Defending Champion Cameron Beaubier shook off the troubles he encountered last weekend at the MotoAmerica Superbike season-opener at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), got back to business Friday at the Suzuki Superbike Shootout of Georgia at Road Atlanta and came away with the fastest time during practice.
Riding his Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha YZF-R1, Beaubier lapped the 2.5-mile, 12-turn road course in 1:25.621 to lead the 30-rider field. But according to the 23-year-old California, his crash and mechanical problems during last weekend’s races at COTA were still on his mind Friday.
“I just worked on getting familiar with the track again and clearing my head form last weekend and putting it behind us,” Beaubier told Roadracingworld.com. “It was difficult at first, but I’ve just got to remember how last season went and clear my head. It was just a bad weekend. Everybody has them. That’s what I’ve got to remember. I just have to remember the good weekends and stay positive. It’s just good to get back on our normal weekend routine on a MotoAmerica schedule and not around the MotoGP schedule.”
Beaubier’s teammate, four-time Superbike Champion Josh Hayes, led the morning practice but came up just short of the top spot with a 1:25.791.
Toni Elias, the winner of both races at COTA, was third-fastest on the day with a 1:25.849 in spite of it being his first day ever riding at Road Atlanta. Elias is riding a Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike in place of injured Jake Lewis.
Former AMA Pro Superbike Champion Josh Herrin was fourth-quickest overall and the top Superstock 1000 class competitor with a lap of 1:26.195 on his Wheels In Motion/Motosport.com/Meen Yamaha YZF-R1.
Roger Hayden, Elias’ teammate, was fifth in the final practice courtesy of his time of 1:26.539.
Italian Claudio Corti took to the undulating Georgia track quickly on his HSBK Racing Aprilia RSV4 RF, turning a 1:26.870 that placed him sixth overall and second among Superstock 1000 riders.
Superstock 1000 rookie Hayden Gillim put in another impressive performance, earning seventh overall and third in class with a time of 1:27.225 on his Cycle World Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Jake Gagne, the 2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, seemed to struggle Friday and ended up fifth among Superbikes and eighth overall at a lap time of 1:27.451.
Sheridan Morais, another newcomer to Road Atlanta, finished the day ninth overall and fourth in the Superstock 1000 class thanks to a lap of 1:27.533.
Josh Day, who rides for the locally-based Yamalube/Westby Racing team, rounded out the top 10 overall and top five in Superstock 1000 with his effort of 1:27.543.
Suzuki Superbike Shootout of Georgia
MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series
Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
April 15, 2016
Provisional Superbike/Superstock 1000 Free Practice Two Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Cameron Beaubier (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:25.621
2. Josh Hayes (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:25.791
3. Toni Elias (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike, 1:25.849
4. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:26.195
5. Roger Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike, 1:26.539
6. Claudio Corti (Apr RSV4 RF), Superstock 1000, 1:26.870
7. Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R1000), Superstock 1000, 1:27.225
8. Jake Gagne (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:27.451
9. Sheridan Morais (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:27.533
10. Josh Day (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:27.543
11. David Anthony (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, 1:27.620
12. Geoff May (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, 1:27.652
13. Kyle Wyman (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:27.788
14. Taylor Knapp (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:27.799
15. Bobby Fong (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, 1:27.816
16. Danny Eslick (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:28.299
17. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike, 1:29.324
18. Tomas Puerta (BMW S1000RR), Superbike, 1:29.438
19. Barrett Long (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:29.821
20. Ryan Jones (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:29.992