Roberts makes it two straight in eSportbike.com Formula Xtreme
Kurtis Roberts, Jeff Nash clinch titles one round early

Aug. 14 - Erion Racing's Kurtis Roberts captured the eSportbike.com Formula Xtreme Championship Saturday at Pikes Peak International Raceway, finishing second on his Rick Hobbs/Danny Hull-prepared CBR929RR to race winner Grant Lopez. The defending series champ and winner of every previous round this year wrapped up the series championship one race early. Bruce Transportation Group/Erion Racing-supported Jake Zemke claimed third on his 929, while Roberts' Erion teammate, Josh Hayes, finished fifth.

Going into the event, Roberts needed only to finish 14th or better to wrap up his second-consecutive series championship, and he appeared quite capable of doing so after topping qualifying. A 54.730-second lap around the seven-turn, 1.315-mile track earned the pole position. When the race started, Roberts didn't get quite the launch he wanted. Roberts quickly passed rider after rider as he marched toward the leaders. On lap 14, he passed Lopez to take the lead, however three laps later Lopez repassed Roberts for the eventual win.

"I couldn't figure out a race tire all weekend," Roberts said. "I didn't have much feel with it, but that was okay. In the infield, I was struggling quite a bit to get a drive out of the corners." That, of course, didn't bode well for the tire's life, yet Roberts he knew he didn't have to win this battle to win the all-important title. "The winning-every-race thing was pretty much out before today started. I just wanted to win the championship and not worry about the race."

In Buell Pro Thunder action, Mike Smith rode to his fourth victory in the series, but Jeff Nash stole the show by finishing second and winning his first AMA national championship. Smith rode uncontested on his Ducshop/Beaudry Motorsports Ducati 748 after Brainerd winner Craig Connell was force to retire with bike problems on lap 15 of the 29-lap race. Smith cruised to an easy 25.886-second margin of victory. Nash had a good battle going with Mark Ledesma. The race between the two became a battle for third when Richie Morris and Shawn Conrad crashed on lap 16. After a pit stop Conrad was able to continue, but his chances of defending his title were gone. Nash held off Ledesma for second and that was enough for the New Zealand native -- now living in Texas -- to wrap up the title.