KTM’S ORANGE BRIGADE ROAD RACING PROGRAM WINS INAUGURAL MOTOAMERICA JUNIOR CUP RACE TO SECURE ITS SPOT IN SERIES HISTORY
Factory-supported riders Alex Dumas and Sean Ungvarsky earn three podium finishes at Road Atlanta
BRASELTON, Ga. – As MotoAmerica’s junior class entered a new era, a familiar marque was the first to stand on the top step of the podium. KTM Orange Brigade rider Alex Dumas piloted his KTM RC 390 R to victory in the first-ever MotoAmerica Junior Cup race on Saturday at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga. Dumas’ Orange Brigade teammate, Sean Ungvarsky, finished on the podium on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend’s results demonstrate the performance potential of the SSP300 Race Kit, which is available for purchase by amateur and professional competitors and teams.
While no longer the sole manufacturer in MotoAmerica’s developmental class, KTM has built upon its experience supporting the MotoAmerica KTM RC CUP from 2015 to 2017 to enjoy early success in the new class format. Both factory-supported Orange Brigade riders showed strong pace at the start of the weekend’s on-track action. The duo took the top two places in Friday’s qualifying session and Dumas went on to capture pole Saturday morning, prior to the class’ inaugural race Saturday afternoon.
Race one on Saturday saw Dumas take the early lead and never look back, capturing the first-ever Junior Cup victory by over five seconds. Ungvarsky brought his RC 390 R home in third-place, placing both KTM Orange Brigade riders on the podium for the opening race. Sunday’s race was an unfortunate affair for Dumas, as electrical problems prevented him from starting the race. Despite wet track conditions and a lack of experience racing in the rain, Ungvarsky was able to move up a step on the podium with a second-place finish.
The next MotoAmerica Junior Cup races are scheduled to take place at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, Va. May 4-6, 2018.
Chris Fillmore, KTM Orange Brigade Team Manager: “The weekend went really well for the KTM Orange Brigade Team. We had some unfortunate luck with Alex’s bike on Sunday but overall it was a solid start to the season with both Sean and Alex on the RC 390 R. Our success at the opening round really demonstrates the strength of KTM’s Customer Racing program and reinforces the commitment and dedication that the Austrian R&D team has put in to develop a race-proven SSP300 Race Kit.”
Alex Dumas, #23 KTM Orange Brigade Rider: “Overall it was a good weekend for us. I was able to secure provisional pole on Friday. We made some changes to the bike overnight, and I was able to lock up pole position Saturday morning. I put my head down in the race one Saturday and brought home KTM’s first win of the year. Sunday did not go as well for me. I crashed in morning warm up but was able to get back on the bike and complete a few laps. I was feeling good on the bike, but the bike wouldn’t start for us before race two and we were unable to make the grid. I am looking forward the next round at VIR. I think it’s a track that really suits the KTM RC 390 R’s strengths, and I think I will be right back at the front like I was this weekend.”
Sean Ungvarsky, #48 KTM Orange Brigade Rider: “This was our first race weekend of the year and I wanted to bring home some solid points and gain valuable experience on the KTM RC 390 R. I knew Dumas had more pace than me going into race one, so I decided I would try to stay on the back of him and see what I could do at the end. Things didn’t work out that way, but I was still able to put myself and KTM on the podium alongside Alex. I was looking to step up my game in race two and ended up having a really good race. I had never run a full race in the wet before so I was glad to move up to a second-place finish in race two, despite the challenging track conditions. My plan at VIR is to make some adjustments to the bike and keep collecting as many points as I can so I can continue to be a contender in this championship.”
More, from a press release issued by Quarterley Racing/On Track Development:
Quarterley Racing on Track Development Rider Jamie Astudillo Makes History
Places 3rd in second race of the Liqui Moli Junior Cup making her the first female to obtain a MotoAmerica podium.
Mooresville, NC (4/15/2017) – Jaime Astudillo said it herself, “I couldn’t have had a much better weekend than this.” After qualifying 12th on Friday, she sat down with her riding coach, Dale Quarterley. He said, “She listened, took the criticisms well, and then we just had to wait and see what she did on the track.”
Astudillo took that information and rode herself from 12th to 4th in the first race of the Junior Cup Championship. Having an exceptional first lap moving from 12th to 8th then gaining 2 more positions in lap two she kept her head down and found herself three wide on several occasions coming out of turn one up the hill. The 4th place finish was an amazing feeling she lets her team know. After a moment of celebration, her rider coach sits her down, congratulates her, and explains tomorrow would be a whole different race in the rain. The crew Ron Barrack, Paul Arciszewski, and Mark Reynolds went to work on strategy for bike and tire setup for the rain. After practice, Astudillo felt confident, but knew she would have to settle herself down come race time. She started, “i don’t want to override it, it will put me on the ground, but I need to get everything I can out of the bike on the track today.” There is no disputing that. Astudillo and her teammate Dallas Daniels were third and fourth for much of the shortened ten lap race. When the second place rider went down, Daniels had no where to go. With quick reaction time Astudillo avoided the wreck and finished 3rd in the second race for the weekend. Dale Quarterley stated, “I asked her to change her riding 180 degrees, and she was able to change it 190 and put herself on the podium.”
Astudillo will remain in the history books as the first female to podium for MotoAmerica.
The team is looking forward to the rest of the season. The next place you can see these two riders is VIR on April 5-7.
Thanks to our sponsors FBF, Fast Bike Industries, Yoshimura, Defiance Lifestyles, medAge, Dynojet, Apex, Beta, Vanson Leathers, Arai, Woodcraft, Regina Chain, Motul, and roadracingworld.com
More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad:
One-two win for BMW riders at start of the European Superstock Championship.
Michael Laverty, Keith Farmer and Chrissy Rouse ride onto the podium in the British Superbike Championship.
Travis Wyman wins first Superstock race of MotoAmerica 2018.
Munich. The BMW riders pick up further wins and podiums in the various international and national championships. The weekend saw the FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship (STK1000) get underway with a one-two victory for the BMW S 1000 RR: Markus Reiterberger (GER) won ahead of second-placed Roberto Tamburini (ITA). In the British Superbike Championship (BSB), Michael Laverty (GBR) finished in third on the podium in the Superbike class, while Keith Farmer (GBR) and Chrissy Rouse (GBR) each secured a second place in the Superstock class. And there was also a win in the USA: at the opener of MotoAmerica 2018 (MA), BMW rider Travis Wyman (USA) won the Superstock race.
MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in Alcañiz, Spain.
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) kicked off its European season at MotorLand Aragón near Alcañiz (ESP). In the first of the two races, Loris Baz (FRA) from the Gulf Althea BMW team delivered a strong catch-up and rode up from 19th on the grid into eleventh place. In race two, Baz finished 15th to secure another championship point.
FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship in Alcañiz, Spain.
MotorLand Aragón (ESP) also hosted the season opener of the FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship (STK1000). The BMW riders experienced a made-to-measure opener and clinched a one-two win for the BMW S 1000 RR. Markus Reiterberger (GER) from the alpha Racing-Van Zon BMW team had the perfect weekend in Alcañiz: He secured pole position, won the race with a lead of two seconds and also rode the fastest lap in a new record time. Together with Reiterberger, Roberto Tamburini (ITA) from Berclaz Racing Team SA climbed onto the podium in second place. Tamburini’s team-mate Luca Salvadori (ITA) in eighth also crossed the finish line in the top 10.
Markus Reiterberger:
“In the warm-up, we only tried two different electronic maps for more traction control so that we could save the tyres more over the entire race distance. And it worked really well. I had a good start to the race, but I was missing a bit of grip on the front tyre. Which is why I was unable to make full use of my strengths when braking, and couldn’t build up a lead as planned. Instead, I was in third place after the fourth lap. So I changed my riding style and made up the time through acceleration. This enabled me to regain the lead and build up a lead of two seconds by the end. It was a fantastic weekend with a very entertaining and thrilling race. My thanks go to the team, who provided me with such a great motorcycle. Now I’m looking forward to the next race in Assen, on a track that I have good memories of.”
British Superbike Championship in Brands Hatch, Great Britain.
The short Indy circuit of Brands Hatch (GBR) was the venue for the second round of the 2018 British Superbike Championship (BSB). In race one of the Superbike class (BSB SBK), Christian Iddon (GBR / Tyco BMW Motorrad) in fifth, Michael Laverty (GBR / Tyco BMW Motorrad) in eighth and Peter Hickman (GBR / Smiths Racing BMW) in tenth all finished in the top 10.
The first podium of the season in the Superbike class for the BMW S 1000 RR followed in race two, which was held in difficult, wet conditions: Laverty crossed the finish line in third place. In this race, Iddon finished sixth.
Michael Laverty:
“I’m delighted to be back on the podium, full credit has to go to the team. In the short timeframe they managed to change numerous components to achieve a great wet set up for me. I was perhaps a little bit too cautious during the last five laps, otherwise I feel we should have taken the win today. But I wanted to bring it home for solid points rather than ending up in the gravel. We are moving in the right direction with the BMW S 1000 RR every time we go on track and I’m excited for the season ahead.”
In the Superstock class (BSB STK), a BMW rider was on the podium in each of the two races. Keith Farmer (GBR / Tyco BMW Motorrad), who finished on the rostrum in every race at the opener in Donington Park (GBR) two weeks ago, continued this streak in Brands Hatch. Farmer took second place in the first of the two Superstock races. Chrissy Rouse (GBR / Quinnstheprinters.com BMW) finished fourth, Michael Rutter (GBR / Bathams Racing) in ninth also crossed the line in the top 10.
In race two, it was Rouse who represented the BMW colours on the podium: This time he clinched second place and also rode the fastest race lap. Alex Olsen (GBR / ASTRO – JJR Racing) finished sixth, Jordan Gilbert (GBR / Quinnstheprinters.com BMW) ninth and Rutter tenth. Farmer retired from the race.
MotoAmerica in Road Atlanta, USA.
The wheels are turning again in MotoAmerica (MA) as well. The 2018 season opener was held in Road Atlanta in the US state of Georgia – and BMW got a win here as well. Travis Wyman (USA / Weir Everywhere Racing) won the Superstock class (MA STK) race, also getting the fastest race lap. Two races were held in the Superbike class (MA SBK). In race one, BMW rider Danny Eslick (USA / Scheibe Racing) finished in seventh place, he retired from race two.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Yamaha bLU cRU Riders Conquer Rain at Road Atlanta
Supersport Podium Sweep Among Sunday’s Successes
Braselton, Ga. – April 16, 2018 – After a sunny Saturday filled with podium finishes by Yamaha’s bLU cRU road racers at the opening round of the 2018 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship at Road Atlanta, a storm front moved in during the night and heavy rain became a major factor in Sunday’s competition. Yamaha riders and teams quickly adapted and showed their strength, though, overcoming the challenging wet conditions throughout the day to reach the podium in the Superbike and Supersport races.
Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing Superbike Team
After a crash at the start of Saturday’s race and a ninth-place finish, two-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier kept his focus on important series points and rode smart in Sunday’s shortened 18-lap Superbike Race 2. As the green flag waved, he got off to a great second-place start and swapped podium positions through the first six laps. By lap seven, Beaubier had situated himself within striking distance of the lead and he soon moved his #6 R1 into the first-place position for eight solid laps until a hard-charging Toni Elias swept by going into lap 17. Beaubier kept his head down and crossed the finish line in a hard-fought second place.
Meanwhile, Garrett Gerloff’s hopes of beating Saturdays’ third-place finish in Race 1 were lost when he crashed shortly after the start of Race 2 on Sunday. Uninjured with his #31 R1 still in rideable condition, Gerloff managed to salvage ninth-place, adding valuable points to his title chase as a Superbike rookie.
Cameron Beaubier – #6 YZF-R1
“Road Atlanta was tough on us this year. I had three crashes throughout the weekend including Race 1. I went into Race 2 without a ton confidence but ended up feeling OK through the race. I am happy to finish the weekend salvaging some points and plan to hit the ‘refresh’ button for the next race at COTA!”
Garrett Gerloff – #31 YZF-R1
“It was a great learning weekend for me! I felt confident and really good on the bike all weekend. My team and I are working really well together. I had some first race nerves going into Race 1 but stayed loose and was able to get on the box in my very first Superbike race! Race 2 in the rain was a wild ride. I felt great on the first few laps, but misjudged the levels of rear grip I had and high-sided in turn 10. The Yamaha R1 is a such a durable bike, though, and I was able to pick the bike up and finish in 9th place. All in all, I’m content with my first weekend on the big bike and ready to build from here for the rest of the season. Let’s go to Austin!”
Tom Halverson – Team Manager
“Cameron had a good performance in the rain to lead the race and finish second in Superbike Race 2. It was a tough weekend for Cameron, but we leave here with him third in points in the championship and confident that he has what it takes to win. Garrett had an unfortunate crash in his first race in the rain on the Superbike, but like Cameron in Race 1, he was able to rejoin the race and gain valuable points for the Championship. Hats off to the team for working through a tough weekend with a great attitude and getting both riders on the podium. We are looking forward to racing for the win at the MotoGP event this weekend at Circuit of the Americas!”
Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Supersport Team
Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha’s JD Beach emerged from the opening round with a positive all-around performance to kick off the 2018 Supersport Championship. Beach qualified on pole, claimed victory in Race 1 on Saturday, and then followed up with a second-place performance in Race 2 on Sunday.
Beach continued his streak of great starts when the green flag waved for extremely wet Supersport Race 2 on Sunday, and the #95 R6 maintained the lead for the first four laps. On lap four, Rickdiculous Racing’s Hayden Gillim made a strong pass on his R6, and the duo rode all the way to the checkers in the 1-2 positions.
JD Beach – #95 YZF-R6
“Round 1 for MotoAmerica could have only been one spot better for me. We almost pulled off the perfect weekend! I qualified on pole and snagged the win in Race 1 but I brought it home safe in Race 2 and got second. It was a crazy race today in the rain and very stressful. It would have been awesome to get the win but we came away with some great points and feeling strong for VIR.”
Chuck Graves – Team Owner
“Overall, I think JD Beach and the R6 had a really good weekend. Qualifying on the pole, winning the first race, trading first and second place with Hayden Gillim – I think it was really success for Yamaha and for Graves Motorsports. It looks like there is a lot of parity in the Supersport class, so we should expect to see some really exciting racing moving forward there.”
Additional Yamaha bLU cRU Rider Notes
Yamalube/Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz rode his YZF-R1 to an eventful third-place finish on Sunday after he was forced off the track to avoid a crashing rider in turn one. Scholtz worked his way through the pack to finish on the podium for the second-straight day, placing him second in the championship points standings at the close of the weekend.
Josh Herrin’s Attack Performance/Herrin Compound/Yamaha R1 Superbike and spares never made it to Road Atlanta due to major mechanical issues leaving the team transporter on the side of the road in Louisiana. Not to be left out, Josh and his team prepped his 2016 YZF-R1S street bike for competition, which he rode to a very impressive 10th place finish in Superbike Race 1 on Saturday. In rainy Superbike Race 2 on Sunday, Josh rode to an incredible fourth place finish and captured valuable championship points.
With the Rickdiculous Racing R6 of Hayden Gillim on the top of the podium, and the Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha R6 of JD Beach in second, Yates Racing’s Ashton Yates made it a podium sweep for the Yamaha bLU cRU when he clinched third place in Sunday’s Supersport Race 2 on his R6.
The challenge continued for Yamaha bLU cRU riders in the new Junior Cup class, where the right limiting balance between motorcycles of different engine sizes and configurations still needs attention from MotoAmerica. Chuck Graves and bLU cRU Rider Coach Josh Hayes provided guidance to the Graves/Yamaha YZF-R3 Support Program riders and teams in the wet conditions, and education was the focus of the day despite frustration with the lack of a level playing field.
“It was a little bit disappointing to see that the organizers hadn’t done their homework in balancing the two brands of motorcycles that have more powerful engines right out of the gate,” noted Chuck Graves when asked about the situation. “Instead, they chose to wait until after the weekend was finished to consider creating parity in the class. We understand that it is important to have those balancing features when there’s such differences, and had hoped they had done their homework before the race.”
Chuck also reflected on the positive attributes of the weekend, stating, “the Graves/Yamaha R3 riders soldiered on in the Junior Cup race, and all-in-all, we feel they improved their skillsets and capabilities with their teams. We had some really productive meetings, and it’s really exciting for the Graves Yamaha crew and me to work with so many new, young, up-and-coming talented riders and their friends and families. I expect that we’ll see some of these riders winning races on the R3 later on this year.”
2018 MotoAmerica Superbike Standings (After Race 2)
Pos.RiderPoints
1 Tony Elias – Suzuki 50
2 Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha 36
3 Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha 27
4 Garrett Gerloff – Yamaha 23
2018 MotoAmerica Supersport Standings (After Race 2)
Pos.RiderPoints
1 Hayden Gillim – Yamaha 45
2 JD Beach – Yamaha 45
3 Cory West – Suzuki 24
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