Gagne Smashes GoPro Daytona SportBike Lap Record During Qualifying Friday At Road America

Gagne Smashes GoPro Daytona SportBike Lap Record During Qualifying Friday At Road America

© 2014, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Subway SuperBike Doubleheader/AMA Pro Road Racing

Road America

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

May 30, 2014

GoPro Daytona SportBike Qualifying Session One Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Jake Gagne (Yam YZF-R6), 2:18.647 (new lap record)

2. Garrett Gerloff (Yam YZF-R6), 2:19.244

3. Dane Westby (Yam YZF-R6), 2:19.641

4. Jason DiSalvo (Tri Daytona 675R), 2:20.077

5. Bobby Fong (Tri Daytona 675R), 2:20.840

6. Jake Lewis (Yam YZF-R6), 2:20.859

7. Danny Eslick (Tri Daytona 675R), 2:21.135

8. JD Beach (Yam YZF-R6), 2:21.311

9. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR600RR), 2:22.002

10. Tomas Puerta (Yam YZF-R6), 2:22.805

11. Steve Rapp (Tri Daytona 675R), 2:22.822

12. Benny Solis (Yam YZF-R6), 2:22.907

13. Kyle Wyman (Yam YZF-R6), 2:23.001

14. Michael Barnes (MV F3 675), 2:23.551

15. Joe Roberts (Hon CBR600RR), 2:23.654

16. Elena Myers (Tri Daytona 675R), 2:23.734

17. Blake Young (Yam YZF-R6), 2:23.863

18. Bryce Prince (Yam YZF-R6), 2:24.515

19. Kenny Riedmann (Tri Daytona 675R), 2:24.719

20. Tucker Lancaster (Yam YZF-R6), 2:25.241

21. Shane Narbonne (Yam YZF-R6), 2:25.330

22. Fernando Amantini (Yam YZF-R6), 2:25.659

23. Jordan Imrie (Duc 848), 2:26.792

24. Daniel Ortega (Yam YZF-R6), 2:28.270

25. Ron Mears (Hon CBR600RR), 2:29.080

26. Roi Holster (Yam YZF-R6), 2:30.514

27. Gerry Signorelli (Tri Daytona 675R), no time recorded

More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer PR:

TOUGH DAY FOR ROBERTS AT ROAD AMERICA

Following last week’s the conclusion of the GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout, Team Hammer has returned its focus to the 2014 AMA Pro Road Racing series. The championship resumed action today for Round 2 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Racing’s Joe Roberts is in the midst of his first-ever visit to the four-mile circuit. The Californian faces a steep learning curve as he attempts to quickly master the long and varied layout’s numerous sections.

The 16-year-old’s task was made a bit more difficult on Friday when he suffered a crash during the afternoon’s Daytona SportBIke qualifying session.

As a result, Roberts found himself mired down in 15th at the conclusion of the day, clocking best time of 2:23.654 on Friday.

“I’m not happy with today,” Roberts admitted. “The whole point of the day was to learn the track in the first session and then hopefully put in a fast lap in qualifying and be up with the fast guys. I was still learning the track during qualifying but I was pretty confident I could do a good lap. Unfortunately, I came in and got a new rear tire but it didn’t heat up properly. I went out and in the first turn I was leaning the thing over a little bit and it flicked me off so fast.

“It’s pretty disappointing. My qualifying position is 15th which isn’t great. We’ll have to see how tomorrow goes. We don’t know how the weather will be in the morning, but there will be more rubber on the track for sure, which will be good. We’re hoping to move up.”

Team Hammer and Roberts will have another shot at it tomorrow. The Daytona SportBike contenders will return to the track in the morning for second qualifying to lock in their grid positions. And then in the afternoon, they’ll compete for the checkered flag in Saturday’s 12-lap race.

About Team Hammer: In 2014, Team Hammer, Inc. is competing in its 34th consecutive racing season, and is marking its eighth year of offering technical and logistical support through its Contract Services Department. Riders on Team Hammer-prepared racebikes have earned 59 AMA Pro National race wins; 135 AMA Pro National podium finishes; 5 AMA Pro Championships; 133 Overall National Endurance race wins; 13 National Endurance Championships and assorted other race wins and titles.

More, from a press release issued by Yamalube/Westby Racing:

WESTBY STRONG IN ROAD AMERICA QUALIFYING

Elkhart Lake, WI (May 30, 2014) — Yamalube/Westby Racing’s Dane Westby impressed on Friday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. The Oklahoman was third in provisional qualifying, posting plenty of competitive laps despite electing to stick with harder choice Dunlop race rubber the entire session.

“The bike’s capable,” said Dane, who rode to the track from his home base in Oklahoma on a motorcycle. “This beautiful gold Yamalube machine is really quick and I’ve changed the way I’ve ridden in qualifying the last two rounds. I haven’t been looking to hook up with anyone else. We’ve got business to take care of here and the lap time came pretty easy. We’re not fighting it and we didn’t throw the soft tire at it, which some of the other guys may have done. It’s nice to run around with the race tire and gain more experience with it. That should be the goal, right?”

Westby set a time of 2:19.641 and was one of only three pilots to break the 2:20 mark at the 4-mile circuit.

“I really love this track and look forward to coming here,” the Yamaha YZF-R6-mounted competitor continued. “It’s old school and maybe a little narrower than some of the newer tracks with a great layout and natural feel. The fan turnout is great and the fans are really friendly.”

Yamalube/Westby Racing will qualify on Saturday morning and race at 2 PM local time.

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