Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association Round 7
May 5, 2026
Round 7 2025-2026 Winter Racing Series
The 2025-2026 Season Finale: A Legendary Finish at Chuckwalla
The engines have gone quiet, the trophies have been hoisted, and the dust has finally settled on an unforgettable CVMA Round 7. On April 25th and 26th, the 2025-2026 Winter Series reached its fever pitch at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway for a double-points finale that redefined the championship standings.
With #1 plates on the line and every position carrying twice the weight, the weekend delivered the highest stakes of the season. From the blistering pace of the Premier Shootouts to the relentless tactical battles in the Lightweight classes, Round 7 was a masterclass in grit and precision. 951 Live was there to capture every overtake, every slide, and every crowning moment of a season that will be talked about for years to come.
The Double-Points Gamble: The multiplier shook the foundations of the leaderboard. Riders who started the weekend as underdogs fought their way onto the season podium, proving that in CVMA, it’s never over until the final checkered flag.
951 Live: Redefining the Broadcast Standard
While the riders were pushing their limits on the asphalt, the 951 Live production team was busy shattering the “club racing” broadcast ceiling. Round 7 wasn’t just a season finale for the racers; it was a massive technical leap forward for our coverage. We closed out the 2025-2026 winter season by deploying our most ambitious broadcast package to date, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before.
From the sky to the starting line, we introduced a suite of new features designed to capture the raw energy of CVMA:
New for the Finale:
- The Eye in the Sky: For the first time, integrated drone footage gave viewers a cinematic perspective of Chuckwalla’s sweeping corners, capturing the true scale of the battles through the the first corners.
- Trackside Access: We conducted a successful test run of trackside interviews, bringing the immediate reactions and adrenaline of the riders directly from the hot pit to your screen.
- The Countdown to Chaos: Our new Starting Line Lights graphic added a professional layer of tension to every launch, syncing the digital experience with the physical drop of the green flag.
- Inside the Booth: The debut of the Announcer Camera finally put faces to the voices, allowing fans to see the passion and expertise of our commentary team as they called the season’s most critical moments.
A New Era for Club Racing Media
These upgrades represent our commitment to the CVMA community. We aren’t just pointing cameras at a track; we are building a professional media platform that mirrors the incredible talent of the riders on the grid.
The 2025-2026 season may be over, but the blueprint for the future of 951 Live is just getting started.
Saturday April 25th
During the Saturday Pre-Show for the 2025-2026 CVMA season finale, Justin Murphy hosted four distinct interviews that highlighted the personal stories, technical growth, and leadership behind the racing community.
Rusty Gill: From Track Owner to Competitor
• The Saturday Pre-Show for the CVMA Round 7 finale opened with Rusty Gil, the owner and builder of The Ridge Motorsports Park in Washington, who shared his unique journey from physically constructing a premier racing facility to competing on it. Rusty explained how he was a lifelong motocross rider who pivoted to car racing for a decade before a friend essentially forced him into a sportbike track day. This session reignited his passion for two wheels and led him to discover the high level of organization at CVMA. He noted that the technical environment at Chuckwalla was instrumental in preparing him for his jump to MotoAmerica, emphasizing that the entire industry could benefit from the collaborative and supportive spirit found in the CVMA paddock..
Tommy Suh: Joining the Production Team
• The focus then shifted to the transition from street riding to racing with Tommy Sue, a long-time commuter who used lane splitting to survive LA traffic. Tommy detailed his path to the track after being challenged by a fellow rider to test his skills in a competitive setting. Although a collarbone injury sidelined him for this season, he remained an integral part of the community by helping other racers. This finale marked a new chapter for him as Justin Murphy officially welcomed him to the 951 Live crew, where he stepped into a new role conducting pitside interviews to bring immediate rider feedback and a personal touch to the broadcast.
Tiffanie Vo: Resilience and "Failing Forward"
• Tiffanie Vo followed with an inspiring account of discovering motorcycle racing by total accident after unknowingly signing up for a knee-dragging clinic. She spoke candidly about the steep learning curve of becoming an athlete for the first time at age 29 and the humility required to "fail forward" on the track. Tiffanie also shared the personal side of her journey, describing how she had to earn the support of her immigrant family. While they originally hoped she would stick to her childhood piano lessons, they eventually warmed up to the sport after seeing her passion and the resilience she developed through the challenges of racing.
Stephen Ludwig: The Strategy Behind the Scenes
• The pre-show concluded with a strategic overview from Stephen Lewig, the man behind the curtain that keep CVMA running smoothly. Stephen detailed the club’s evolution since 2021, explaining the massive overhaul of gridding and timing software that helped the organization grow to handle over 200 riders per weekend. He praised the partnership with 951 Live, admitting that while he originally feared a live stream would be cost-prohibitive, the production quality has now reached a national standard. Looking toward the future, Stephen announced initiatives like the "Snowbird Special" to support out-of-state racers and confirmed that the broadcast would return next season with even more advanced features.
The Saturday broadcast of CVMA Round 7 delivered high-stakes racing as riders battled for double points in the final round of the winter series. Despite gusty desert winds that challenged braking markers and lean angles, the production reached a new peak with integrated drone footage and live trackside interviews.
Formula Open Pro/Expert: Gilbert’s Dominance
Michael Gilbert put on a masterclass in the Formula Open Pro category, taking the holeshot and never looking back. Running a relentless pace that dipped into the 1:45s—a time usually reserved for flying qualifying laps—he secured a commanding victory over Nicholas Ciling. Gilbert noted in his post-race interview that while the wind was a major factor, he was primarily using the race as a “test session” for Sunday’s high-stakes shootout [32:02].
Formula Twins: Gio Alvarez on a Tear
In the Formula Twins class, Gio Alvarez continued his season-long dominance. Riding the Reparto Veloce Aprilia RS 660, Alvarez pulled out a massive 9-second lead, seemingly unbothered by the 20-40 mph wind gusts [01:47:58]. While he easily secured the win today, he hinted in the paddock that he is saving his push for a new lap record during the Sunday races [01:43:57].
Middleweight Battles and Technical Gambles
Eugene McMahel: Providing one of the weekend’s most impressive performances, McMahel switched from his usual Ducati to a brand-new, stock 2026 BMW S1000RR just days before the race. Despite having only about 60 laps on the new platform, he secured podium finishes, proving his adaptability [02:30:18].
- Jack Roach: The Canadian standout faced drama in the Super Sport Middleweight race. After a slight jump-start that incurred a 5-second penalty, Roach rode aggressively to build a gap. Despite the time deficit, he fought his way to a physical first-place finish on track, showing incredible corner speed through the final sections [02:37:15].
- Hooligans: Joel Olmen was the standout in the Hooligan category, pulling off back-to-back victories. His ability to jump between his Street Triple and a GSXR 750 while maintaining 1:51 lap times highlighted the diverse talent pool at CVMA [03:12:56].
Amateur Standouts and Close Calls
The amateur categories featured tooth-and-nail battles, most notably in the Amateur Formula Middleweight race where Ryan Champ took the victory [01:37:38]. Points leader Tyler Crozier showcased his resilience by recovering from an early-race off-track excursion to fight back onto the podium, securing critical points for his championship bid [01:34:35].
Sunday April 26th
Abbie Wessels: The Scientist with an Endurance Edge
The Sunday Pre-Show began with Abbie Wessels, a physicist who recently discovered her passion for competitive racing. After moving from Colorado to California, Abbie initially sought out racing to test her stamina, noting that her background in science gave her the discipline and technical mindset needed to handle the data-heavy aspects of the sport. Despite having less than a year of experience, she quickly became "addicted" to the high-level competition and remote desert atmosphere of Chuckwalla. Currently, she is focusing on upgrading her bike from stock components to more durable racing parts and plans to return next season to compete in the full series, backed by technical mentorship from local veterans like Gio Alvarez.
Gio Alvarez: The Mentor of the Paddock
Justin then sat down with Gio Alvarez, an experienced rider and unofficial mentor to many in the paddock. Gio spoke about his background, which included over a decade of riding across different states. He emphasized that for him, racing is now about the adventure and the community rather than just trophies. Through his partnership with Reparto Veloce and various sponsors like Elf and Dunlop, he provides setup tips and technical help to new racers, ensuring they have a positive first experience so they continue with the sport. Gio’s philosophy is that "anybody can do it" with the right guidance, and he prides himself on maintaining a professional yet approachable presence in the pits.
Irina Krivolap: The Smile Factory
The broadcast took a deep dive into the inspiring story of Irina Krivolap the founder of Lieto Factory. Originally from the far east of Russia, Irina moved to California with just one suitcase, only to find herself stuck during the pandemic. She leveraged her background as a graphic designer to start branding race teams, which eventually evolved into a successful printing and wrapping business. Irina explained that her company's name means "smile" in Italian, reflecting her goal to see the joy on a rider's face when they see their bike's transformation. She also shared exciting news about opening "Gold Ring," a 20,000-square-foot facility in Arcadia that will feature an outdoor mini-track and a community space for racers to hang out and watch racing as a community.
Jake Tran: The Ambitious Newcomer
The pre-show wrapped up with Jake Tran, a rider who has made incredible strides in just seven months of racing. Starting the season as a complete novice, Jake has already climbed to third place in his amateur championship. He attributed his success to a "chop down the weakest link" mentality and the mentorship of paddock leaders like Stephen Ludwig and Matt Hornshu. Jake revealed his ambitious goal to transition to the Twins class and compete in MotoAmerica next year, seeking out the same feeling of being "overwhelmed" that pushed him to succeed at CVMA. To prepare, he plans to spend his summer training on various platforms and tracks, including the Circuit of the Americas and Laguna Seca.
The 2025-2026 CVMA racing season concluded at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway with an action-packed Sunday finale. The broadcast featured intense “Shootout” races with high stakes, challenging wind conditions, and significant championship implications.
Key Highlights and Race Results
- Middleweight Shootout: Brenden Ketelsen put on a dominant performance, maintaining a fast and consistent pace to take the win. He celebrated his victory with a signature stand-up wheelie across the finish line [02:23:30].
- Superbike Shootout: Michael Gilbert secured first place after leading from the start [01:26:08]. A dramatic battle for second place unfolded behind him between Aldo Rovirosa and Mark DeGross, which ended unfortunately for DeGross when he went off-track on the final lap [03:07:42].
- Lightweight Twins Shootout: Gio Alvarez continued his strong form, taking the win with a commanding lead [03:28:56].
- Ultra Lightweight Shootout: Anthony Estrada inherited the lead and the win after Nathan Gravelle, who had been leading comfortably, ran off-track at Turn 3 [02:40:20]. Gravelle managed to rejoin and finish in fifth to stay in the money [02:44:11].
- Amateur 500 SuperSport: Jake Tran secured a first-place finish in his class, finishing third overall in the combined wave [03:46:12].
Relive the Action
If you missed the live broadcast or just want to experience the intensity one more time, the full archive is now available. Witness the final sprints and the emotional celebrations that closed out the winter season
To kick off another adrenaline-fueled year 951 Live will return to the desert sands of Chuckwalla Valley Raceway this October 2026! Following a spectacular season finale, we are gearing up for the 2026-2027 Winter Racing Season, promising even more high-stakes shootouts, technical precision, and the unmatched camaraderie of the CVMA paddock. Whether you’re coming to see heavy hitters like Brendan Kettlesson and Gio Alvarez defend their titles, or you want to track the rise of the next generation of amateur stars, our live coverage will bring you every knee-drag and photo finish. Don’t miss the roar of the engines and the heat of the competition—mark your calendars now and join the 951 Live community for the best seat in the house!
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