Championship Point Standings (after 17 of 18 races):
Scott, 365 points, clinched Championship
Gloddy, 326
Rodio, 211
Kohlstaedt, 196
Cody Wyman, 186
Davis, 124
VanDenBrouck, 123
Max Toth, 109
Yaakov, 104
LiMandri, 99
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
Scott Crowned As MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion At Barber
All The Class Championships Are Decided But The Racing Is Hectic In Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, AL (September 18, 2021) – Mother Nature chose to dump rain on Barber Motorsports Park on Saturday, but nothing could dampen the spirits of Tyler Scott as the 15-year-old captured the 2021 MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Championship in style in his debut season of MotoAmerica.
Meanwhile, newly crowned MotoAmerica Champions Sean Dylan Kelly and Jake Lewis earned victories in the Supersport and Stock 1000 classes, respectively, while Kensei Matsudaira and Jesse James Shedden won in Mini Cup by Motul action on a purpose-built racetrack on site at Barber Motorsports Park.
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup: Scott Crowned!
The 2021 SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Championship wrapped up on Saturday, and Scott Powersports/KTM rider Tyler Scott clinched the title in the best way possible, by also winning the race. The Pennsylvanian started from the pole, but he was overtaken by Veloce Racing Kawasaki’s David Kohlstaedt on the first lap. Scott bided his time in second, and Kohlstaedt crashed in the wet conditions on lap three of the seven-lap event, which handed the lead to Scott, who maintained it all the way to the finish line.
Tyler Scott (70) leads Ben Gloddy (72), Kayla Yaakov (31), and Joe LiMandri Jr. (62) in the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup race on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Second place went to 14-year-old female racer Kayla Yaakov, the BARTCON Racing Kawasaki rider becoming the first female rider to finish on a MotoAmerica podium since Jamie Astudillo finished third in race two at Road Atlanta in 2018.
Landers Racing Kawasaki’s Ben Gloddy, who had a mathematical chance to catch Scott for the championship until today, finished third. The New Hampshirite was hampered by a wrist fracture that he suffered a few weeks ago.
When asked about the wet track, Scott said, “It was definitely a little sketchy. More stressful, because I just wanted to keep the bike on two wheels and get points towards the championship. But I’m super happy with the result. I wasn’t expecting to lead most of the race, actually. I thought David Kohlstaedt was going to lead the race. I kind of would have let him win just to not risk any overtakes. But it was a great race and congrats to these guys.”
Supersport: Kelly Vs. Escalante – Again
It’s been an incredible two weeks for M4 ECSTAR Suzuki rider Sean Dylan Kelly. After clinching the 2021 Supersport Championship last weekend in New Jersey, Kelly started off the weekend with the announcement that he will race in the Moto2 World Championship next year. And then, on Saturday in Supersport race one, he not only overcame another classic battle with HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki’s Richie Escalante, but he also prevailed despite the race being red-flagged and restarted.
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) leads Richie Escalante (1) and Alejandro Thermiotis (78) in the Supersport race prior to the red flag stoppage of the race. Kelly went on to win the restarted race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Weather was a factor in both legs of the race, and in the six-race second leg, Kelly was in the lead at the beginning, but Escalante overtook him with three laps left to go. On the final lap, Kelly got past Escalante to take the checkered flag by .040 of a second for the 12th time this season. Finishing third and a little over 2.5 seconds back was MESA37 Racing Kawasaki rider Stefano Mesa.
“For being in the rain, I think we were doing more passes than usual,” said Kelly. “From before the red flag, to even after on the restart, we were going head-to-head, and it was great. It was definitely a little bit scary, which we see a guy highside right in front of me. I thought the red flag was for him for a second, but he was able to get restarted. Once I heard there was a six-lap restart, I was like, it’s going to be a little sprint to the end. I had a really good feeling with my bike. I had a few moments before the red flag, and even after. Conditions were tough out there. I think there was more water on the track after the red flag. So, difficult conditions, but this is something that I’m pretty happy with. To be able to ramp up wins in the season, and then we have our first wet race in at least two years. To be fighting for the win and then end up with another victory, it’s something to be proud of. So, great fight. It was cool to have some fun up there.”
Stock 1000: Lewis Again
In the only Stock 1000 race of the weekend, which started race day one at Barber Motorsports Park, recently crowned class champion Jake Lewis overcame the wet track conditions to notch his sixth win of the season and fourth in a row. Lewis started from the pole and led from start to finish, deftly negotiating the very tricky race surface aboard his Altus Motorsports Suzuki. Chuckwalla Valley Raceway/Octane Lending Kawasaki rider Michael Gilbert finished second, and Motul/Travis Wyman Racing BMW’s Travis Wyman rounded out the podium in third.
(From left) MIchael Gilbert, Jake Lewis, and Travis Wyman finished third, first and second, respectively, in the Stock 1000 race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
“It dumped down rain this morning,” Lewis said. “I don’t think I’ve rode in the rain since 2018. For that first session, I was just going pretty slow, honestly. Struggled for the whole practice. Made some changes before the race. I just told them to soften it and I’ll just ride it. Luckily, it rained before the race and it dried out a whole lot, actually. There were a couple streams and stuff, but the first part of the track was really dry. Midway through the race, the thing was sliding around and moving around quite a bit, which is nice for me, growing up flat tracking, and I still ride in the woods a lot. It feels nice to win. I wanted to go out on top. It’s nice to click off four wins in a row at the end of the season. Like I said on the podium midway through the season, we made a change, and I’ve got to thank the mechanics by my side. That kind of lifted the program forward a whole lot. It feels good. Can’t thank the whole Altus Motorsports team enough for giving me the opportunity this year.”
Mini Cup by Motul: Titles Earned
In the final round of the 2021 Mini Cup by Motul, which was held on a purpose-built racecourse at Barber Motorsports Park’s Proving Grounds skid pad, the 110cc class was swept by American Racing Team’s Kensei Matsudaira. Fernandez Racing’s Jayden Fernandez rode his Ohvale GP-0 to victory in race one of the 160cc class, while race two was won by Atlas Speed Factory’s Jesse James Shedden. And Shedden was also the winner of both races in the 190cc class.Matsudaira clinched both the 110cc and 160cc season championships, while Shedden was presented with the number-one plate for wrapping up the 190cc title.
Jesse James Shedden (99) won three races in the Mini Cup by Motul races on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
More, from another press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing’s Jack Roach Notches A Top-Five Result In Rain-Soaked Junior Cup Race At Barber
Birmingham, AL – September 18, 2021 – Westby Racing’s Junior Cup rider withstood the prodigious rains on Saturday at Barber Motorsports to finish fifth, which was his best result of the season with one more race left to run.
Starting in ninth on the grid, Jack got a good jump off the line and was in sixth place at the end of the opening lap. From there, he focused on being smooth in the wet conditions, and it paid off since he was able to move up to fifth on lap three of the seven-lap event. Jack tenaciously held onto his top-five position and maintained it all the way to the checkered flag.
“It was a stressful race,” Jack said. “Especially after watching my teammate Mathew (Scholtz) in the Superbike race, which was just before our race. I knew that, if I just stayed smooth, I could get a good result. I didn’t have the setup that I was happy with, but we have changed the bike for tomorrow so, hopefully, that will give me the confidence in race two.”
Sunday’s Junior Cup race two is at 1 p.m. CT and will be streamed on MotoAmerica Live+. Both Saturday’s and Sunday’s race one and race will be broadcast via tape delay on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) on Tuesday, September 21 beginning at 4 p.m. ET.
For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit http://www.WestbyRacing.com
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
Editorial Note: The race was run in a steady rain shower with an increasing amount of water on the track. Some of the riders who crashed during the race included: Loris Baz, Jake Gagne, Josh Herrin, Cameron Petersen, Mathew Scholtz, Kyle Wyman, and Travis Wyman.
HONOS Superbike Championship Point Standings (after 18 of 20 races):
Gagne, 404 points, clinched Championship
Scholtz, 312
Petersen, 240
Baz, 202
Herrin, 194
Fong, 191
Barbera, 151
Jake Lewis, 113
Kyle Wyman, 92
Toni Elias, 76
Travis Wyman, 74
Alexander, 69
Gilbert, 53
Anthony, 50
Jayson Uribe, 39
Danilo Lewis, 37
Lee, 30
Yates, 29
Bradley Ward, 28
Farris, 28
Superbike Cup Championship Point Standings (after 18 of 20 races):
Jake Lewis, 356 points, clinched Championship
Travis Wyman, 266
Alexander, 234
Gilbert, 200
Danilo Lewis, 171
Farris, 166
Lee, 145
Coffey, 103
Yates, 100
Hunter Dunham, 98
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
Petersen Gets His First-Career MotoAmerica Superbike Victory
Cameron Petersen And Mother Nature Stop Jake Gagne’s Win Streak At 16 With Win At Barber
Cameron Petersen (45) leads Mathew Scholtz (11) and Loris Baz (76) during rainy Race One at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
BIRMINGHAM, AL (September 18, 2021) – One of the most dramatic races in AMA Superbike history took place in a rainstorm at Barber Motorsports Park on Saturday and it’s one that won’t soon be forgotten, especially if your name is Cameron Petersen. Or Mathew Scholtz. Or Loris Baz.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Petersen earned his first-career MotoAmerica Superbike win after surviving a crash in the downpour. Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz finished second after surviving a crash in the downpour. Oh, and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York’s Loris Baz finished third after also surviving a crash in the downpour.
And that translates to the unbelievable fact that all three podium finishers crashed in the same race in which they podiumed for the first time in AMA Superbike history. Yes, all three podium finishers suffered a crash and finished on the podium. All three… well, you get the point.
Petersen’s first HONOS Superbike win made him the 62nd rider in history to win an AMA Superbike race and the second from South Africa. The win also went a long way to solidifying Petersen’s hold on third in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with two races left to run on Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park.
Petersen also teamed up with Mother Nature to stop Jake Gagne’s win streak at 16 with the newly crowned 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion crashing out of the lead on the second lap, remounting, pitting for repairs, and then ending up 12th.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s really hit me yet,” Petersen said. “It’s been a long road to get to this point. Like you said, I had this circled from the beginning of the season. I know this is my favorite track in the world, and I knew that the Suzukis are really good around here. I came into Barber with a little bit of confidence, and I think that has kind of shaped my weekend so far. Honestly, I don’t really know what to say. That cool down lap, I was so emotional. My family sacrificed everything for me to get to this point. To finally get a Superbike win, it feels like it has paid off, especially riding against world-class riders like this. This place is no joke. I couldn’t be happier. But, honestly, that was probably the craziest race I’ve ever been involved in.
“The beginning of the race wasn’t too bad, but it was actually pretty good conditions for a rain race. Then, unfortunately, I ran over the paint into turn one and ended up crashing. But I did whatever I could to hold onto the bike and try to keep it running. Lucky, when I picked the bike up, it started right up first fire. I was able to get going back in second. I knew I had a gap behind me, so I was just trying to do laps and make sure I brought the bike home. Then as the race went on, it started really puddling up. Honestly, there wasn’t a spot on the track where we weren’t hydroplaning unless we were on the upper apex of the corner. Honestly, (it was) probably one of the scariest races I’ve been in. It’s unfortunate. I came over turn four and I saw yellow flags and I was like, ‘there’s no way.’ Sure enough, went into five and unfortunately Matty (Scholtz), same thing. He got out into the thick water and just hydroplaned. It was crazy. It’s unfortunate that he went down, but I’m going to take my first win any way I can get it. Hopefully, this isn’t the last. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and been in my corner. Like I said, I hope this isn’t the last, and let’s try to win two more tomorrow.”
Petersen and Scholtz battled at the front of the pack after Gagne’s demise. Then Petersen crashed in turn one and Scholtz held court at the front by himself. Then came the fateful 15th lap and Scholtz was down, the South African sliding from the crest of the hill out of turn four all the way down to turn five. He remounted but Petersen had already splashed past and was on his way to victory.
“I came over four, same as I’d done every single lap prior, and the puddle was just bigger than it was and the front just washed out,” Scholtz said. “I was basically riding and just hydroplaned and crashed. Not much to it. The track was just way too wet for us to be riding. I don’t think there was a single rider that was holding it flat out on the start/finish line. We were in fourth gear spinning, second, third, fourth down the whole straight. I’ve got mixed emotions now. Obviously, second is good. I’m really, really happy finishing second. I’m really happy for Cam, winning his first Superbike race. It was a little bit bulls*&% that when three of the four guys had all crashed and I was in front putting my hand up like, ‘guys, we’ve been hydroplaning.’ We are on Superbikes, fourth and fifth gear flat out spinning out, then just had to keep on going and unfortunately crashed. It is what it is. We’re going to have to come back tomorrow and just try to hang on. I know that Jake (Gagne) had a pretty decent pace going. The track with how it is, it was very slippery. So definitely try to change a couple things and come back swinging tomorrow.”
Baz was fortunate to be able to race at all after a crash on Friday left him beaten up with a damaged right wrist. Since he wasn’t able to take part in the qualifying sessions, he was also forced to start from the back row. He charged through the pack and caught the battle between Scholtz and Petersen, before suffering his crash and remounting in ninth place. From there he charged again and worked his way back to third for his seventh podium finish of the season. The wet conditions made it a bit easier on his injured wrist, but the crash in the race left him with barely a nub for a right footpeg and a right handlebar that was bent almost to the tank.
“The (wet weather) made it easier, then I crashed again on the race,” Baz said. “For the restart, the side of the bike, especially the handlebars, were completely bent into the fairing, so I don’t even know how I managed on the start. Then I just had to work my handlebars from a really strange position. It was bent the opposite way. It was so hard just to touch the brake. I just tried to survive after that. Also, the conditions, at that moment, the rain was okay. I think we all had really good fun then it started to rain more. I should have fought until the end, but for sure, when you are hydroplaning with a 1000cc in turn 15, it’s really frightening. That race was just so strange. My expectation at the start, I just wanted to use it as a qualifying race, just try to get the best start position for tomorrow. After three laps, I was fourth and then third. I came behind them and then I crashed again. Then again, I just tried to restart and go for the qualifying. I didn’t know I was third until I crossed the finish line. I was sure Jake (Gagne) was in front of me, because I saw him crash and passing me back. It was just a crazy race. Hats off to Cam (Petersen). We all crashed, but he did better than us. It was a really, really crazy race. I remember (someone) winning and crashing, but I don’t remember any podium with the three top guys crashing. Thank you to Ducati, having Louis take care of me from a big crash yesterday. I was 90 percent sure we couldn’t race, 70 percent sure I was not going to race when I woke up, then I started to feel better. Talking with them I said, ‘We’ll try.’ If you don’t want me to race, if you want me to go back home. I just told them, ‘No, we have to try.’ I always try. So, that’s it. We try again tomorrow.”
Fourth place went to Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates on his Stock 1000-spec Honda CBR1000 RR-R, the Georgian earning the first top-five Superbike finish of his career. It also gave him the victory in the Superbike Cup and put a Honda in a top four that featured four different brands of motorcycles – Suzuki, Yamaha, Ducati and Honda.
Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis was fifth, which earned him the Superbike Cup crown (and the $25,000 that goes with it) for racers riding their Stock 1000-spec motorcycles in the HONOS Superbike races. It was a good day for the Superbike Cup riders with Disrupt Racing’s Danny Eslick ending up sixth.
FLY Racing ADR Motorsports’ David Anthony was seventh on his Superbike-spec Suzuki GSX-R1000 and less than a second ahead of Scheibe Racing BMW’s Hector Barbera.
Ninth place went to Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha’s Josh Herrin, who was another crasher able to remount and finish. M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bobby Fong rounded out the top 10.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Herrin Breaks Top 10 in Wet Barber Race 1
Josh Herrin (2). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing’s Josh Herrin overcame challenges to work his way back to ninth today in a wet MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at the Barber Motorsports Park. Jake Gagne also put in a good chargeback from adversity in the rain to finish 12th.
Mother Nature played her hand on the first day of racing at the season finale, and riders were met with a lot of rain at the 2.3-mile track in Leeds, Alabama. With the grid positions being determined from yesterday’s dry session, Gagne lined up on the front row in third and Herrin on the second row in fourth. The newly crowned champ got a good start and stretched a lead upfront while his teammate battled in a three-rider fight for the other podium positions. Unfortunately, Gagne went down in the Museum corner on the second lap and rejoined in eighth. He put in a fast lap and advanced to seventh but ultimately had to pull into pit lane on Lap 5, rejoining the race at the back of the field.
Herrin was battling in third after his teammate’s crash, and then a couple of laps later, he was shuffled to eighth after running off track. The Californian made his way back up to sixth on Lap 12, but unfortunately, like many riders, he got caught out by the challenging conditions and crashed in the Museum corner. Herrin rejoined in 13th and advanced to ninth on the final lap. Despite the adversity, Gagne was also able to make a comeback, working his way back to 12th by the end of the 17-lap race.
The Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing Team lines up tomorrow for two more races to close out the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike season at the Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday, September 19.
Richard Stanboli – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“Well, that was a crazy race. Jake crashed while leading and Josh later in the race. Both riders continued but were unable to get the results we were looking for. The conditions and the track changed considerably from the second qualifying session, and we did not have an ideal setup. Jake did, however, run some very fast laps at the end of the race, and both riders learned a lot, and we collected some valuable data. Our Yamaha R1s and riders will be ready to bring the fight tomorrow. We are looking forward to the last two races of the season.”
Josh Herrin – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing
“Today was a very tough but fun race. It was all about survival today. Hopefully, tomorrow is a little easier on us and our bikes. Let’s get it!”
Jake Gagne – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing
“That was a wild one! I got off to a great start but threw it away on Lap 2. It was totally my fault, but I learned from it, and we’ll be back to fight for the wins tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Scholtz Crashes, Still Finishes Second In Rain-Drenched Superbike Race At Barber
Mathew Scholtz on the podium after Superbike Race One at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Birmingham, AL – September 18, 2021 – Saturday’s Superbike race at Barber Motorsports Park is one that Mathew Scholtz and the Westby Racing team—not to mention everyone who witnessed it—will never forget.
In the pouring rain, Mathew took the lead and looked to be headed for his second Superbike win of the season. However, on lap 15 of the 17-lap event, the standing water on the track proved to be too much for his #11 Yamaha YZF-R1. The bike hydroplaned, Mathew and the bike went down, and both slid along the wet track—with Mathew still holding on—for what was the longest distance pretty much anyone has ever seen a road racer slide.
While Mathew was getting himself and his bike back under way, Cam Petersen—who led the race early until he crashed and handed the lead to Mathew—came by, re-took the lead, and won the race. Mathew was able to rejoin the race in second, which he maintained to the finish line for his fifth consecutive runner-up finish and 14th podium result out of 18 races so far this season.
“I came over turn four, same as I’d done every single lap prior, and the puddle was just bigger than it had been, and the front washed out,” Mathew said. “I was basically riding and just hydroplaned and crashed. Not much to it. The track was just way too wet for us to be riding. I don’t think there was a single rider that was holding it flat-out on the start/finish line. We were in fourth gear spinning, second, third, fourth down the whole straight. I’ve got mixed emotions now. Obviously, second is good. I’m really, really happy finishing second. I’m really happy for Cam, winning his first Superbike race. It was a little bit rough that, when three of the four lead guys, had all crashed, and I was in front putting my hand up like, ‘Guys, we’ve been hydroplaning.’ We are on Superbikes, fourth and fifth gear flat-out spinning the rear tire. I just had to keep on going, and unfortunately, I crashed. It is what it is. We’re going to have to come back tomorrow and just try to hang on. We’ll try to change a couple things and come back swinging tomorrow.”
Ed Sullivan, Westby Racing Crew Chief said, “Well, I’m not sure there has ever been a Superbike race like that before! Congrats to Cameron (Petersen) on his first Superbike win. The conditions deteriorated over the race to the point that, in my opinion, it should have been stopped. Whether we were at the front or not, if the majority of the top Superbikes have hit the floor, the safety of the track surface has to be questioned.
“We have made some changes and look forward to having another try tomorrow!”
Chuck Giacchetto, Westby Racing Team Manager, added, “I have to agree with Ed in regard to the race, I’m nearly positive we’ve never had the top three crash and podium all in the same race. While it would have been a great victory, we will settle for P2 today. I feel it was a valiant effort by the crew and rider but, in the end, Mother Nature had her way.
“With the championship over for us, I know Mathew left nothing on the table today. He rode very well, and I don’t think anyone could ask for a better effort from their rider or the aforementioned crew. Thanks very much to every Westby Team member and our diehard fans who braved the elements today. See you tomorrow on the podium for ‘brunch.’”
Sunday’s Superbike race two is at 10:15 a.m. CT, and Superbike race three starts at 3 p.m. CT. Race two will be broadcast via tape delay Sunday at Noon ET on FOX Sports 2 (FS2), and race three will be broadcast via tape delay Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Both races will be streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer:
M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI’S CAM PETERSEN AND SEAN DYLAN KELLY WIN IN THE RAIN AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK
Cameron Petersen (45) won MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo By Brian J Nelson, courtesy Team Hammer.
Team Hammer thrived on perhaps the most difficult race day of the 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing season in Alabama on Saturday, winning races in challenging wet weather conditions at Barber Motorsports Park. M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly battled for victory in a close fight, Superbike pilot Cam Peterson endured a deluge that saw all three podium finishers crash during the race, and Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis took the checkers in difficult drying conditions.
Saturday’s headliner was M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Cameron Petersen, who was rewarded for his relentless effort with a maiden MotoAmerica Superbike victory.
The South African battled up front before the treacherous conditions seemingly removed him from contention in a wet weather crash. Undeterred, Petersen kept his wits and maintained control of his sliding GSX-R1000R in the first turn gravel trap and immediately remounted and re-entered the fray.
Peterson was able to maintain second place despite falling and his persistence positioned him to take control of the incident-filled race with two laps remaining when the leader also fell. With nerves of steel and supreme precision, Petersen rode his GSX-R1000R to the checkered flag to claim his first-career premier-class victory.
He said, “What a crazy race. I was having a good battle for the lead and then just ran over the paint and tucked the front. Man, I just didn’t want to give up. I held on to the bike all the way through the gravel trap and picked it up as quick as I could. I put my head down and just hit my marks and tried to bring it home. I can’t believe I crashed and picked it up and was still able to win. I’m honestly lost for words. Thanks to the team for giving me the best bike possible.”
Recently crowned MotoAmerica Supersport champion Sean Dylan Kelly showed rain or shine, he’s the class of the field. The Floridan pulled a rabbit out his helmet yet again to win his 12th victory of the season by 0.040 seconds following another last-lap pass in wet conditions aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R600.
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) won MotoAmerica Supersport Race 1 at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo By Brian J Nelson, courtesy Team Hammer.
‘SDK’ said, “What a race! It goes to show, we battle in the dry and we battle in the wet. It was an awesome race and a great show for the fans. This is honestly one of the best ways to perform in the last weekend of the season. It was so difficult to go out in the rain and be very focused in these conditions. It would have been so easy to make a mistake. A huge thanks to my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki crew. This wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Finally, 2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 champion Jake Lewis won his sixth race of the year on a drying track aboard his Team Hammer-built Altus Motorsports GSX-R1000R. Lewis also clinched the Superbike Cup title in the Superbike race.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki runners Sam Lochoff (5th – Supersport), Bobby Fong (10th – Superbike), and Wyatt Farris (17th – Stock 1000) rounded out an incredibly successful day for the team despite the difficult conditions.
Team Hammer will complete the 2021 MotoAmerica season on Sunday with one last race in Supersport and a twin finale in Superbike.
About Team Hammer
The 2021 season marks Team Hammer’s 41st consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 128 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 330 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
Editorial Note: Use the scroll and zoom tools in the bottom left corner of the PDF viewers to better see all pages of the race results and point standings.
Dumas becomes youngest Canadian Superbike champion in history with another win at Calabogie
Calabogie, ON – History was made at the Canadian Superbike Championship finale on Saturday, as 19-year-old Alex Dumas became the youngest champion in Pro Superbike feature class history with a clean sweep at Calabogie Motorsports Park.
The Liqui Moly MPG/FAST School Suzuki youngster needed only to finish inside the top-four to mathematically clinch the title after his victory in race one, but Dumas left little to the imagination with his fourth emphatic win of the season to become the first ever rookie champion in class history.
It didn’t initially appear like that would be the case, as rival Ben Young grabbed the holeshot in race two and began to gap the field quickly out front. However, an early red flag forced a restart, which was much less successful for Young as Dumas got the better start to lead start-to-finish.
“It was an awesome day and another awesome weekend to end the year. To clinch it with pole and two wins, it feels amazing,” Dumas said. “I have to give a huge thanks to Suzuki and my team for putting this year together. Everyone was such a good help, and I couldn’t do it without them.”
2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
Despite rumours of his return to MotoAmerica in 2022 – where he has already won two championships – or even the pursuit of a ride oversees, Dumas wouldn’t close the door on a legitimate title defence in his home country next season.
“I would really, really love to do it all again next year. Personally, I would like to be back, but I’m not thinking too much about it now.”
Dumas and his team will at least have an additional trophy to appreciate while they debate their offseason plans, after taking home the Team of the Year Award. Their surprise entry to the 2021 campaign proved to be a massively successful one, as crew chief Patrice Goyette and company guided Dumas to a historic debut season.
The Quebec City native beat Jordan Szoke’s record by just 177 days to become the new youngest champion in class history, with Young unable to capture his second career Superbike title.
Nevertheless, Young was his typical optimistic self on the podium, as he immediately turned his focus towards reclaiming the number one plate in 2022.
“I gave it everything, but Alex just rode so well all year,” Young admitted. “I was able to fight back after the tough start and fix a few of the issues we had, but in the end it wasn’t meant to be. But we’ll be back to fight again next year.”
In a repeat of the first podium, Trevor Daley grabbed the third step after a heated battle with reigning champion Jordan Szoke, as the two sides made contact in the final carousel before Daley won the drag race to the line.
It was a crucial result for the OneSpeed Suzuki rider, as he helped wrap up the inaugural Constructors Championship for Suzuki with his third podium of the season, as Daley again proved to be the best “number two” rider of any of the manufacturers.
“I was really patient at the start, because I knew if I could save my Dunlop tires I would have a bit more life left at the end when it mattered,” Daley said. “Me and Jordan went back and forth quite a bit all race, but it got pretty close at the end there. It will be a good race to watch on TV, that’s for sure!”
Szoke would settle again for fourth, a disappointing result to end arguably the most frustrating campaign of his storied career. The 2020 champion has endured a number of tough-luck incidents this season, with this year’s final result proving to be his worst since an injury-riddled 2014 campaign.
Despite the frustrated results, Szoke has been optimistic about returning for a record 24th season in the Pro Superbike class, though he has yet to confirm his plans – a notable detail given Ducati’s impending entry to the feature class and Szoke’s prior experience aboard Ducati machinery.
Completing the top-five in the second half of the doubleheader was Sebastian Tremblay, who was forced to ride his Turcotte Performance Kawasaki ZX-6R sport bike after an earlier crash in race one. The 2021 Pro Sport Bike champion narrowly defeated Samuel Guerin at the line, a terrific result ahead of the EFC Group BMW rookie.
Dumas wasn’t the only rider to wrap up a championship on Saturday, however, with a pair of nail-biting finishes in two of the Amateur divisions.
Anthony Bergeron completed his comeback in the AIM Insurance Amateur Superbike class, leading nearly from lights-to-flag to win the race and the championship aboard his privateer BMW.
The pre-season favourite nearly derailed his own title bid with a crash in round two, but consecutive wins to end the year were enough to hand him the crown by just eleven points over ASM Yamaha rival Pascal Bastien, who struggled to fourth.
The biggest swing of the season came in the Super Sonic Race School Lightweight category, as Harvey Renaud secured the national championship in unlikely fashion with a photo-finish win by just 0.018 seconds.
Renaud entered the weekend with a sizeable disadvantage to teenager Mackenzie Weil atop the leaderboard, but a crash in race one that ended Weil’s weekend – combined with a victory for Renaud – put him in position to win the title on Saturday.
Jacob Black, who was involved in the crash that ended Weil’s championship hopes, hung on to second at the line, though it wasn’t enough to do Weil any favours as Renaud will be crowned the national champion by just 16 points.
The full list of season results can be found on the series’ official website at csbk.ca, with the focus now turning towards the offseason and the 2022 CSBK campaign.
Dumas wins race one, inches closer to historic title at Calabogie
Calabogie, ON – Alex Dumas moved one step closer to capturing his first Pro Superbike title on Saturday, winning race one to take a 21-point lead into the final race of the Canadian Superbike Championship season at Calabogie Motorsports Park.
Starting from pole position, Dumas grabbed an early lead and never looked back, leading start-to-finish despite heavy pressure from rival Ben Young throughout the contest. Young would keep his title hopes alive with a crucial second place, as the two rivals comfortably separated themselves from the rest of the pack and eventual third-place finisher Trevor Daley.
The 19-year-old rookie sensation continues his unbeaten streak at Calabogie after sweeping round one, with a historic debut championship now firmly in sight.
“It was a perfect race, and to do it front of my team and all these fans means a lot,” the Liqui Moly MPG/FAST School Suzuki rider said. “We still have to get ready for race two and do it again, but to grab this one with a pair of Suzuki’s up here is amazing.”
It’s a disappointing result for Young, who needed to beat Dumas to give himself the best shot at a second Canada Cup as he entered with an eleven-point deficit. The Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW rider was well aware of the opportunity that slipped away from him, but remained positive on the podium with race two still to run.
“From my perspective it was a bit of a boring race, but we worked hard to overcome a bit of an issue on lap four that stuck with us throughout the race,” Young said. “It isn’t over yet. Alex has one hand on the trophy, but I just have to make sure that one hand isn’t on it too tight.”
Daley completed the podium for the second time this season, putting a late pass on reigning champion Jordan Szoke to crucially eliminate him from championship contention and hand another strong result to Suzuki.
“I got a really strong start, so after these two stretched out a gap it was a bit frustrating for me, but I hit all my marks and I was able to catch Jordan at the end there,” Daley said. “It’s awesome to have two Suzuki’s up here again. We’ve had a really strong year, and it couldn’t have come at a better time with the addition of the Constructors Championship.”
A frustrated Szoke could only muster fourth, as he will be officially out of championship contention when race two rolls around later on Saturday. The Canada General Warranty Kawasaki rider has struggled with a number of setbacks in 2021, as he missed the podium for the second time this year.
Completing the top-five for the first time this season was Samuel Guerin, who bounced back in a big way after a disastrous rookie season of his own aboard his EFC Group BMW.
Notably missing were frontrunners Tomas Casas and Sebastian Tremblay, who crashed out in a related incident on lap five. Tremblay initially crashed in turn five after battling with fellow Kawasaki man Szoke, causing Daley and Casas to check up entering the blind corner. Daley would continue, but Casas unfortunately crashed trying to avoid Tremblay and will be forced to sit out race two.
Despite the disappointment in the Superbike race, Tremblay capped off the first ever perfect season in the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike class, dominating once again to make it four-of-four in 2021 and extend an eight-race winning streak dating back to 2019.
After clinching the championship on Friday, Tremblay found himself in unfamiliar territory early on Saturday, trailing Turcotte Performance Kawasaki teammates Christian Allard and Phillippe Masse on the opening laps.
However, Allard drastically faded back and allowed a hard-charging David Mackay to carve up the pack to second, briefly putting pressure on Tremblay as he chased his first Pro national victory. Ultimately, Tremblay found extra pace when he needed it, holding off Mackay in an all-Kawasaki podium with Masse joining them in third.
Allard and former teammate Vincent Levillian notably collided and crashed out in turn 12 in the late stages, a devastating blow to both riders’ championship positions as Levillian slips to fourth in the final standings while Allard slides to seventh.
Louie Raffa benefitted most from the incident to score a season-best fourth, jumping to fifth in the final standings in what has been a strong bounce back season for the Honda veteran.
Notably rounding out the top-five on Saturday was rookie Brad Macrae, who completed a perfect season of his own in the Amateur Sport Bike category on Friday before making the early jump to the pro ranks on Saturday alongside fellow Yamaha rider Matt Simpson, who did the same en route to a stellar sixth-place finish.
Race two of the Superbike feature doubleheader – and the title-deciding final race of the season – is scheduled to run at roughly 3:20 pm ET, while the full schedule can be found on the series official website at csbk.ca.
Championship Point Standings (after 17 of 18 races):
Scott, 365 points, clinched Championship
Gloddy, 326
Rodio, 211
Kohlstaedt, 196
Cody Wyman, 186
Davis, 124
VanDenBrouck, 123
Max Toth, 109
Yaakov, 104
LiMandri, 99
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
Scott Crowned As MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion At Barber
All The Class Championships Are Decided But The Racing Is Hectic In Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, AL (September 18, 2021) – Mother Nature chose to dump rain on Barber Motorsports Park on Saturday, but nothing could dampen the spirits of Tyler Scott as the 15-year-old captured the 2021 MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Championship in style in his debut season of MotoAmerica.
Meanwhile, newly crowned MotoAmerica Champions Sean Dylan Kelly and Jake Lewis earned victories in the Supersport and Stock 1000 classes, respectively, while Kensei Matsudaira and Jesse James Shedden won in Mini Cup by Motul action on a purpose-built racetrack on site at Barber Motorsports Park.
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup: Scott Crowned!
The 2021 SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Championship wrapped up on Saturday, and Scott Powersports/KTM rider Tyler Scott clinched the title in the best way possible, by also winning the race. The Pennsylvanian started from the pole, but he was overtaken by Veloce Racing Kawasaki’s David Kohlstaedt on the first lap. Scott bided his time in second, and Kohlstaedt crashed in the wet conditions on lap three of the seven-lap event, which handed the lead to Scott, who maintained it all the way to the finish line.
Tyler Scott (70) leads Ben Gloddy (72), Kayla Yaakov (31), and Joe LiMandri Jr. (62) in the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup race on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Second place went to 14-year-old female racer Kayla Yaakov, the BARTCON Racing Kawasaki rider becoming the first female rider to finish on a MotoAmerica podium since Jamie Astudillo finished third in race two at Road Atlanta in 2018.
Landers Racing Kawasaki’s Ben Gloddy, who had a mathematical chance to catch Scott for the championship until today, finished third. The New Hampshirite was hampered by a wrist fracture that he suffered a few weeks ago.
When asked about the wet track, Scott said, “It was definitely a little sketchy. More stressful, because I just wanted to keep the bike on two wheels and get points towards the championship. But I’m super happy with the result. I wasn’t expecting to lead most of the race, actually. I thought David Kohlstaedt was going to lead the race. I kind of would have let him win just to not risk any overtakes. But it was a great race and congrats to these guys.”
Supersport: Kelly Vs. Escalante – Again
It’s been an incredible two weeks for M4 ECSTAR Suzuki rider Sean Dylan Kelly. After clinching the 2021 Supersport Championship last weekend in New Jersey, Kelly started off the weekend with the announcement that he will race in the Moto2 World Championship next year. And then, on Saturday in Supersport race one, he not only overcame another classic battle with HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki’s Richie Escalante, but he also prevailed despite the race being red-flagged and restarted.
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) leads Richie Escalante (1) and Alejandro Thermiotis (78) in the Supersport race prior to the red flag stoppage of the race. Kelly went on to win the restarted race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Weather was a factor in both legs of the race, and in the six-race second leg, Kelly was in the lead at the beginning, but Escalante overtook him with three laps left to go. On the final lap, Kelly got past Escalante to take the checkered flag by .040 of a second for the 12th time this season. Finishing third and a little over 2.5 seconds back was MESA37 Racing Kawasaki rider Stefano Mesa.
“For being in the rain, I think we were doing more passes than usual,” said Kelly. “From before the red flag, to even after on the restart, we were going head-to-head, and it was great. It was definitely a little bit scary, which we see a guy highside right in front of me. I thought the red flag was for him for a second, but he was able to get restarted. Once I heard there was a six-lap restart, I was like, it’s going to be a little sprint to the end. I had a really good feeling with my bike. I had a few moments before the red flag, and even after. Conditions were tough out there. I think there was more water on the track after the red flag. So, difficult conditions, but this is something that I’m pretty happy with. To be able to ramp up wins in the season, and then we have our first wet race in at least two years. To be fighting for the win and then end up with another victory, it’s something to be proud of. So, great fight. It was cool to have some fun up there.”
Stock 1000: Lewis Again
In the only Stock 1000 race of the weekend, which started race day one at Barber Motorsports Park, recently crowned class champion Jake Lewis overcame the wet track conditions to notch his sixth win of the season and fourth in a row. Lewis started from the pole and led from start to finish, deftly negotiating the very tricky race surface aboard his Altus Motorsports Suzuki. Chuckwalla Valley Raceway/Octane Lending Kawasaki rider Michael Gilbert finished second, and Motul/Travis Wyman Racing BMW’s Travis Wyman rounded out the podium in third.
(From left) MIchael Gilbert, Jake Lewis, and Travis Wyman finished third, first and second, respectively, in the Stock 1000 race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
“It dumped down rain this morning,” Lewis said. “I don’t think I’ve rode in the rain since 2018. For that first session, I was just going pretty slow, honestly. Struggled for the whole practice. Made some changes before the race. I just told them to soften it and I’ll just ride it. Luckily, it rained before the race and it dried out a whole lot, actually. There were a couple streams and stuff, but the first part of the track was really dry. Midway through the race, the thing was sliding around and moving around quite a bit, which is nice for me, growing up flat tracking, and I still ride in the woods a lot. It feels nice to win. I wanted to go out on top. It’s nice to click off four wins in a row at the end of the season. Like I said on the podium midway through the season, we made a change, and I’ve got to thank the mechanics by my side. That kind of lifted the program forward a whole lot. It feels good. Can’t thank the whole Altus Motorsports team enough for giving me the opportunity this year.”
Mini Cup by Motul: Titles Earned
In the final round of the 2021 Mini Cup by Motul, which was held on a purpose-built racecourse at Barber Motorsports Park’s Proving Grounds skid pad, the 110cc class was swept by American Racing Team’s Kensei Matsudaira. Fernandez Racing’s Jayden Fernandez rode his Ohvale GP-0 to victory in race one of the 160cc class, while race two was won by Atlas Speed Factory’s Jesse James Shedden. And Shedden was also the winner of both races in the 190cc class.Matsudaira clinched both the 110cc and 160cc season championships, while Shedden was presented with the number-one plate for wrapping up the 190cc title.
Jesse James Shedden (99) won three races in the Mini Cup by Motul races on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
More, from another press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing’s Jack Roach Notches A Top-Five Result In Rain-Soaked Junior Cup Race At Barber
Birmingham, AL – September 18, 2021 – Westby Racing’s Junior Cup rider withstood the prodigious rains on Saturday at Barber Motorsports to finish fifth, which was his best result of the season with one more race left to run.
Starting in ninth on the grid, Jack got a good jump off the line and was in sixth place at the end of the opening lap. From there, he focused on being smooth in the wet conditions, and it paid off since he was able to move up to fifth on lap three of the seven-lap event. Jack tenaciously held onto his top-five position and maintained it all the way to the checkered flag.
“It was a stressful race,” Jack said. “Especially after watching my teammate Mathew (Scholtz) in the Superbike race, which was just before our race. I knew that, if I just stayed smooth, I could get a good result. I didn’t have the setup that I was happy with, but we have changed the bike for tomorrow so, hopefully, that will give me the confidence in race two.”
Sunday’s Junior Cup race two is at 1 p.m. CT and will be streamed on MotoAmerica Live+. Both Saturday’s and Sunday’s race one and race will be broadcast via tape delay on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) on Tuesday, September 21 beginning at 4 p.m. ET.
For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit http://www.WestbyRacing.com
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
Editorial Note: The race was run in a steady rain shower with an increasing amount of water on the track. Some of the riders who crashed during the race included: Loris Baz, Jake Gagne, Josh Herrin, Cameron Petersen, Mathew Scholtz, Kyle Wyman, and Travis Wyman.
HONOS Superbike Championship Point Standings (after 18 of 20 races):
Gagne, 404 points, clinched Championship
Scholtz, 312
Petersen, 240
Baz, 202
Herrin, 194
Fong, 191
Barbera, 151
Jake Lewis, 113
Kyle Wyman, 92
Toni Elias, 76
Travis Wyman, 74
Alexander, 69
Gilbert, 53
Anthony, 50
Jayson Uribe, 39
Danilo Lewis, 37
Lee, 30
Yates, 29
Bradley Ward, 28
Farris, 28
Superbike Cup Championship Point Standings (after 18 of 20 races):
Jake Lewis, 356 points, clinched Championship
Travis Wyman, 266
Alexander, 234
Gilbert, 200
Danilo Lewis, 171
Farris, 166
Lee, 145
Coffey, 103
Yates, 100
Hunter Dunham, 98
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
Petersen Gets His First-Career MotoAmerica Superbike Victory
Cameron Petersen And Mother Nature Stop Jake Gagne’s Win Streak At 16 With Win At Barber
Cameron Petersen (45) leads Mathew Scholtz (11) and Loris Baz (76) during rainy Race One at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
BIRMINGHAM, AL (September 18, 2021) – One of the most dramatic races in AMA Superbike history took place in a rainstorm at Barber Motorsports Park on Saturday and it’s one that won’t soon be forgotten, especially if your name is Cameron Petersen. Or Mathew Scholtz. Or Loris Baz.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Petersen earned his first-career MotoAmerica Superbike win after surviving a crash in the downpour. Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz finished second after surviving a crash in the downpour. Oh, and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York’s Loris Baz finished third after also surviving a crash in the downpour.
And that translates to the unbelievable fact that all three podium finishers crashed in the same race in which they podiumed for the first time in AMA Superbike history. Yes, all three podium finishers suffered a crash and finished on the podium. All three… well, you get the point.
Petersen’s first HONOS Superbike win made him the 62nd rider in history to win an AMA Superbike race and the second from South Africa. The win also went a long way to solidifying Petersen’s hold on third in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with two races left to run on Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park.
Petersen also teamed up with Mother Nature to stop Jake Gagne’s win streak at 16 with the newly crowned 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion crashing out of the lead on the second lap, remounting, pitting for repairs, and then ending up 12th.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s really hit me yet,” Petersen said. “It’s been a long road to get to this point. Like you said, I had this circled from the beginning of the season. I know this is my favorite track in the world, and I knew that the Suzukis are really good around here. I came into Barber with a little bit of confidence, and I think that has kind of shaped my weekend so far. Honestly, I don’t really know what to say. That cool down lap, I was so emotional. My family sacrificed everything for me to get to this point. To finally get a Superbike win, it feels like it has paid off, especially riding against world-class riders like this. This place is no joke. I couldn’t be happier. But, honestly, that was probably the craziest race I’ve ever been involved in.
“The beginning of the race wasn’t too bad, but it was actually pretty good conditions for a rain race. Then, unfortunately, I ran over the paint into turn one and ended up crashing. But I did whatever I could to hold onto the bike and try to keep it running. Lucky, when I picked the bike up, it started right up first fire. I was able to get going back in second. I knew I had a gap behind me, so I was just trying to do laps and make sure I brought the bike home. Then as the race went on, it started really puddling up. Honestly, there wasn’t a spot on the track where we weren’t hydroplaning unless we were on the upper apex of the corner. Honestly, (it was) probably one of the scariest races I’ve been in. It’s unfortunate. I came over turn four and I saw yellow flags and I was like, ‘there’s no way.’ Sure enough, went into five and unfortunately Matty (Scholtz), same thing. He got out into the thick water and just hydroplaned. It was crazy. It’s unfortunate that he went down, but I’m going to take my first win any way I can get it. Hopefully, this isn’t the last. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and been in my corner. Like I said, I hope this isn’t the last, and let’s try to win two more tomorrow.”
Petersen and Scholtz battled at the front of the pack after Gagne’s demise. Then Petersen crashed in turn one and Scholtz held court at the front by himself. Then came the fateful 15th lap and Scholtz was down, the South African sliding from the crest of the hill out of turn four all the way down to turn five. He remounted but Petersen had already splashed past and was on his way to victory.
“I came over four, same as I’d done every single lap prior, and the puddle was just bigger than it was and the front just washed out,” Scholtz said. “I was basically riding and just hydroplaned and crashed. Not much to it. The track was just way too wet for us to be riding. I don’t think there was a single rider that was holding it flat out on the start/finish line. We were in fourth gear spinning, second, third, fourth down the whole straight. I’ve got mixed emotions now. Obviously, second is good. I’m really, really happy finishing second. I’m really happy for Cam, winning his first Superbike race. It was a little bit bulls*&% that when three of the four guys had all crashed and I was in front putting my hand up like, ‘guys, we’ve been hydroplaning.’ We are on Superbikes, fourth and fifth gear flat out spinning out, then just had to keep on going and unfortunately crashed. It is what it is. We’re going to have to come back tomorrow and just try to hang on. I know that Jake (Gagne) had a pretty decent pace going. The track with how it is, it was very slippery. So definitely try to change a couple things and come back swinging tomorrow.”
Baz was fortunate to be able to race at all after a crash on Friday left him beaten up with a damaged right wrist. Since he wasn’t able to take part in the qualifying sessions, he was also forced to start from the back row. He charged through the pack and caught the battle between Scholtz and Petersen, before suffering his crash and remounting in ninth place. From there he charged again and worked his way back to third for his seventh podium finish of the season. The wet conditions made it a bit easier on his injured wrist, but the crash in the race left him with barely a nub for a right footpeg and a right handlebar that was bent almost to the tank.
“The (wet weather) made it easier, then I crashed again on the race,” Baz said. “For the restart, the side of the bike, especially the handlebars, were completely bent into the fairing, so I don’t even know how I managed on the start. Then I just had to work my handlebars from a really strange position. It was bent the opposite way. It was so hard just to touch the brake. I just tried to survive after that. Also, the conditions, at that moment, the rain was okay. I think we all had really good fun then it started to rain more. I should have fought until the end, but for sure, when you are hydroplaning with a 1000cc in turn 15, it’s really frightening. That race was just so strange. My expectation at the start, I just wanted to use it as a qualifying race, just try to get the best start position for tomorrow. After three laps, I was fourth and then third. I came behind them and then I crashed again. Then again, I just tried to restart and go for the qualifying. I didn’t know I was third until I crossed the finish line. I was sure Jake (Gagne) was in front of me, because I saw him crash and passing me back. It was just a crazy race. Hats off to Cam (Petersen). We all crashed, but he did better than us. It was a really, really crazy race. I remember (someone) winning and crashing, but I don’t remember any podium with the three top guys crashing. Thank you to Ducati, having Louis take care of me from a big crash yesterday. I was 90 percent sure we couldn’t race, 70 percent sure I was not going to race when I woke up, then I started to feel better. Talking with them I said, ‘We’ll try.’ If you don’t want me to race, if you want me to go back home. I just told them, ‘No, we have to try.’ I always try. So, that’s it. We try again tomorrow.”
Fourth place went to Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates on his Stock 1000-spec Honda CBR1000 RR-R, the Georgian earning the first top-five Superbike finish of his career. It also gave him the victory in the Superbike Cup and put a Honda in a top four that featured four different brands of motorcycles – Suzuki, Yamaha, Ducati and Honda.
Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis was fifth, which earned him the Superbike Cup crown (and the $25,000 that goes with it) for racers riding their Stock 1000-spec motorcycles in the HONOS Superbike races. It was a good day for the Superbike Cup riders with Disrupt Racing’s Danny Eslick ending up sixth.
FLY Racing ADR Motorsports’ David Anthony was seventh on his Superbike-spec Suzuki GSX-R1000 and less than a second ahead of Scheibe Racing BMW’s Hector Barbera.
Ninth place went to Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha’s Josh Herrin, who was another crasher able to remount and finish. M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bobby Fong rounded out the top 10.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Herrin Breaks Top 10 in Wet Barber Race 1
Josh Herrin (2). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing’s Josh Herrin overcame challenges to work his way back to ninth today in a wet MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at the Barber Motorsports Park. Jake Gagne also put in a good chargeback from adversity in the rain to finish 12th.
Mother Nature played her hand on the first day of racing at the season finale, and riders were met with a lot of rain at the 2.3-mile track in Leeds, Alabama. With the grid positions being determined from yesterday’s dry session, Gagne lined up on the front row in third and Herrin on the second row in fourth. The newly crowned champ got a good start and stretched a lead upfront while his teammate battled in a three-rider fight for the other podium positions. Unfortunately, Gagne went down in the Museum corner on the second lap and rejoined in eighth. He put in a fast lap and advanced to seventh but ultimately had to pull into pit lane on Lap 5, rejoining the race at the back of the field.
Herrin was battling in third after his teammate’s crash, and then a couple of laps later, he was shuffled to eighth after running off track. The Californian made his way back up to sixth on Lap 12, but unfortunately, like many riders, he got caught out by the challenging conditions and crashed in the Museum corner. Herrin rejoined in 13th and advanced to ninth on the final lap. Despite the adversity, Gagne was also able to make a comeback, working his way back to 12th by the end of the 17-lap race.
The Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing Team lines up tomorrow for two more races to close out the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike season at the Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday, September 19.
Richard Stanboli – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“Well, that was a crazy race. Jake crashed while leading and Josh later in the race. Both riders continued but were unable to get the results we were looking for. The conditions and the track changed considerably from the second qualifying session, and we did not have an ideal setup. Jake did, however, run some very fast laps at the end of the race, and both riders learned a lot, and we collected some valuable data. Our Yamaha R1s and riders will be ready to bring the fight tomorrow. We are looking forward to the last two races of the season.”
Josh Herrin – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing
“Today was a very tough but fun race. It was all about survival today. Hopefully, tomorrow is a little easier on us and our bikes. Let’s get it!”
Jake Gagne – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing
“That was a wild one! I got off to a great start but threw it away on Lap 2. It was totally my fault, but I learned from it, and we’ll be back to fight for the wins tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Scholtz Crashes, Still Finishes Second In Rain-Drenched Superbike Race At Barber
Mathew Scholtz on the podium after Superbike Race One at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Birmingham, AL – September 18, 2021 – Saturday’s Superbike race at Barber Motorsports Park is one that Mathew Scholtz and the Westby Racing team—not to mention everyone who witnessed it—will never forget.
In the pouring rain, Mathew took the lead and looked to be headed for his second Superbike win of the season. However, on lap 15 of the 17-lap event, the standing water on the track proved to be too much for his #11 Yamaha YZF-R1. The bike hydroplaned, Mathew and the bike went down, and both slid along the wet track—with Mathew still holding on—for what was the longest distance pretty much anyone has ever seen a road racer slide.
While Mathew was getting himself and his bike back under way, Cam Petersen—who led the race early until he crashed and handed the lead to Mathew—came by, re-took the lead, and won the race. Mathew was able to rejoin the race in second, which he maintained to the finish line for his fifth consecutive runner-up finish and 14th podium result out of 18 races so far this season.
“I came over turn four, same as I’d done every single lap prior, and the puddle was just bigger than it had been, and the front washed out,” Mathew said. “I was basically riding and just hydroplaned and crashed. Not much to it. The track was just way too wet for us to be riding. I don’t think there was a single rider that was holding it flat-out on the start/finish line. We were in fourth gear spinning, second, third, fourth down the whole straight. I’ve got mixed emotions now. Obviously, second is good. I’m really, really happy finishing second. I’m really happy for Cam, winning his first Superbike race. It was a little bit rough that, when three of the four lead guys, had all crashed, and I was in front putting my hand up like, ‘Guys, we’ve been hydroplaning.’ We are on Superbikes, fourth and fifth gear flat-out spinning the rear tire. I just had to keep on going, and unfortunately, I crashed. It is what it is. We’re going to have to come back tomorrow and just try to hang on. We’ll try to change a couple things and come back swinging tomorrow.”
Ed Sullivan, Westby Racing Crew Chief said, “Well, I’m not sure there has ever been a Superbike race like that before! Congrats to Cameron (Petersen) on his first Superbike win. The conditions deteriorated over the race to the point that, in my opinion, it should have been stopped. Whether we were at the front or not, if the majority of the top Superbikes have hit the floor, the safety of the track surface has to be questioned.
“We have made some changes and look forward to having another try tomorrow!”
Chuck Giacchetto, Westby Racing Team Manager, added, “I have to agree with Ed in regard to the race, I’m nearly positive we’ve never had the top three crash and podium all in the same race. While it would have been a great victory, we will settle for P2 today. I feel it was a valiant effort by the crew and rider but, in the end, Mother Nature had her way.
“With the championship over for us, I know Mathew left nothing on the table today. He rode very well, and I don’t think anyone could ask for a better effort from their rider or the aforementioned crew. Thanks very much to every Westby Team member and our diehard fans who braved the elements today. See you tomorrow on the podium for ‘brunch.’”
Sunday’s Superbike race two is at 10:15 a.m. CT, and Superbike race three starts at 3 p.m. CT. Race two will be broadcast via tape delay Sunday at Noon ET on FOX Sports 2 (FS2), and race three will be broadcast via tape delay Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Both races will be streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer:
M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI’S CAM PETERSEN AND SEAN DYLAN KELLY WIN IN THE RAIN AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK
Cameron Petersen (45) won MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo By Brian J Nelson, courtesy Team Hammer.
Team Hammer thrived on perhaps the most difficult race day of the 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing season in Alabama on Saturday, winning races in challenging wet weather conditions at Barber Motorsports Park. M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly battled for victory in a close fight, Superbike pilot Cam Peterson endured a deluge that saw all three podium finishers crash during the race, and Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis took the checkers in difficult drying conditions.
Saturday’s headliner was M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Cameron Petersen, who was rewarded for his relentless effort with a maiden MotoAmerica Superbike victory.
The South African battled up front before the treacherous conditions seemingly removed him from contention in a wet weather crash. Undeterred, Petersen kept his wits and maintained control of his sliding GSX-R1000R in the first turn gravel trap and immediately remounted and re-entered the fray.
Peterson was able to maintain second place despite falling and his persistence positioned him to take control of the incident-filled race with two laps remaining when the leader also fell. With nerves of steel and supreme precision, Petersen rode his GSX-R1000R to the checkered flag to claim his first-career premier-class victory.
He said, “What a crazy race. I was having a good battle for the lead and then just ran over the paint and tucked the front. Man, I just didn’t want to give up. I held on to the bike all the way through the gravel trap and picked it up as quick as I could. I put my head down and just hit my marks and tried to bring it home. I can’t believe I crashed and picked it up and was still able to win. I’m honestly lost for words. Thanks to the team for giving me the best bike possible.”
Recently crowned MotoAmerica Supersport champion Sean Dylan Kelly showed rain or shine, he’s the class of the field. The Floridan pulled a rabbit out his helmet yet again to win his 12th victory of the season by 0.040 seconds following another last-lap pass in wet conditions aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R600.
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) won MotoAmerica Supersport Race 1 at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo By Brian J Nelson, courtesy Team Hammer.
‘SDK’ said, “What a race! It goes to show, we battle in the dry and we battle in the wet. It was an awesome race and a great show for the fans. This is honestly one of the best ways to perform in the last weekend of the season. It was so difficult to go out in the rain and be very focused in these conditions. It would have been so easy to make a mistake. A huge thanks to my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki crew. This wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Finally, 2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 champion Jake Lewis won his sixth race of the year on a drying track aboard his Team Hammer-built Altus Motorsports GSX-R1000R. Lewis also clinched the Superbike Cup title in the Superbike race.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki runners Sam Lochoff (5th – Supersport), Bobby Fong (10th – Superbike), and Wyatt Farris (17th – Stock 1000) rounded out an incredibly successful day for the team despite the difficult conditions.
Team Hammer will complete the 2021 MotoAmerica season on Sunday with one last race in Supersport and a twin finale in Superbike.
About Team Hammer
The 2021 season marks Team Hammer’s 41st consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 128 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 330 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
Editorial Note: Use the scroll and zoom tools in the bottom left corner of the PDF viewers to better see all pages of the race results and point standings.
Dumas becomes youngest Canadian Superbike champion in history with another win at Calabogie
Calabogie, ON – History was made at the Canadian Superbike Championship finale on Saturday, as 19-year-old Alex Dumas became the youngest champion in Pro Superbike feature class history with a clean sweep at Calabogie Motorsports Park.
The Liqui Moly MPG/FAST School Suzuki youngster needed only to finish inside the top-four to mathematically clinch the title after his victory in race one, but Dumas left little to the imagination with his fourth emphatic win of the season to become the first ever rookie champion in class history.
It didn’t initially appear like that would be the case, as rival Ben Young grabbed the holeshot in race two and began to gap the field quickly out front. However, an early red flag forced a restart, which was much less successful for Young as Dumas got the better start to lead start-to-finish.
“It was an awesome day and another awesome weekend to end the year. To clinch it with pole and two wins, it feels amazing,” Dumas said. “I have to give a huge thanks to Suzuki and my team for putting this year together. Everyone was such a good help, and I couldn’t do it without them.”
2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
Despite rumours of his return to MotoAmerica in 2022 – where he has already won two championships – or even the pursuit of a ride oversees, Dumas wouldn’t close the door on a legitimate title defence in his home country next season.
“I would really, really love to do it all again next year. Personally, I would like to be back, but I’m not thinking too much about it now.”
Dumas and his team will at least have an additional trophy to appreciate while they debate their offseason plans, after taking home the Team of the Year Award. Their surprise entry to the 2021 campaign proved to be a massively successful one, as crew chief Patrice Goyette and company guided Dumas to a historic debut season.
The Quebec City native beat Jordan Szoke’s record by just 177 days to become the new youngest champion in class history, with Young unable to capture his second career Superbike title.
Nevertheless, Young was his typical optimistic self on the podium, as he immediately turned his focus towards reclaiming the number one plate in 2022.
“I gave it everything, but Alex just rode so well all year,” Young admitted. “I was able to fight back after the tough start and fix a few of the issues we had, but in the end it wasn’t meant to be. But we’ll be back to fight again next year.”
In a repeat of the first podium, Trevor Daley grabbed the third step after a heated battle with reigning champion Jordan Szoke, as the two sides made contact in the final carousel before Daley won the drag race to the line.
It was a crucial result for the OneSpeed Suzuki rider, as he helped wrap up the inaugural Constructors Championship for Suzuki with his third podium of the season, as Daley again proved to be the best “number two” rider of any of the manufacturers.
“I was really patient at the start, because I knew if I could save my Dunlop tires I would have a bit more life left at the end when it mattered,” Daley said. “Me and Jordan went back and forth quite a bit all race, but it got pretty close at the end there. It will be a good race to watch on TV, that’s for sure!”
Szoke would settle again for fourth, a disappointing result to end arguably the most frustrating campaign of his storied career. The 2020 champion has endured a number of tough-luck incidents this season, with this year’s final result proving to be his worst since an injury-riddled 2014 campaign.
Despite the frustrated results, Szoke has been optimistic about returning for a record 24th season in the Pro Superbike class, though he has yet to confirm his plans – a notable detail given Ducati’s impending entry to the feature class and Szoke’s prior experience aboard Ducati machinery.
Completing the top-five in the second half of the doubleheader was Sebastian Tremblay, who was forced to ride his Turcotte Performance Kawasaki ZX-6R sport bike after an earlier crash in race one. The 2021 Pro Sport Bike champion narrowly defeated Samuel Guerin at the line, a terrific result ahead of the EFC Group BMW rookie.
Dumas wasn’t the only rider to wrap up a championship on Saturday, however, with a pair of nail-biting finishes in two of the Amateur divisions.
Anthony Bergeron completed his comeback in the AIM Insurance Amateur Superbike class, leading nearly from lights-to-flag to win the race and the championship aboard his privateer BMW.
The pre-season favourite nearly derailed his own title bid with a crash in round two, but consecutive wins to end the year were enough to hand him the crown by just eleven points over ASM Yamaha rival Pascal Bastien, who struggled to fourth.
The biggest swing of the season came in the Super Sonic Race School Lightweight category, as Harvey Renaud secured the national championship in unlikely fashion with a photo-finish win by just 0.018 seconds.
Renaud entered the weekend with a sizeable disadvantage to teenager Mackenzie Weil atop the leaderboard, but a crash in race one that ended Weil’s weekend – combined with a victory for Renaud – put him in position to win the title on Saturday.
Jacob Black, who was involved in the crash that ended Weil’s championship hopes, hung on to second at the line, though it wasn’t enough to do Weil any favours as Renaud will be crowned the national champion by just 16 points.
The full list of season results can be found on the series’ official website at csbk.ca, with the focus now turning towards the offseason and the 2022 CSBK campaign.
Dumas wins race one, inches closer to historic title at Calabogie
Calabogie, ON – Alex Dumas moved one step closer to capturing his first Pro Superbike title on Saturday, winning race one to take a 21-point lead into the final race of the Canadian Superbike Championship season at Calabogie Motorsports Park.
Starting from pole position, Dumas grabbed an early lead and never looked back, leading start-to-finish despite heavy pressure from rival Ben Young throughout the contest. Young would keep his title hopes alive with a crucial second place, as the two rivals comfortably separated themselves from the rest of the pack and eventual third-place finisher Trevor Daley.
The 19-year-old rookie sensation continues his unbeaten streak at Calabogie after sweeping round one, with a historic debut championship now firmly in sight.
“It was a perfect race, and to do it front of my team and all these fans means a lot,” the Liqui Moly MPG/FAST School Suzuki rider said. “We still have to get ready for race two and do it again, but to grab this one with a pair of Suzuki’s up here is amazing.”
It’s a disappointing result for Young, who needed to beat Dumas to give himself the best shot at a second Canada Cup as he entered with an eleven-point deficit. The Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW rider was well aware of the opportunity that slipped away from him, but remained positive on the podium with race two still to run.
“From my perspective it was a bit of a boring race, but we worked hard to overcome a bit of an issue on lap four that stuck with us throughout the race,” Young said. “It isn’t over yet. Alex has one hand on the trophy, but I just have to make sure that one hand isn’t on it too tight.”
Daley completed the podium for the second time this season, putting a late pass on reigning champion Jordan Szoke to crucially eliminate him from championship contention and hand another strong result to Suzuki.
“I got a really strong start, so after these two stretched out a gap it was a bit frustrating for me, but I hit all my marks and I was able to catch Jordan at the end there,” Daley said. “It’s awesome to have two Suzuki’s up here again. We’ve had a really strong year, and it couldn’t have come at a better time with the addition of the Constructors Championship.”
A frustrated Szoke could only muster fourth, as he will be officially out of championship contention when race two rolls around later on Saturday. The Canada General Warranty Kawasaki rider has struggled with a number of setbacks in 2021, as he missed the podium for the second time this year.
Completing the top-five for the first time this season was Samuel Guerin, who bounced back in a big way after a disastrous rookie season of his own aboard his EFC Group BMW.
Notably missing were frontrunners Tomas Casas and Sebastian Tremblay, who crashed out in a related incident on lap five. Tremblay initially crashed in turn five after battling with fellow Kawasaki man Szoke, causing Daley and Casas to check up entering the blind corner. Daley would continue, but Casas unfortunately crashed trying to avoid Tremblay and will be forced to sit out race two.
Despite the disappointment in the Superbike race, Tremblay capped off the first ever perfect season in the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike class, dominating once again to make it four-of-four in 2021 and extend an eight-race winning streak dating back to 2019.
After clinching the championship on Friday, Tremblay found himself in unfamiliar territory early on Saturday, trailing Turcotte Performance Kawasaki teammates Christian Allard and Phillippe Masse on the opening laps.
However, Allard drastically faded back and allowed a hard-charging David Mackay to carve up the pack to second, briefly putting pressure on Tremblay as he chased his first Pro national victory. Ultimately, Tremblay found extra pace when he needed it, holding off Mackay in an all-Kawasaki podium with Masse joining them in third.
Allard and former teammate Vincent Levillian notably collided and crashed out in turn 12 in the late stages, a devastating blow to both riders’ championship positions as Levillian slips to fourth in the final standings while Allard slides to seventh.
Louie Raffa benefitted most from the incident to score a season-best fourth, jumping to fifth in the final standings in what has been a strong bounce back season for the Honda veteran.
Notably rounding out the top-five on Saturday was rookie Brad Macrae, who completed a perfect season of his own in the Amateur Sport Bike category on Friday before making the early jump to the pro ranks on Saturday alongside fellow Yamaha rider Matt Simpson, who did the same en route to a stellar sixth-place finish.
Race two of the Superbike feature doubleheader – and the title-deciding final race of the season – is scheduled to run at roughly 3:20 pm ET, while the full schedule can be found on the series official website at csbk.ca.
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