MotoAmerica Championship of New Jersey

MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series

New Jersey Motorsports Park

Millville, New Jersey

September 10, 2017

Provisional Motul Superbike/Bazzaz Superstock 1000 Race Two Overall Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Toni Elias (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike, 23 laps, Total Race Time 31:23.984, Best Lap Time 1:21.044

2. Kyle Wyman (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, -1.946 seconds, 1:20.910

3. Roger Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike, -6.282, ran off track, 1:21.158

4. Jake Gagne (Hon CBR1000RR SP), Superbike, -11.265, 1:21.250

5. Josh Hayes (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, -12.884, 1:20.992

6. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, -13.296, 1:21.268

7. Mathew Scholtz (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, -19.923, 1:21.450

8. Bobby Fong (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, -25.531, 1:21.385

9. Danny Eslick (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, -34.825, 1:21.894

10. Anthony West (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, -34.900, 1:22.355

11. Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R1000), Superstock 1000, -35.256, 1:22.409

12. Jake Lewis (Suz GSX-R1000), Superstock 1000, -42.290, 1:22.099

13. Sylvain Barrier (BMW S1000RR), Superbike, -46.824, 1:22.523

14. Bryce Prince (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, -47.354, 1:22.623

15. Jason DiSalvo (BMW S1000RR), Superbike, -57.425, 1:22.690

16. Frankie Babuska (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, -72.675, 1:23.746

17. Alastair Hoogenboezem (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, -1 lap, 1:24.208

18. Alan Nelson (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, -1 lap, 1:24.767

19. Max Flinders (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, -1 lap, 1:24.298

20. Felipe MacLean (Kaw ZX-10R), Superbike, -1 lap, 1:25.916

Bazzaz Superstock 1000 Race Two Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Mathew Scholtz (Yam YZF-R1), 23 laps, Total Race Time 31:43.907, Best Lap Time 1:21.450

2. Bobby Fong (Kaw ZX-10R), -5.608 seconds, 1:21.385

3. Danny Eslick (Yam YZF-R1), -14.902, 1:21.894

4. Anthony West (Kaw ZX-10R), -14.977, 1:22.355

5. Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R1000), -15.333, 1:22.409

6. Jake Lewis (Suz GSX-R1000), -22.367, 1:22.099

7. Bryce Prince (Yam YZF-R1), -27.431, 1:22.623

8. Frankie Babuska (Yam YZF-R1), -52.752, 1:23.746

9. Alastair Hoogenboezem (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap, 1:24.208

10. Alan Nelson (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap, 1:24.767

11. Max Flinders (Yam YZF-R1), -1 lap, 1:24.298

Motul Superbike Championship Point Standings (after 18 of 20 races):

1. Elias, 390 points (clinched 2017 Championship)

2. Hayden, 297

3. Cameron Beaubier, 255

4. Hayes, 207

5. Scholtz, 175

6. TIE, Fong/Lewis, 148

8. Herrin, 137

9. Wyman, 128

10. Eslick, 127

11. Gagne, 104

12. Gillim, 79

13. Prince, 69

14. Barrier, 54

15. DiSalvo, 44

16. West, 38

17. David Anthony, 32

18. Flinders, 21

19. Tyler O’Hara, 15

20. Larry Pegram, 14

Bazzaz Superstock 1000 Championship Point Standings (after 18 of 20 races):

1. Scholtz, 372 points (clinched 2017 Championship)

2. Lewis, 297

3. Fong, 289

4. Eslick, 261

5. Gillim, 185

6. Prince, 176

7. Flinders, 130

8. West, 81

9. David Anthony, 66

10. Tyler O’Hara, 54

More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Elias Wins His 10th, Wyman Second In Jersey

Mathew Scholtz Takes Bazzaz Superstock 1000 Title

MILLVILLE, N.J. (September 10, 2017) – Yoshimura Suzuki’s Toni Elias came from behind to win his 10th Motul Superbike race of the season in race two of the Championship of New Jersey, presented by K&N, a day after wrapping up the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.

Elias had a more difficult time of it on Sunday as he was struck on the foot with debris on the opening lap that forced him to fall back as far as seventh. Once the pain went away and he regained his composure, Elias did what Elias does and he methodically worked his way back into contention. Meanwhile, his Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Roger Hayden was leading the race and holding off the persistent challenge of true privateer Kyle Wyman on the YCRS/Cambr/KWR Yamaha YZF-R1.

By the time the race came to the 20th of 23 laps, Elias was there. He passed Wyman and then went after Hayden, passing him going into turn one on the final lap and pushing Hayden wide and off the track. Wyman was the beneficiary of the move and he struck while the iron was hot and took over second, holding the spot to the finish for a career best MotoAmerica Superbike finish.

The win for Elias was his 10th of the season and the 16th of his career, which moves him in to a tie for eighth on the all-time AMA Superbike win list with his childhood hero Wayne Rainey, the three-time 500cc World Champion and president of MotoAmerica.

“Something hit my foot,” Elias said. “Some part from some bike, I don’t know what was there, but it hit hard and was painful. That made me lose a lot of concentration. After that, he (Kyle Wyman) passed me and then another three or four riders more. And then I calmed down and tried to pass Mathew Scholtz, but he was difficult to pass and I lose all this time. At the end when I found the clear way, I started to do a good pace (and) tried to come back. I didn’t know if I was able to have time to catch Roger (Hayden), but we did it. I didn’t know he was on the grass. That was not my goal. My goal was to win the race [and] pass him. He braked too late (and) I braked late too, and [I’m] sorry. I wanted to pass him, but not take him out. Well, one more win. The bike was better for me. I hope to continue like this until the end of the season. That is my goal. Today I felt I was able to ride more free, less pressure on my shoulders [with the title clinched]. It was nice to be able to win like this.”

Wyman had the race of his life on Sunday, running at the front from start to finish and ultimately taking the runner-up spot when Hayden ran off in turn one on the final lap. It was by far the team owner/rider’s best performance in the Motul Superbike class and it was one that was popular from one end of the paddock to the other.

“That’s the best race I’ve ever ridden,” Wyman said. “I just put my head down and got a really good start. I was third and Toni (Elias) went in, I’m not sure if he pushed Roger (Hayden) wide, but he (Elias) ran wide and from there I didn’t see him. I just followed Roger. I saw a plus one on my board the whole race, so I knew if it was tight behind me, and it maybe got a little bigger than that. There were actually points in the race where I felt I had a little bit of a run on Roger in a few different areas, but it wasn’t going to be beneficial for either of us to force the issue and have a big pack (behind) us, so I kind of just sat there. I don’t want to say that I was surprised, because I know what I’m capable of, but it’s kind of nice to be sitting there and feeling really good. About two-thirds of the way through the race the bike got a lot harder to ride and started pushing the front (and) losing the rear. The last couple laps when Toni was coming up, that was pretty much all I had just to stay where I was.

“Obviously, I’m just super elated. This has been a very, very long road from racing Harley’s and racing 600s, and not really having any success on 600s. I found the (Yamaha) R1 that I’ve fallen in love with now, and me and the team are all just working well together. Today was my day, and now I know I can do it. Hopefully, we can push hard from here and get one step further (for a win).”

Hayden was forced back to third after being pushed wide by Elias, but he accepted the spot for his 14th podium finish of the season.

“I felt a lot better today (and) we fixed some of the issues we had yesterday,” Hayden said. “We could increase the race pace more consistently, in the low (1:21 second range). I felt good and was trying to get away, but Kyle (Wyman) kept me honest the whole time. I saw Toni (Elias) was behind me (at the end) and I knew he was going to try something somewhere, and I broke as late as I could before the first turn and he got on the inside of me. I just had nowhere to go besides the grass, but luckily I saved it, brought it back, and ended up on the podium still. Definitely disappointing, but [I’m] also somewhat happy with my pace at the beginning of the race. Yesterday I struggled quite a bit, but today was much better.”

Broaster Genuine Chicken Honda’s Jake Gagne matched his best finish of the season in fourth place, giving him a 5-4 tally over the two-day Championship of New Jersey. He bested the two Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing duo of Josh Hayes and Josh Herrin, who was filling in for the injured Cameron Beaubier on the team’s YZF-R1.

Then came Yamalube/Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz, the South African not only taking victory in the Bazzaz Superstock 1000 class but also wrapping up the 2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship in his first full season with team.

“After the 2015 season back home (in South Africa) I nearly hung up my boots because it was just costing my family too much money (to race),” Scholtz said. “In 2016 we took one more final dig at it and I won the championship back home, and then came over here. Fortunately, we ended up winning the championship and I couldn’t be happier. It’s like a dream come true for me. What I thought was going to happen in the first race (on Saturday) happened in the second race and I managed to just hang onto the Superbike guys to open up a gap, and I just maintained it from there. It pretty much just worked out perfectly. Overall, I’m really happy to bring the championship home. The Yamalube/Westby guys have had a real struggle the past few years and I’m really happy to bring the championship back home to them. They’re like a second family.”

Quicksilver Latus Racing Kawasaki’s Bobby Fong finished second a day after struggling mightily with handling problems with the ZX-10R. Fong was some six seconds behind Scholtz but nine seconds ahead of yesterday’s class winner Danny Eslick on the TOBC Racing Yamaha.

Fly Street/Motul Oils/ADR Motorsports’ Anthony West rounded out the top 10.

With his 17th podium finish in 18 starts, Elias leads Hayden by 93 points heading into next weekend’s season finale at Barber Motorsports Park, 390-297. Beaubier, who will also miss the Barber round, is third with 255 points.

Like Elias, Scholtz also has a point lead that can’t be beaten as he heads to Barber 75 points clear of M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Jake Lewis and 83 points ahead of Fong.

Supersport: Gerloff Takes Win Number 10

JD Beach is never happy after finishing anywhere other than first, but he was smiling more than normal today after at least coming close to his unmatchable of late teammate Garrett Gerloff in the Supersport race at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Gerloff took the victory, his 10th of the season and seventh in succession, but this time Beach was only 3.6 seconds behind and felt he might have had something for his Monster Energy/Yamalube/Y.E.S./ Graves Yamaha teammate if he wasn’t baulked by lapped traffic in the closing stages of the race.

Third place went to M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Valentin Debise after an early race battle with Benny Solis on the Team H35 Honda CBR600RR.

With Beach finishing second to Gerloff, it means the Texan will have to wait until next week and Barber Motorsports Park to wrap up his second straight Supersport Championship. Gerloff leads Beach by 46 points with the two races remaining in the Barber finale. Debise, meanwhile, is third and 27 points ahead of Solis.

“It was super difficult (today),” Gerloff said. “With JD (Beach) right there I had to be super consistent. I made a couple mistakes, (and) he was right there and kept trying to make a move on me in Turn 1. I don’t know how I was out-braking this guy, but luckily I had a little more in the tank on the brakes, so I was able to get into Turn 1 before him. It was cool to be racing with him again and I was looking forward to the last couple laps, but I got stuck in some lappers too, maybe not the same as (Beach) but that’s part of it. I’m happy with how consistent I was able to be, except for maybe one or two laps, but I felt like I was able to hit my marks and that’s what I’ve been trying to work on this whole year. I’m looking forward to going to Barber and put up a fight for that championship. It’s nice to have a big points lead. I feel like I can go toss it down the road and have room to play, so that’s nice. I’ll try to win, but if that’s not possible then just stay up, finish, and get some points.”

The real championship battle is in the Superstock 600 class. With Anthony Mazziotto III and his YCRS/Mazziotto Racing Yamaha winning Sunday’s race, the battle for the championship tightened to just three points as Team MG55’s Michael Gilbert bested championship leader Jason Aguilar by one position – fourth to fifth – to move to within three points, 250-247, with just the two races at Barber remaining.

M4 medAge Suzuki’s Nick McFadden finished second to Mazziotto in the race with Tuned Racing’s Braeden Ortt rounding out the podium in third.

KTM RC Cup: Just One Point

Three riders, one point. That’s the championship situation going into next week’s final round of the 2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup at Barber Motorsports Park as Benjamin Smith and Cory Ventura are tied for the lead in the championship with Alex Dumas just a point behind in third.

It was Dumas who gained the most this weekend in New Jersey, the French Canadian and his JP43 Junior Team RC390 winning both races to pull to within a point of Smith and Ventura. Dumas won on Saturday and he won again on Sunday, again beating Ventura by a scant .145 of a second. Smith, after crashing out of yesterday’s race, finished third, some four seconds behind.

With just the two races remaining, Smith and Ventura are tied with 224 points and Dumas, with his fourth win in a row, is third with 223 points. The title will be decided next week in Alabama.

“At first Cory (Ventura) passed me with two laps to go, and I didn’t know if I wanted to be in the back of him, or in the front of him in the last couple corners,” Dumas said. “I was in his draft and decided I’m going to pull a gap and try to win the race without being drafted. It turned (out) pretty well. I had a good battle with Sean (Ungvarsky) and Cory through all the race, and then Sean crashed in Turn 1. He crashed in front of me, so (after avoiding him) I put my head down. I had a good race.” 

More, from a press release issued by Yoshimura Suzuki:

TONI ELIAS EARNS 10TH MOTOAMERICA SUPERBIKE RACE OF THE SEASON ON YOSHIMURA SUZUKI GSX-R1000

Roger Hayden Scores His 14th Podium

Chino, CA (Sept. 11, 2017) – A day after clinching the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Toni Elias made a last-lap pass on teammate Roger Hayden to take victory in Race 2 Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville.

It was Elias’ 10th victory of the season.

Hayden sprinted to the front on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike and led the race for 22 of the 23 laps. Elias, who fell back to seventh after debris hit him in the foot, rallied back and pulled up to Hayden in the closing laps. On the final lap Elias dove underneath Hayden in turn one and pulled away to victory. The close pass forced Hayden wide and he ran off into the grass, costing him a shot at the win in process. He managed to keep the bike on two wheels and held on to a podium finish of third.

“I am happy for my team to take another victory,” Elias said. “I think my pass on Roger was too close and I did not want it to happen that way, but he braked very late and so did I. I thought I had room. It was fantastic to win the championship and I just want to keep going like this through the end of the season.”

Hayden was masterful in keeping his machine upright after running off the track.

“I had a good start and I put my head down and tried to get away,” Hayden explained. “Kyle (Wyman) ran a great race today. On the last lap when Toni passed me I had nowhere to go but the grass. Fortunately, I was able to get back on the track and still put it on the box.”

On Saturday Hayden set a track record in Superpole. It was his second track record of the season.

Elias’ victory now raises Yoshimura Suzuki’s win count to 12 in 18 races for the revolutionary 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000 in its debut season. Additionally, Elias and Hayden have given Suzuki’s flagship sportbike a first and second in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.

The series concludes next weekend, Sept. 15-17, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

For additional details on the upcoming event visit www.MotoAmerica.com

You can keep up with the team’s progress by visiting yoshimura-racing.com and www.suzukicycles.com/Racing and via YouTube at www.suzukicycles.com/Racing