FEB 20, 2012 - DANNY KELSEY BOUNCES BACK FROM INJURY FOR CMRA OPENER

In November 2012 RPSRaceTeam.com lead rider Danny Kelsey faced a tough setback when he broke his femur at the Gold Rush in Hallet, Oklahoma in November of 2011. Kelsey and the team were concerned not only about the immediate ramifications to his health and physical, but when he would be returning to racing. Complicating matters was the necessity of a 2nd surgery in January.

With team orders of "if you don't feel well, park the bike and we will try for the next CMRA round." Kelsey took his first lap with a great amount of trepidation, the Georgetown, Texas rider took his first practice laps of the CMRA racing weekend. After the first lap, it was apparent that Danny's rehabilitation he put himself through paid off as he was "ready to ride". 

As practice wound up Sunday Morning, Kelsey's lap times put him near the top of the expert class and the team felt that everything was ready for him to resume his competing for top honors in CMRA sprint race championship series action. As the first race gridded, Kelsey was disappointed to see that the CMRA's gridding system put him as far back as the 9th row for some of his races. Kelsey turned the disappointment into motivation as he put himself in 7th place within the first 1500ft of the start of the B Superstock race. By lap 2 he was up to 3rd place with AMA rider Dustin Dominguez within sight. On lap 5, Kelsey took the lead and it appeared that his first race would be a victory in 2012. Lady luck had other plans however, as a frayed wired caused his electronics on his motorcycle to begin to malfunction. Dominguez quickly retook the lead and at the checkers Kelsey was 2nd with the only consolation for Danny being the fastest lap of the race.

With the electronics issue remedied by disconnecting one of the systems that controlled the quick-shifter, the next three races put Kelsey "head to head" with litre bikes and Ty Howard for Danny and his GSXR-750. Kelsey was not able to match the pace of RC-8 Superbike mounted Howard just yet, but he was able to finish strong.

The final (5th) race of the day saw Danny pitted against a strong B Superbike field. With a 6th row start, Kelsey was challenged again to get up to the fast starting field and races cut to five laps. By lap three, Kelsey took the lead and won by nearly 5 seconds.

The team was happy to end the challenging weekend with a win and good technical information to make improvements on the chassis for the next CMRA race March 24-25 at Texas World Speedway. The team would not have attained the great opening round results if not for the great support of its sponsors Island Racing Serivces, Michelin, Komodo, GP Suspension, DP Brakes, KMC Controls, Vortex, Lone Star Track Days, Penske, Dynojet, Hotbodies, Arata Exhausts, Lockhart Phillips, and Liberty Motorsports Park.