Gagne DQ’d From Race Two At Circuit Of The Americas
The Fuel In The Three-Time Series Champion’s Yamaha Found To Be Not In Compliance
IRVINE, CA (October 11, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier road race series, has announced that Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne has been disqualified from his second-place finish in race two at Circuit of The Americas, round eight of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship.
Sample testing from the COTA round found that the fuel in Gagne’s Yamaha YZF-R1 was not in compliance with the 2023 AMA/FIMNA MotoAmerica regulations that require all competitors to use VP MGP fuel. As a result, Gagne loses the 20 points from his second-place finish. The disqualification has no effect on Gagne’s MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship as he had already wrapped up his third successive title in the previous round at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
Gagne finished four seconds behind Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin in the second race at COTA and was a similar distance ahead of third-placed PJ Jacobsen on his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR. Gagne’s DQ thus moves everyone up a spot with Jacobsen moving to second behind Herrin with Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong earning the final podium spot.
The only change in the points standings is fourth and fifth with Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante swapping spots with Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz. With the change, Escalante finishes the season in fourth, one point better than Scholtz.
To view the MotoAmerica sanction, click HERE
For updated results from race two at COTA, click HERE
For updated final championship results, click HERE
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.:
Statement From Yamaha Racing Following AMA/FIMNA MotoAmerica Sanction
MARIETTA, Ga. – October 11, 2023 – Following MotoAmerica’s announcement that Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne was disqualified from his second-place finish in Race 2 at the Circuit of The Americas, the team shares its position.
A sample testing found that the fuel in Gagne’s bike was not in compliance with the 2023 AMA/FIMNA MotoAmerica regulations. The team acknowledges the decision of the sanctioning body and would like to clarify that there was no malintent in making the fuel selection for that second race at the penultimate round of the championship.
“For Superbike Race 2 at COTA, we cleared the use of the 2022 fuel with the MotoAmerica Tech Director,” said Richard Stanboli, the Team Manager. “In hindsight and knowing what we now know, we would not have used it.”
“We stand behind the team and firmly believe that there was no foul play,” said Tom Halverson, the Yamaha Racing Assistant Department Manager for YMUS. “After four years of working side by side with them, we know firsthand that every person on the team is of the utmost integrity.”
Gagne’s disqualification had no impact to the title defense as he secured his third-consecutive superbike championship at the previous round at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The team looks ahead to focus on making another title run in the 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike season.
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana)
