battled it together in Super Production as well as the Open class. Hai Pham of Team Midsouth had a great battle going against Jennifer Bekman of Team Demon and Jimmy D of Team Gianini in the 6.2 Senior race, but due to a mechanical problem got slowed up and had to let both Jennifer and Jimmy past. That turned out to be another great show, with Jimmy trying to come on strong at the finish, but with Jennifer having just enough to maintain the victory!

The afternoon sun beat down on us and while the mercury boiled over, besides drinking plenty of fluids, another great tool to keep the body from overheating proved to be a water drenched towel on top of the head. As the day wound down, stories were shared and it was nice to enjoy camaraderie with racers from all over the country. Besides the racing, some other noteworthy moments that I remember are the guy that rode around the track holding a whole box of pizza and Brian Odello jumping in the fountain with his leathers on! All in all, you have to give props to Chuck with USMGP for putting on the event in such short notice. The race was a lot of fun and I would love to come back and give it another try!

USMGP Phoenix Event #1A Results

Class

Rider Name, Number, Place

Junior 6.2

Hunter Coffin 55X 1st

TJ Hart 69 2nd

Robert Linse 55 3rd

Junior Open

Hunter Coffin 55X 1st

Mario Alvarez Jr. 46 2nd

TJ Hart 69 3rd

Robert Linse 55 DNF

Junior Super Production

Hunter Coffin 55X 1st

TJ Hart 69 2nd

Mario Alvarez Jr. 46 3rd

Robert Linse 55 4th

Senior Featherweight

Rob Brohner 184 1st

Robert Basil 10 2nd

Senior Unl. Featherweight

Did not Run

Senior 4.2

Kenny Mclean 17 1st

Rob Brohner 184 2nd

Robert Basil 10 3rd

Senior 6.2

Jennifer Beckman 43 1st

Jimmy D 22 2nd

Hai Pham 2 3rd

Rider 64 4th

Senior Super Production

Jimmy D 22 1st

Rich Santos 116 2nd

Hai Pham 2 3rd

Alan Ryono 65 4th

Mitch Fotes 95 5th

Neil Bautista 13 6th

Trip Master Flip 69 7th

Erica O’Dello 32X 8th

Rider 64 9th

Rider 32 10th

Senior Open

Jimmy D 22 1st

Rich Santos 116 2nd

Brian O’Dello 155 3rd

Ernie Rodriguez 28 4th

Jennifer Beckman 43 5th

Rider 601 6th

Rider 17 7th

Eric Nervig 11 8th

Rider 64 9th

Mike Rodriguez 7 10th

Sumo Class

Kenny Mclean 17 1st

Brian O’Dello 155 2nd

Ernie Rodriguez 28 3rd

Mike Rodriguez 7 4th

Rider 32 5th

Trip Master Flip 69 6th

After some careful deliberation we have decided to take the month of July off from hosting an event. There are several reasons and one of them is heat. SEPRA was scheduled to race in Starke and as all of you know that is one HOT place! Specially in the middle of July. No shade and very little breeze (if any). There is also a USMGP race in July (early July) at the Beaver Run facility in Pennsylvania.

SEPRA has always worked with the USMGP to support national racing and we hope that this will free up some time (and money) for those of you who would like to go and race in a national event. Beaver Run is by far one of the best tracks you will ever experience in this country. A very top notch facility, and all the top riders from around the country, as well as Canada, will be there (including our very own Randy Orza). I encourage as many of you as possible to make trip and promise you will not be disappointed as the USMGP always hosts fun and professional events! The event will be co-hosted by one of SEPRA’s sponsors – MidSouth MiniMoto.

For those interested here is a link to read more about it and sign up: ~http://www.speedreg.com/details/event.aspx?cev=s4z6bhsLgBY=~

On May 17, 2006 between 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. the garage of “Drew Price Racing” was burglarized. Everything of value was taken during the burglary. Several losers used bolt cutters to gain access to the garage located in Redondo Beach, California and stole one Honda NSR50, five pocket bikes and all the teams tools.

The stolen items are as follows:

1 = 2004 Honda NSR50R #65, basically stock bike with rear sets and one silver clutch lever and one black front brake lever. VIN# RS50-1101542 Engine# RS50E-1001495

1 = 2002 GRC “GP” #200 with Polini 40cc engine green body work

1 = 2004 CAG #200 with blue body work

4 = Razor electric pocket bikes with red body work

1 = Craftsman 4 drawer toolbox with Craftsman tools

1 = Tuffmade toolbox with Snap on tools

2 = Arai RX7 helmets. 1 solid white and 1 white with Troy Lee Designs Speed Bubbles

1 = Chicago Pneumatic air compressor 4 gal., (two tanks) tanks are green

This is a devastating blow to Drew’s 2006 racing season. Drew currently races in the ultra competitive SCminiGP series where he is tied for 1st in Pro GP lights, 3rd in the NSR Cup, 4th in 50cc shifter light, and 8th in the 80cc shifter.

Any help in the recovery of the stolen items and/or the prosecution of the scumbags that did it would be greatly appreciated. Please call the police or Andrew Price at 310-675-8838.

Please check the VIN number if you are considering buying one of these items from an individual or on e-bay.

Thanks,

Andy Price

It was a wet, gray weekend. Saturday practice wasn’t very populated. The few brave souls wrapped banana colored rain suits around their race suits, put on some rain tires and dropped knee. Sunday, race day was just as overcast and morning heats were run with rain tires by most because the track was still damp. Those without the benefit of rain tires were slow going and slide going.

By 3pm when the mains began, the track was dry and small patches of blue littered the sky above. Racing was close in Jr Production between 1st and 2nd place finishers, Peter Lenz & TJ H. The duo ran nose to tail until the final stages of the race when Peter pulled a small gap.

The Jr Open class again started with Peter getting the hole shot. TJ running second was never close enough to make a move for the lead. But he put out a good effort closing down a gap caused by a slow start. Unfortunately his heroic effort resulted in a low-side in turn 9 on lap eight. TJ was unable to reenter the race due to OMRRA’s ‘crash and you are out’ rule for junior riders. The crash resulted in Peter taking the flag unchecked.

Peter Lenz checked out in Jr GP and the battle for 2nd was between riders, Devon, TJ and Bennie. After several laps of nose to tail racing, TJ got around both riders for second place leaving the battle for third a tight one. In the final few laps, Bennie passed Devon to finish third.

The senior races were just as exciting between Randy Agmata and Robert Linse (Lin-See). Unfortunately, riders Steve Kuhnle and Shawn Hill were having mechnical issues and were no match for the faster riders this weekend.

Results

Junior Novice 1

1st #74 Kinzer Naylor, GRC

2nd #96 Tana H, Polini

3rd #9 Grant Beegle

Junior Novice 2

1st #74 Kinzer Naylor, GRC

2nd #96 Tana H, Polini

3rd #9 Grant Beegle

Junior Cag

1st #8 Riley Basher, CAG

2nd #7 Carly Benton, CAG

3rd #13 Ivy Day, CAG

Junior Production

1st #45 Peter Lenz, BMS

2nd #69 TJ H, BMS

3rd #6 Bennie Taylor, BMS

4th #67 Devon McDonough, BMS

5th #8 Riley Basher, CAG

6th #22 Levi Dickson, GRC

5th #66 Nathan Agmata, Banshee

DNF #44 Jared Dickson, GRC

Junior GP

1st #45 Peter Lenz, BMS

2nd #69 TJ H, BMS

3rd #6 Bennie Taylor, BMS

4th #67 Devon McDonough, BMS

5th #22 Levi Dickson, GRC

6th #44 Jared Dickson, GRC

7th #66 Nathan Agmata, Banshee

Junior Open

1st #45 Peter Lenz, BMS

2nd #6 Bennie Taylor, BMS

3rd #67 Devon McDonough, BMS

4th #8 Riley Basher, GRC

DNF #69 TJ H, BMS

Senior Super Production

1st #55 Robert Linse, Gianinni

2nd #56 Randy Agmata, Banshee

3rd #68 Shawn Hill, Gianinni

DNF #20 Steve Kuhnle, BMS

Senior Open

1st #56 Randy Agmata, Banshee

2nd #55 Robert Linse, Gianinni

3rd #68 Shawn Hill, Gianinni

4th #20 Steve Kuhnle, BMS

Eight year old Carlton Hargreaves who is one of the faster junior riders in the UK is moving along off the track too. Carlton who currently rides a BMS is various British chmpionships received some exposure in the Burnley Today: Carlton Looking To Follow Hero’s Path

Two more fatalities have occured involving a minimoto. Again they involve the riding of a minimoto on the street, most likely no protective gear, and possibly other negative influences.

Telegraph: Two killed in ‘mini-moto’ crash

BBC: Two killed in motorcycle accident

UPDATE:

The victims have been named as Gavin Spruce, 21, of Sowerby, and Jon Alexander Walker, 27, of Siddal, Halifax. They died when they crashed into a tree.

The West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “They both sustained serious head injuries which have proved fatal. They were not wearing helmets.”

According to the Lancashire Evening Post, “Lea police have had to deal with reports of cars being broken into, criminal damage to cars and buildings, and youths riding mini-moto bikes.”

It is always great to see minimoto riders be thrown in with the same drunken crowd as those vandalizing personal property.

~http://www.lep.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?ArticleID=1529873~

Well I am back home in Seattle and flipping through the photos (man there are a lot of them) and decided to write up a little retrospective from this weekend using some of my shots. Some of you may have noticed me taking MANY more pictures from the grid and from within the pits this year versus when I was down in November. Here’s why:

In racing much of the photos you see are from the racing perspective, that is, the shots of the riders digging a knee into the corner, blurring by at top speed, and unfortunately, crashing.

What ends up missing however is what makes motorcycle riding so much more interesting and so much more intense then any other sport out there…the rider.

Kenny Roberts Sr is quoted as saying, “The bike is only 10%…”

without the other 90%…it’s nothing

Never forget when you are out there…

These are our friends

This is our family

Sons

Daughters

And when all is said and done we still support each other…

In the best of times

the times that make us laugh

the times that make us reflect

and even in our worst

When the checkered flag drops, do you want to remember those last seconds

Or do you want to remember that you are part of something?

While the weekend’s results have still not offically been released by the USMGP videos of the races held May 21st in Chandler, Arizona has started to make the rounds. Below are a few of races as provided by ‘Flippn’ and ‘Cheapscrapes’.

Junior Class Footage

~http://media.putfile.com/Juniors-AZ~

Super Proddy Heat

~http://media.putfile.com/Sr-Super-Production-Heat-Race-USMGPAZ-May-06~

Super Proddy Final

~http://media.putfile.com/Super-Proddy-Final-Race-USMGPAZ-May-06~

Proddy Final (the beginning of the clip shows the Sumo Proddy grid then it resumes with the proddy race)

~http://media.putfile.com/Proddy-Class-Final-Race-USMGP-AZ-May-06~

Open Class Final

~http://media.putfile.com/Open-Class-Final-Race-USMGPAZ-May-21-2006~

We want to extend a BIG Thank You to ALL. Especially those who helped work the corners flagging in between their races, family who helped out and those who gave a helping hand to those in need of a bike, parts and technical assistance. I believe that was everybody…. We truly enjoyed this weekend once again. We look forward to the next race.

Special thanks to Bulldawg Racing for providing some beautiful trophies for this race.

Junior MotoGP Class 1 (Moto 1)

1 74 Stacy Dudley II BMS

2 10 Alexis Ware ZPF

3 32 Daniel Bailie ZPF

4 11 Aaron Jensen Cag

Junior MotoGP Class 1 (Moto 2)

1 10 Alexis Ware ZPF

2 74 Stacy Dudley II BMS

3 32 Daniel Bailie ZPF

4 11 Aaron Jensen Cag

Junior MotoGP Class 2 (Moto 1)

1 10 Alexis Ware ZPF

2 74 Stacy Dudley II BMS

3 32 Daniel Bailie ZPF

4 11 Aaron Jensen Cag

Junior MotoGP Class 2 (Moto 2)

1 74 Stacy Dudley II BMS

2 10 Alexis Ware ZPF

3 3 Zach Gossling Cag

4 132 Daniel Bailie ZPF

Senior MotoGP Class 1 (Moto 1)

1 74 Stacy Dudley II Blata

2 153 Tod McGee Cag

3 41 Alan Smith Cag

4 77 Ricky Podlas Jr Cag

5 55 Richard Smith Cag

Senior MotoGP Class 1 (Moto 2)

1 74 Stacy Dudley II Blata

2 77 Ricky Podlas Jr Cag

3 41 Alan Smith Cag

4 55 Richard Smith Cag

Senior MotoGP Class 2 (Moto 1

1 6 Pierre Ware ZPF

2 41 Alan Smith Polini

3 7 Rick Podlas Cag

4 55 Richard Smith Polini

5 80 Teresa Nelson DM

6 77 Ricky Podlas Jr Cag

Senior MotoGP Class 2 (Moto 2)

1 6 Pierre Ware ZPF

2 41 Alan Smith Polini

3 80 Teresa Nelson DM

4 55 Richard Smith Polini

5 80 Teresa Nelson DM

6 7 Rick Podlas Cag

Senior MotoGP Class 3 (Moto 1)

1 44 Randy Orza Polini

2 153 Tod McGee Polini

3 6 Pierre Ware GRC

4 80 Teresa Nelson DM

5 41 Alan Smith Polini

6 7 Rick Podlas Blata

7 55 Richard Smith Polini

8 77 Ricky Podlas Jr Cag

Senior MotoGP Class 3 (Moto 2)

1 44 Randy Orza Polini

2 41 Alan Smith Polini

3 80 Teresa Nelson DM

4 6 Pierre Ware GRC

5 7 Rick Podlas Blata

6 55 Richard Smith Polini

7 77 Ricky Podlas Jr Cag

8 153 Tod McGee Polini

Senior MotoGP Class 4 (Moto 1)

1 44 Randy Orza GRC

2 6 Pierre Ware GRC

3 20 Brandon Ware DM

4 153 Tod McGee GRC

5 4 Stacy Dudley DM

6 41 Alan Smith Polini

7 77 Ricky Podlas Jr Blata

8 23 Jamie Baillie ZPF

9 7 Rick Podlas Cag

Senior MotoGP Class 4 (Moto 2)

1 44 Randy Orza GRC

2 20 Brandon Ware DM

3 153 Tod McGee GRC

4 6 Pierre Ware GRC

5 23 Jamie Baillie ZPF

6 4 Stacy Dudley DM

7 41 Alan Smith Polini

8 77 Ricky Podlas Jr Blata

Senior MotoGP Class 5 (Moto 1)

1 44 Randy Orza GRC

2 6 Pierre Ware GRC

3 20 Brandon Ware DM

4 153 Tod McGee GRC

5 23 Jamie Baillie ZPF

Senior MotoGP Class 5 (Moto 2)

1 6 Pierre Ware GRC

2 44 Randy Orza GRC

3 20 Brandon Ware DM

4 153 Tod McGee GRC

5 23 Jamie Baillie ZPF

6 7 Rick Podlas Cag