Several top riders are participating in a last-minute test for Dunlop and MotoAmerica today at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California, ahead of the MotoAmerica event July 7-9 at the newly repaved track.
Riders invited to the test include BPR Tuning Yamaha’s Bryce Prince, Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha’s Jake Gagne and Cameron Petersen, Steel Commander Racing Yamaha’s Gabriel Da Silva, Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW’s Cameron Beaubier, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante and Brandon Paasch, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin, and Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz. Joe Roberts, who rides for the Italtrans Racing team in the Moto2 World Championship, is also expected to ride at the invitation of Dunlop.
Originally, only Prince, a former MotoAmerica Stock 600 Champion and Stock 1000 podium finisher who lives in nearby Bakersfield, was going to ride to gather information for Dunlop because he is a qualified rider and is not a regular on the MotoAmerica series.
When problems arose with the track’s 22-day-old new surface during an SCCA racing event over the weekend, however, more riders were called in on short notice to help gather tire data, put rubber down on the track, and assess the racing surface ahead of the MotoAmerica event.
A maximum of eight riders can be on the track at one time, according to Dunlop and MotoAmerica, which is a stipulation presumed to be due to the track’s insurance coverage.
