Eli Block won MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race One Saturday at rainy and windy New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his Team ECB/Bartcon Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, Block took the lead from the start and pulled way until he was leading by 27.167 seconds on lap eight of 10, when the race was stopped prematurely by a red flag. It was 21-year-old Block’s career-first MotoAmerica race win.
Jayden Fernandez, age 15, got second place on his Fernandez Racing Kawasaki for his second podium finish in 2023.
Logan Monk, age 15, finished third, 0.363 second behind Fernandez, for his career-first trip to the MotoAmerica podium.
Pole-sitter Levi Badie crashed his Badie Racing Kawasaki out of second place on lap four, and 2023 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion Avery Dreher crashed his Bad Boys Racing Kawasaki out of second place two laps later.
The race was stopped for a crash that left Renee Franco’s motorcycle lying in the racetrack.
Update: Renee Franco was removed from the Race One results issued Sunday morning, and the Championship point standings have also been revised.
Hayden Gillim won MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Race One Saturday at rainy New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Gillim took the lead from his Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson teammate James Rispoli on lap two and pulled away to win the eight-lap race by 9.100 seconds.
Rispoli said he was uncomfortable in the wet and windy conditions and decided to ride to a safe second place and save taking big chances for the final race of the season on Sunday.
Gillim now leads Rispoli by seven points in the Championship heading into Race Two.
Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson’s Travis Wyman was closing in on Rispoli late in the race, but Wyman ran out of time and had to settle for third place and his first podium finish in the class in 2023.
Wyman’s teammate and older brother Kyle Wyman, a title contender coming into the race, crashed on the warm-up lap. Kyle Wyman got back up and started the race late, behind the Safety Car, but he pulled in at the end of lap two and Did Not Finish (DNF), knocking him out of Championship contention.
Jake Gagne won MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race One Saturday at rainy New Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1, the three-time Superbike Champion won the 16-lap race by 16.185 seconds.
JD Beach, who is filling in for Gagne’s injured teammate Cameron Petersen, finished second, and Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW’s Corey Alexander took his career-first Superbike podium finish in third.
Alexander’s teammate PJ Jacobsen crossed the finish line in second, 3.119 seconds behind Gagne, but Jacobsen received a two-position penalty for passing Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin in Turn 10 under a waving yellow flag early in the race.
Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz was scored fifth ahead of sixth-place Herrin. However, Scholtz made contact with Herrin during a pass late in the race, causing Herrin to run off track, and that pass is under investigation by Race Direction.
Gagne Wins Medallia Superbike Race One In A Rainstorm At NJMP
Jake Gagne Is The Master Of New Jersey Motorsports Park In A Driving Rainstorm
Jake Gagne (1), Josh Herrin (2), Mathew Scholtz (11), JD Beach (95) and the rest of the Medallia Superbike pack heads into a very wet turn one at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
MILLVILLE, NJ (September 23, 2023) – Saturday’s MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike race was held in a rainstorm at New Jersey Motorsports Park, and it was a race that Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha’s Jake Gagne didn’t need to win. But he did. Because he could. And that’s what Gagne does.
The three-time MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion won his 11th race of the season and the 40th Superbike race of his career in horrible conditions at NJMP. He won by a tick over 16 seconds and in the same manner as the majority of his other 39 wins. He led off the line, led into turn one, gapped the field quickly and maintained his lead to the finish of the 16-lapper that was shortened due to the inclement weather.
Jake Gagne (1) crosses the finish line and celebrates his 11th victory of the season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Gagne’s victory came over his teammate-of-late, JD Beach. Beach, who is filling in for the injured Cameron Petersen, was in the top four throughout the race and took advantage of crashes, off-track excursions and a penalty given to Tytlers Cycle Racing’s PJ Jacobsen after the New Yorker made a pass on Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin under a waving yellow flag.
When the dust (or mud) had settled, Beach was second with Jacobsen being dropped to fourth with the penalty.
While the Tytlers Cycle Racing team saw their lead rider dropped from second to fourth, they also got to enjoy the polar opposite with Jacobsen’s teammate Corey Alexander earning the first MotoAmerica Superbike podium of his career. Alexander was steady and fast and ended up some four seconds adrift of Beach and ahead of Jacobsen.
PJ Jacobsen (99) finished second on track, but was penalized two spots for passing under a waving yellow flag. JD Beach (95) ended up second with Josh Herrin (2) finishing fifth. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was fifth on the track, but sixth in the official results after being penalized for punting Herrin off the track while passing the Ducati rider for fifth. Scholtz had already remounted after crashing out of third place in what was an eventful afternoon for the South African.
Seventh place went to Benjamin Smith Racing’s Benjamin Smith, who was 10 seconds clear of Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim.
Tom Woods Powersports’ Nolan Lamkin and Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa rounded out the top 10.
Notable non finishers included Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch and Aftercare Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates. Paasch crashed out of the race in the fast last corner with Yates suffering a mechanical failure.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante had his worst finish of the season in 11th. Ditto for Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong, who was 13th.
Superbike Race 1
Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
JD Beach (Yamaha)
Corey Alexander (BMW)
PJ Jacobsen (BMW)
Josh Herrin (Ducati)
Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha)
Benjamin Smith (Yamaha)
Hayden Gillim (Suzuki)
Nolan Lamkin (BMW)
Stefano Mesa (BMW)
Quotes
Jake Gagne – Winner
“A lot of little moments, for sure. It was sketchy. This morning we had that session and it felt really good, really solid, but just this little bit of extra rain we got before the race. I almost crashed in the first left-hander in turn 3B in the lead on the first lap. Just pushed the front. Then I kind of calmed down. I was so focused on just hitting my marks that I didn’t even look at the pit board for a while, and then I kind of saw that plus two. Then there was that lap where I’d get reeled in and then it was just back and forth. So, I was trying to just hit my marks. It was really easy to crash today. I think we saw quite a bit of them today. It was just one of those days where if you could get a little offline, like JD (Beach) said, in a puddle, you were down quick. But I’m happy riding this Yamaha. I had a lot of fun riding out there. A couple good moments, little moments. I just hit my marks. Congrats to JD and Corey (Alexander). These guys up on the podium, they deserve it. I could see both Corey and JD. There’s a section of the track like (turn) 10 where I could see them. The last half of the race, the last five laps, they were in the same spot every time. I was still pushing, so they had a good pace. I think everybody probably learned a lot today. I think it will be closer tomorrow. It seems like every time we come to this place we get some crazy weather. So, I’m happy that we pulled home a win. Last race of the season tomorrow, so just try to have fun and enjoy it and hopefully have a good battle with these guys. I think everybody wants to get that last one, so it will be fun.”
JD Beach – Second Place
“When I’m with a guy out there it definitely helps because I think one thing for me, I like to be able to get my knee down but being so short, I’m stretching to try and do that. But when I got a guy in front of me, I kind of pick my eyes up a bit more and just roll through the turns better. It was definitely a hard race. This track in the rain is no joke. There’re so many slick spots. It’s weird because it will hold water in a few spots and then as the race goes on, it’s almost like the water gets pushed to a new spot. So, you’re kind of looking for the line all the time. You think it would start to dry out, but the water just gets pushed around. To get on the podium again as a fill-in rider is awesome. To be up here with Jake (Gagne) is great, and to see Corey (Alexander) get on the box is great too. I know he said that his titles might have asterisks on them, but on that day he’s racing against the best guys in that class. So, a title is a title. It doesn’t matter. To be on the box with two guys that have won titles in the last two seasons in great.”
Corey Alexander – Third Place
“I had no idea until I rolled in over here (that he’d finished third). I actually stopped to talk to James Rispoli really quick to give him some info about the track before his race. He was like, ‘I think you were third.’ I was like, ‘No, man, I was fourth. I was close, but I was fourth.’ Then they pulled me into the podium. Definitely a good surprise, for sure. I wasn’t expecting that one. I always seem to surprise myself in the rain somehow. Today more so than others. My first career win was in the rain, a long time ago now. I said to my mechanic before we rolled out and he was like, ‘This is going to be fun, huh?’ Like real sarcastic. I was like, ‘It’s all right. We’ve been here before.’ Usually in the rain somehow my riding style clicks with it. It takes me a little bit to get going, but once I get going, I get pretty comfortable. Felt really good towards the end. I knew I couldn’t catch JD (Beach) on those last couple laps. I was pushing and he was coming back to me. I wasn’t ready to take as big enough of a risk to really reel him in as I needed to. The tires were starting to get a little bit shot and I was losing the rear in a couple spots. I was very content with fourth place. That would have been a very good place for me to finish. I was happy enough with that. I was celebrating like it was a podium for fourth, and I would have celebrated a lot harder if I knew it was a podium. But it is what it is. Super happy to be up here. Like I said on the podium, anybody who has kind of been in my inner circle knows how hard these last few races have been for me. I haven’t been having much fun, honestly. So, to do this for my guys that are working so hard and just everybody that supports me personally, it’s nice to pay them back with something at least before the year is over.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Gagne Dominates Rain-Soaked Superbike Race 1 at NJMP
Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne and JD Beach score a stellar 1-2 finish in the opening race of the MotoAmerica Superbike season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park
MARIETTA, Ga. – September 23, 2023 – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne rode superbly in the rain to score his 11th victory of the season in today’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at the New Jersey Motorsports Park. JD Beach joined him on the podium for a stellar 1-2 finish for the team as Tropical Storm Ophelia soaked the 2.25-mile track in Millville, New Jersey.
Gagne showed strength in the rain earlier in the day, topping the timesheets in the second qualifying session and securing the runner-up spot in the combined times. When the lights went out, the three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion got off to a great start, grabbed the holeshot, and quickly built a cushion up front in the rain-soaked conditions. Gagne put on another masterclass performance and went unchallenged en route to his 11th win of the season and his 40th career superbike victory.
After qualifying seventh, Beach got a great start from the third row of the grid into third. Although he was shuffled to fifth a couple of laps before the halfway point, the dirt track/road racer rode his own race in the tricky conditions, made his way back to third, and ultimately, a runner-up finish. After a long absence from Superbike racing before filling in for the injured Cameron Petersen at the last three rounds, it was another great ride from Beach, who scored his second podium finish of the season with the team.
The Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team looks to stay on top tomorrow at New Jersey Motorsports Park for Race 2 and the final race of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike season.
Richard Stanboli – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“Today was awesome! The whole team did a great job. Our R1s were on point and both Jake and JD rode great in the rain. Another 1-2 finish, so I get to buy the team dinner again. We will try to do it again tomorrow.”
Jake Gagne (1) in action at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
Jake Gagne – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“It was crazy conditions today! I got off to a great start, and the R1 was working awesome in the rain. I had to navigate some standing water, so it wasn’t easy, but what a great day for the team!”
JD Beach (95). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
JD Beach – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“The race was so mentally intense! When this track is so wet, it makes it super slick. I was just trying to ride my own race and be as smooth as I could. This is only my third superbike weekend this season, and I haven’t had any rain races, so I was hoping for it to be dry, but it was great. I’m really pumped to get on the podium again on the superbike and to do it in the rain – that’s awesome!
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)
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Mathew Scholtz Races To An Event-Filled Sixth-Place Finish At New Jersey Motorsport Park
Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Millville, NJ – September 23, 2023 – In Saturday’s MotoAmerica Superbike race one at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was headed for a podium finish until the prodigious rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia conspired against him.
Well-known as a master rider in the rain, Mathew surprisingly went off the track on lap 11 of the 16-lap event and fell down in the saturated grass. Unhurt, he re-mounted his Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike and proceeded to race for a top-five finish. While in sixth on the final lap, Mathew tried overtaking Josh Herrin on the inside, but there just wasn’t enough room, and he sent Herrin off the track, which resulted in Race Control awarding Herrin with a fifth-place result and Mathew was credited with sixth.
“Usually, I get pretty good results in the rain,” Mathew said. “I’m always smooth with the throttle and on the brakes, which is really a benefit in these kinds of conditions. Unfortunately, I got caught out by the standing water on the track, and before I knew it, I was in the grass and going too fast to avoid tipping over in the grass. I was OK, and the bike didn’t have any damage, so I was able to continue. After all that, I really wanted to salvage a top-five result, but there just wasn’t enough room on the inside of (Josh) Herrin when I tried to pass him. We’ll regroup and try for a better result tomorrow. It’s the final race of the season, so we’re determined to end the year on a high note.”
Superbike race two is on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, and it will be shown live on MotoAmerica’s YouTube Channel.
For all the action from Pitt Race, as it happens, subscribe to MotoAmerica Live+, which is MotoAmerica’s live streaming and on-demand service.
Meet Mathew, Get An Autographed Poster, And More
Mathew will be available for autographs during the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk & Autograph Session, scheduled for 11 to 11:45 a.m. Sunday on pit lane at NJMP. He and the team will be handing out free posters and T-shirts, so don’t miss it.
Check Out The Westby Racing Sponsor Showcase
SBS Friction A/S, Superbike Unlimited LLC, Worldwide Bearings, and Yamaha Racing are the featured team sponsors on display in the Westby Racing paddock area this race weekend, so be sure to stop by to say hello and learn about some of the companies that support the team.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
Tyler Scott took a thrilling victory in MotoAmerica Supersport Race One Saturday at rainy New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750, Scott won the 14-lap race by 0.206 second.
Anthony Mazziotto challenged Scott for the lead for the entire race but had to settle for the runner-up spot on his North East Cycle Outlet Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.
Riding in just the third Supersport race of her career, 16-year-old Kayla Yaakov made history by finishing third on her Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, becoming the first female to finish on the podium in a MotoAmerica Supersport race. Yaakov also turned the fastest lap of the race, a 1:40.650.
David Anthony was running third late in the race when he had a moment that dropped him to fourth, where he finished on his Wrench Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R750.
Josh Hayes led five laps of the race and was pulling away when he crashed his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 on lap eight. He was able to remount his machine and salvage fifth place.
Gillim Closes In On Mission King Of The Baggers Title At NJMP
Gillim, Scott, Davis And Block Come Up Big In New Jersey Rain
Hayden Gillim (79) won Saturday’s Mission King Of The Baggers race over his teammate James Rispoli (43) and Travis Wyman (10). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
MILLVILLE, NJ (September 23, 2023) – Hayden Gillim put himself in the catbird seat for Sunday’s Mission King Of The Baggers season finale with the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson-backed Kentuckian earning a rain-sodden victory on Saturday to take a seven-point lead into the season finale.
Gilim’s teammate James Rispoli kept his hopes alive by finishing second to Gillim, but the New Yorker doesn’t control his own destiny. Gillim, however, does. If he wins tomorrow and Gillim finishes second, the title will go to Gillim.
Sadly, the third contender for the title – H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Kyle Wyman – had a horrible day and fell out of championship contention after a warm-up lap crash and a non-finish.
Although Kyle Wyman’s crash put a big damper on it, his teammate and brother Travis earned his first podium of the season after riding the second H-D Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide Special to third place behind the two Vance & Hines Harleys.
Roland Sands Design/Indian Motorcycle’s Kyle Ohnsorg and Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands/Indian’s Bobby Fong rounded out the top five.
“Coming into the weekend, I was just happy no matter how the weekend ended up I would be top three,” Gillim said. “Now, after today, unfortunately with Kyle (Wyman) going out, it’s made it where now I can’t get lower than second. So, I’m enjoying it. It seemed like a foggy race, like it was just kind of happening. It just worked out. It was a weird one. I didn’t really think about it much until after the race was over. The last two weekends… last Sunday I had a little baby girl and the Sunday before that I won the Stock 1000 Championship. So, I’m really hoping that we can just have a good day tomorrow and keep my nose clean. Hopefully, get another race win and bring this championship home, too.”
Supersport – Scott In A Thriller
The Supersport race-one podium at New Jersey Motorsports Park had a slightly different look on Saturday with a couple of different riders joining four-time Supersport race winner Tyler Scott on the podium.
Tyler Scott (70) held off Anthony Mazziotto (23) to win the Supersport race on Saturday at NJMP. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Scott took the victory aboard his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki by just .206 of a second over runner-up place Anthony Mazziotto, who scored his second podium finish of the season aboard his North East Cycle Outlet Racing Yamaha.
Third place went to 16-year-old phenom Kayla Yaakov, who, in only the third Supersport race of her career, became the first female to reach the podium in a MotoAmerica Supersport race. She also recorded the fastest lap of the race during her spirited charge to the front of the pack aboard her Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki.
“In the early parts of the race, I was giving it good acceleration out there,” Scott said. “Then, a river formed right outside the corner, so you’d slip up once and then twice. That’s probably the trickiest spot on the track and the easiest to crash, even just pushing through there. You have to worry about your front end, as well.”
REV’IT Twins Cup – It All Comes Down To Tomorrow
Blake Davis (1) leads the REV’IT! Twins Cup title chase by just one point heading into Sunday’s season finale at NJMP after winning Saturday’s race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
The REV’IT! Twins Cup Championship will be decided on Sunday, the final day of the season, after the results of Saturday’s race one.
Defending class champion Blake Davis won the race in dominant fashion aboard his N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha, which gave him a one-point lead in the standings over Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia’s Gus Rodio, who finished third. Coming home second in the race was Team Iso Yamaha’s Dominic Doyle, who notched his fourth podium result of the season and is fourth in the championship.
“Yeah, I love the rain,” Davis said. “I like the rain a lot. Like Gus (Rodio), Q2 this morning was my first time on the twin in the rain. We had a whole season on it last year and just never got in the rain. Any bike I ride, I really love running in this kind of weather. I felt really comfortable. I’d love the weather to be the same tomorrow. I had a good race.”
Junior Cup – New Guy On The Block
(From left) Jayden Fernandez, Eli Block and Logan Monk celebrate after Block’s first career Junior Cup victory. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Although his 21st birthday was on Friday, Team ECB/Barton Racing’s Eli Block waited until Saturday to truly celebrate his 21st birthday and he did so with a first career victory in the MotoAmerica Junior Cup series.
Block, who lives in Connecticut and races quite a bit at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, was the rain master as he stormed off to a 27.167 victory over Fernandez Racing’s Jayden Fernandez. Fernandez, meanwhile, earned his second podium finish of the season by just .363 of a second ahead of MonkMoto’s Logan Monk, who landed on the podium for the first time in his career.
“I’ve been racing at Loudon since 2018, so either we have one or two rounds a year where we have rain and I’ve always loved it,” Block said. “I’ve always tried having a very smooth riding style where it’s really nice at Loudon because of how slick it is with all the paint strips. The Loudon Classic this year, I raced that.”
More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA, LLC:
TY SCOTT VICTORIOUS IN THE RAIN FOR VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI
GSX-R750s Continue to Dominate the Field on Saturday
BREA, CA, September 24, 2023 — Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer emerged victorious despite inclement weather at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Saturday, with Tyler Scott earning his fourth MotoAmerica Supersport victory of 2023 in difficult wet conditions.
Race Highlights:
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
Supersport
Tyler Scott won his fourth MotoAmerica Supersport race of the year with a great ride in the wet.
Teagg Hobbs earned 8th and picked up valuable wet racing experience.
Superbike
Richie Escalante had a difficult race but managed to finish 11th.
Brandon Paasch crashed out of fifth position but is looking forward to Sunday’s race.
The rain did not stop Tyler Scott (70) from victory aboard his GSX-R750 in Race 1. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott (70) fought to another victory on Saturday, eventually earning the win in brutal wind and rain. While several riders showed quick pace, the relentless Scott had a great start from pole and remained a factor throughout with a calculated performance. The Pennsylvanian avoided falling while maintaining his speed, managing a narrow lead, and earning the win despite pressure from rivals throughout the entire race.
Scott gained his fourth win and eleventh podium of his ‘23 campaign aboard the next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750. The proven GSX-R750 once again made up 50% of the top ten finish positions in Supersport.
“The whole race was really on the edge,” said the 17-year-old Scott, who started from pole. “I was passed early, and the leader was starting to get away, so I really started to push under braking and acceleration, using everything I had. I had a few moments and decided to keep a safer pace and maintain second. The leader unfortunately made a mistake in Turn 10 and ended up on the ground.”
Scott may have regained the lead in the middle stages of the race, but the action was far from over as several riders managed to set the fastest lap during the race. None, however, would pass Scott, who won by 0.206 after 14 laps. After winning races with last-lap heroics or dictating the pace from the front, the young rider added a strategic, victory in tough rainy conditions to his list of accomplishments.
“We were in the race lead, but I wanted to keep pushing the pace,” Scott continued. “I knew everyone else may have caught up if I wasn’t pushing. The track conditions got worse, lap-by-lap. The whole Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team has done a great job. I’m happy with my Suzuki and happy with the team. It’s cold and rainy, but I’m thrilled to see everyone here.”
With the challenging weather conditions, Teagg Hobbs (79) was able to notch another top-ten result. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Teagg Hobbs (79) was eighth in the race, with the young rider unable to find the podium form he has shown numerous times in his first year with the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team.
“It was a long race. I had an okay start, but I didn’t have any confidence to push my pace the way I wanted to, given the rainy conditions,” said Hobbs. “This track in the rain is a tough one. It was important to make sure we finished, and we’ll see how things are for tomorrow.”
Richie Escalante (54) is looking to finish his season strong in Race 2. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
After scoring his first Superbike podium at the previous event in Texas, Richie Escalante set his sights on a career-first premier-class victory in New Jersey. Escalante started his race in fourth on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R but fell back at the start and was never able to find his usual place near the front, finishing 11th.
“I want to finish the year strong. The first day, the bike was amazing and then the rain came,” Escalante said. “The rain is difficult for me. I needed more laps, and the conditions were windy and cold. My confidence was not good. We made progress and by the end, we had our fastest laps. I think we may make more progress tomorrow. We will seek more improvements to the bike and give it another shot. I am sorry to my team for not being more competitive, but I was happy to finish the race without destroying the bike, and I feel we improved. Looking to the future, you must be competitive in all conditions, so this is on my list. I want to be a Superbike champion, and know I need to improve my performance in the wet.”
Tricky conditions prevented Brandon Paasch (96) from completing the race but is looking to bounce back in Race 2. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike pilot Brandon Paasch (96) sought to make his mark in the wet race on his GSX-R1000R. Paasch entered the contest with eight top-ten results in ten attempts with the team and looked to earn his fourth top-five, but Paasche crashed out while running fifth late in the race.
Paasch said, “I got up to fifth on the start and tangled with another rider. I lost a lot of ground and wasn’t really able to make it up. I was stuck back in fifth or sixth. I was hoping to be in a good spot at the end and, as other riders had trouble, the race started coming back to me. I knew if I started to push, we might be able to get a good result. Then I hit a bad puddle, the bike hydroplaned, and it sent me to the moon.”
Paasch said he would race on Sunday, despite being sore from the shunt.
The 2023 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship season will conclude on Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 133 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 361 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..
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha’s Blake Davis took a dominant victory in MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup Race One Saturday at New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his YZF-R7 in the rain with gusty winds, Davis won the 10-lap race by 11.324 seconds.
Dominic Doyle finished second on his Team Iso Yamaha YZF-R7. Gus Rodio passed his Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia teammate Ben Gloddy on the last lap to secure third place.
Gloddy came home fourth, and Rocco Landers, who is riding with a broken left foot and sprained left ankle, placed fifth on his Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660.
Following the results of Race One, Davis leads the Championship point standings by a single point over Rodio with Landers 20 points behind Davis in the third.
Bulega triumphs as Manzi stumbles, edging closer to the 2023 WorldSSP title
Nicolo Bulega (11). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Race 1 at MotorLand Aragon proved to be a pivotal moment in the 2023 World Supersport Championship, as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) showcased his dominance by leading from the start and consistently extending his lead, ultimately crossing the finish line more than three seconds ahead of his rivals. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) experienced a race of ups and downs, initially making progress but eventually succumbing to a last-lap error, which just outside the top 10. Bulega’s stunning victory, combined with Stefano Manzi’s 11th-place finish, allowed him to extend his lead by a significant 80 points to potentially clinch the Championship in Race 2 on Sunday.
In an intense battle for the remaining podium places, Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) emerged as the runner-up after a thrilling contest. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) fought hard to secure third place, demonstrating incredible resilience. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) just narrowly missed out on a podium finish, crossing the line in fourth, a mere two tenths away from the top three. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) held strong to clinch fifth place, with Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in sixth, less than a second adrift from De Rosa.
Bulega dominates Race 1 at Aragon, inching closer to the 2023 WorldSSP Championship with an 80-point lead over Manzi.
Bulega will win the title on Sunday if:
He finishes 1st and Manzi finishes 11th or worse OR
He finishes 2nd and Manzi finishes 16th or worse
P1 | Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team
“I’m very happy because we did an incredible job. From FP1, I had an incredible feeling with my bike. I can push like I want. I’m enjoying every lap. If you enjoy riding your bike, you are fast, and this is what is happening to me. It’s an incredible feeling. Of course, I think about the Championship now, but I try not to think about it too much because I want to continue to enjoy the races. When it’s time, I will really think about the standings. I have a big gap, but there are a few more races to come. For sure, I am in the best position right now, but we will see.”
Michael Rinaldi won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, the Italian won the 18-lap race by 1.253 seconds.
Pata Yamaha Prometeon rider Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up, and Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea was a very close third.
American Garrett Gerloff finished eighth overall and as the top BMW rider on his Bonovo Action M 1000 RR.
Rinaldi’s teammate Alvaro Bautista, the defending World Champion and current Championship point leader, crashed and Did Not Finish (DNF).
Bautista’s misfortune opens title race as Rinaldi seizes victory in Aragon showdown
Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.
WorldSBK Race 1 at Aragon was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring the triumph of Michael Ruben Rinaldi and the unraveling of Alvaro Bautista’s Championship challenge.
At the forefront of the action, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) ended a two-year drought with a resounding victory, showcasing his unwavering determination. Hot on Rinaldi’s heels, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) secured second place, closing the gap on Championship leader Alvaro Bautista to 37 points.
The day wasn’t without its twists and turns, as Alvaro Bautista, the Championship leader, endured a disastrous outing. Bautista crashed twice during the race, once from the lead, and again on the final lap when he was poised to score points. These crashes significantly dented his championship campaign, adding an unexpected layer of drama to the season.
Alvaro Bautista (1) crashed twice during Race One. The first fall came ahead of Jonathan Rea (65) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) claimed the final podium spot. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) put in a solid performance, clinching fourth place. One of the race’s most remarkable stories unfolded with Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) starting from 24th on the grid to secure an astounding fifth place. Closing out the top six was Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven).
Rinaldi marked an emphatic return to the winner’s circle, ending his two-year victory drought in style.
P1 | Michael Ruben Rinaldi | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“It’s incredible! At Aragon, strange things happen, I had my first race win here and then this victory today is one of my best, as I fought! It was a race where I had to manage the tyre and think a lot. There’s been some really dark moments this year but this is the best road to come back. I decided to not give up and here I am, really happy and enjoying this moment.
I think that the problem for them was at the beginning of the race; I was lapping in the 1’50s but they went away, and I think they were using too much tyre, so at the end, it was the key as I was able to catch them. It’s what I thought at the beginning of the race. I’m sorry for Alvaro’s crash and I’m sure his pace was even better, but I took the opportunity and won the race. These things happen and I wish him the best for tomorrow. My target is to always be there fighting for the victory and we’ll see tomorrow if we can repeat it with Alvaro.”
Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson’s James Rispoli won the wet MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Challenge, a three-lap dash-for-cash, Saturday at New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey.
Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson’s Kyle Wyman was the runner-up, and Wyman’s teammate and younger brother Travis Wyman finished third.
Defending Champion Tyler O’Hara got the holeshot on the start but crashed his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian Challenger coming out of Turn One and Did Not Finish (DNF).
Kyle Wyman claimed provisional pole for the MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers during qualifying at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson Road Glide in dry conditions during Qualifying One (Q1) on Friday, the New Yorker lapped the 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway course in 1:24.447, which broke his own All-Time Lap Record of 1:24.553 from 2022. Then when rain hit NJMP during Saturday’s Qualifying Two (Q2), Wyman’s time became insurmountable, securing pole position for him.
Defending Champion Tyler O’Hara will start from the second spot on the grid thanks to the 1:24.639 he recorded during Q1 on his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian Challenger. Championship point leader Hayden Gillim ended up third on the grid based on the 1:24.647 he did during Q1 on his Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson Road Glide.
Riders qualifying on the second row included Wyman’s teammate and younger brother Travis Wyman (1:25.410), Gillim’s teammate James Rispoli (1:25.421), and Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands Design Indian’s Bobby Fong (1:25.822).
Kyle Wyman (1:41.475) was also fastest in wet conditions during Q2, but Rispoli (1:41.577) and Gillim (1:41.680) were close to his pace.
PJ Jacobsen earned MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike pole position at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), in Millville, New Jersey. Piloting his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, Jacobsen topped the field with a lap time of 1:20.647 in dry conditions during Friday’s Qualifying One (Q1) session. When rain and wind from Tropical Storm Ophelia lashed NJMP during Qualifying Two (Q2) on Saturday morning, it put Jacobsen’s time out of reach and secured his pole position for both of this weekend’s races.
Newly crowned three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne will start from the second spot on the grid based on the 1:20.819 he did on his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1 during Q1. Mathew Scholtz claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:21.135 on his Westby Racing Yamaha on Friday.
Row two starters include Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante (1:21.399), Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha’s Bobby Fong (1:21.779), and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin (1:21.908).
During Saturday’s wet Q2 session, however, Gagne (1:37.309) was quickest with Scholtz (1:37.956) a close second and the rest of the field far behind.
Eli Block won MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race One Saturday at rainy and windy New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his Team ECB/Bartcon Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, Block took the lead from the start and pulled way until he was leading by 27.167 seconds on lap eight of 10, when the race was stopped prematurely by a red flag. It was 21-year-old Block’s career-first MotoAmerica race win.
Jayden Fernandez, age 15, got second place on his Fernandez Racing Kawasaki for his second podium finish in 2023.
Logan Monk, age 15, finished third, 0.363 second behind Fernandez, for his career-first trip to the MotoAmerica podium.
Pole-sitter Levi Badie crashed his Badie Racing Kawasaki out of second place on lap four, and 2023 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion Avery Dreher crashed his Bad Boys Racing Kawasaki out of second place two laps later.
The race was stopped for a crash that left Renee Franco’s motorcycle lying in the racetrack.
Update: Renee Franco was removed from the Race One results issued Sunday morning, and the Championship point standings have also been revised.
Hayden Gillim won MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Race One Saturday at rainy New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Gillim took the lead from his Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson teammate James Rispoli on lap two and pulled away to win the eight-lap race by 9.100 seconds.
Rispoli said he was uncomfortable in the wet and windy conditions and decided to ride to a safe second place and save taking big chances for the final race of the season on Sunday.
Gillim now leads Rispoli by seven points in the Championship heading into Race Two.
Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson’s Travis Wyman was closing in on Rispoli late in the race, but Wyman ran out of time and had to settle for third place and his first podium finish in the class in 2023.
Wyman’s teammate and older brother Kyle Wyman, a title contender coming into the race, crashed on the warm-up lap. Kyle Wyman got back up and started the race late, behind the Safety Car, but he pulled in at the end of lap two and Did Not Finish (DNF), knocking him out of Championship contention.
Jake Gagne won MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race One Saturday at rainy New Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1, the three-time Superbike Champion won the 16-lap race by 16.185 seconds.
JD Beach, who is filling in for Gagne’s injured teammate Cameron Petersen, finished second, and Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW’s Corey Alexander took his career-first Superbike podium finish in third.
Alexander’s teammate PJ Jacobsen crossed the finish line in second, 3.119 seconds behind Gagne, but Jacobsen received a two-position penalty for passing Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin in Turn 10 under a waving yellow flag early in the race.
Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz was scored fifth ahead of sixth-place Herrin. However, Scholtz made contact with Herrin during a pass late in the race, causing Herrin to run off track, and that pass is under investigation by Race Direction.
Gagne Wins Medallia Superbike Race One In A Rainstorm At NJMP
Jake Gagne Is The Master Of New Jersey Motorsports Park In A Driving Rainstorm
Jake Gagne (1), Josh Herrin (2), Mathew Scholtz (11), JD Beach (95) and the rest of the Medallia Superbike pack heads into a very wet turn one at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
MILLVILLE, NJ (September 23, 2023) – Saturday’s MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike race was held in a rainstorm at New Jersey Motorsports Park, and it was a race that Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha’s Jake Gagne didn’t need to win. But he did. Because he could. And that’s what Gagne does.
The three-time MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion won his 11th race of the season and the 40th Superbike race of his career in horrible conditions at NJMP. He won by a tick over 16 seconds and in the same manner as the majority of his other 39 wins. He led off the line, led into turn one, gapped the field quickly and maintained his lead to the finish of the 16-lapper that was shortened due to the inclement weather.
Jake Gagne (1) crosses the finish line and celebrates his 11th victory of the season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Gagne’s victory came over his teammate-of-late, JD Beach. Beach, who is filling in for the injured Cameron Petersen, was in the top four throughout the race and took advantage of crashes, off-track excursions and a penalty given to Tytlers Cycle Racing’s PJ Jacobsen after the New Yorker made a pass on Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin under a waving yellow flag.
When the dust (or mud) had settled, Beach was second with Jacobsen being dropped to fourth with the penalty.
While the Tytlers Cycle Racing team saw their lead rider dropped from second to fourth, they also got to enjoy the polar opposite with Jacobsen’s teammate Corey Alexander earning the first MotoAmerica Superbike podium of his career. Alexander was steady and fast and ended up some four seconds adrift of Beach and ahead of Jacobsen.
PJ Jacobsen (99) finished second on track, but was penalized two spots for passing under a waving yellow flag. JD Beach (95) ended up second with Josh Herrin (2) finishing fifth. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was fifth on the track, but sixth in the official results after being penalized for punting Herrin off the track while passing the Ducati rider for fifth. Scholtz had already remounted after crashing out of third place in what was an eventful afternoon for the South African.
Seventh place went to Benjamin Smith Racing’s Benjamin Smith, who was 10 seconds clear of Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim.
Tom Woods Powersports’ Nolan Lamkin and Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa rounded out the top 10.
Notable non finishers included Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch and Aftercare Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates. Paasch crashed out of the race in the fast last corner with Yates suffering a mechanical failure.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante had his worst finish of the season in 11th. Ditto for Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong, who was 13th.
Superbike Race 1
Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
JD Beach (Yamaha)
Corey Alexander (BMW)
PJ Jacobsen (BMW)
Josh Herrin (Ducati)
Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha)
Benjamin Smith (Yamaha)
Hayden Gillim (Suzuki)
Nolan Lamkin (BMW)
Stefano Mesa (BMW)
Quotes
Jake Gagne – Winner
“A lot of little moments, for sure. It was sketchy. This morning we had that session and it felt really good, really solid, but just this little bit of extra rain we got before the race. I almost crashed in the first left-hander in turn 3B in the lead on the first lap. Just pushed the front. Then I kind of calmed down. I was so focused on just hitting my marks that I didn’t even look at the pit board for a while, and then I kind of saw that plus two. Then there was that lap where I’d get reeled in and then it was just back and forth. So, I was trying to just hit my marks. It was really easy to crash today. I think we saw quite a bit of them today. It was just one of those days where if you could get a little offline, like JD (Beach) said, in a puddle, you were down quick. But I’m happy riding this Yamaha. I had a lot of fun riding out there. A couple good moments, little moments. I just hit my marks. Congrats to JD and Corey (Alexander). These guys up on the podium, they deserve it. I could see both Corey and JD. There’s a section of the track like (turn) 10 where I could see them. The last half of the race, the last five laps, they were in the same spot every time. I was still pushing, so they had a good pace. I think everybody probably learned a lot today. I think it will be closer tomorrow. It seems like every time we come to this place we get some crazy weather. So, I’m happy that we pulled home a win. Last race of the season tomorrow, so just try to have fun and enjoy it and hopefully have a good battle with these guys. I think everybody wants to get that last one, so it will be fun.”
JD Beach – Second Place
“When I’m with a guy out there it definitely helps because I think one thing for me, I like to be able to get my knee down but being so short, I’m stretching to try and do that. But when I got a guy in front of me, I kind of pick my eyes up a bit more and just roll through the turns better. It was definitely a hard race. This track in the rain is no joke. There’re so many slick spots. It’s weird because it will hold water in a few spots and then as the race goes on, it’s almost like the water gets pushed to a new spot. So, you’re kind of looking for the line all the time. You think it would start to dry out, but the water just gets pushed around. To get on the podium again as a fill-in rider is awesome. To be up here with Jake (Gagne) is great, and to see Corey (Alexander) get on the box is great too. I know he said that his titles might have asterisks on them, but on that day he’s racing against the best guys in that class. So, a title is a title. It doesn’t matter. To be on the box with two guys that have won titles in the last two seasons in great.”
Corey Alexander – Third Place
“I had no idea until I rolled in over here (that he’d finished third). I actually stopped to talk to James Rispoli really quick to give him some info about the track before his race. He was like, ‘I think you were third.’ I was like, ‘No, man, I was fourth. I was close, but I was fourth.’ Then they pulled me into the podium. Definitely a good surprise, for sure. I wasn’t expecting that one. I always seem to surprise myself in the rain somehow. Today more so than others. My first career win was in the rain, a long time ago now. I said to my mechanic before we rolled out and he was like, ‘This is going to be fun, huh?’ Like real sarcastic. I was like, ‘It’s all right. We’ve been here before.’ Usually in the rain somehow my riding style clicks with it. It takes me a little bit to get going, but once I get going, I get pretty comfortable. Felt really good towards the end. I knew I couldn’t catch JD (Beach) on those last couple laps. I was pushing and he was coming back to me. I wasn’t ready to take as big enough of a risk to really reel him in as I needed to. The tires were starting to get a little bit shot and I was losing the rear in a couple spots. I was very content with fourth place. That would have been a very good place for me to finish. I was happy enough with that. I was celebrating like it was a podium for fourth, and I would have celebrated a lot harder if I knew it was a podium. But it is what it is. Super happy to be up here. Like I said on the podium, anybody who has kind of been in my inner circle knows how hard these last few races have been for me. I haven’t been having much fun, honestly. So, to do this for my guys that are working so hard and just everybody that supports me personally, it’s nice to pay them back with something at least before the year is over.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Gagne Dominates Rain-Soaked Superbike Race 1 at NJMP
Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne and JD Beach score a stellar 1-2 finish in the opening race of the MotoAmerica Superbike season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park
MARIETTA, Ga. – September 23, 2023 – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne rode superbly in the rain to score his 11th victory of the season in today’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at the New Jersey Motorsports Park. JD Beach joined him on the podium for a stellar 1-2 finish for the team as Tropical Storm Ophelia soaked the 2.25-mile track in Millville, New Jersey.
Gagne showed strength in the rain earlier in the day, topping the timesheets in the second qualifying session and securing the runner-up spot in the combined times. When the lights went out, the three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion got off to a great start, grabbed the holeshot, and quickly built a cushion up front in the rain-soaked conditions. Gagne put on another masterclass performance and went unchallenged en route to his 11th win of the season and his 40th career superbike victory.
After qualifying seventh, Beach got a great start from the third row of the grid into third. Although he was shuffled to fifth a couple of laps before the halfway point, the dirt track/road racer rode his own race in the tricky conditions, made his way back to third, and ultimately, a runner-up finish. After a long absence from Superbike racing before filling in for the injured Cameron Petersen at the last three rounds, it was another great ride from Beach, who scored his second podium finish of the season with the team.
The Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team looks to stay on top tomorrow at New Jersey Motorsports Park for Race 2 and the final race of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike season.
Richard Stanboli – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“Today was awesome! The whole team did a great job. Our R1s were on point and both Jake and JD rode great in the rain. Another 1-2 finish, so I get to buy the team dinner again. We will try to do it again tomorrow.”
Jake Gagne (1) in action at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
Jake Gagne – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“It was crazy conditions today! I got off to a great start, and the R1 was working awesome in the rain. I had to navigate some standing water, so it wasn’t easy, but what a great day for the team!”
JD Beach (95). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
JD Beach – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“The race was so mentally intense! When this track is so wet, it makes it super slick. I was just trying to ride my own race and be as smooth as I could. This is only my third superbike weekend this season, and I haven’t had any rain races, so I was hoping for it to be dry, but it was great. I’m really pumped to get on the podium again on the superbike and to do it in the rain – that’s awesome!
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)
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Mathew Scholtz Races To An Event-Filled Sixth-Place Finish At New Jersey Motorsport Park
Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Millville, NJ – September 23, 2023 – In Saturday’s MotoAmerica Superbike race one at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was headed for a podium finish until the prodigious rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia conspired against him.
Well-known as a master rider in the rain, Mathew surprisingly went off the track on lap 11 of the 16-lap event and fell down in the saturated grass. Unhurt, he re-mounted his Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike and proceeded to race for a top-five finish. While in sixth on the final lap, Mathew tried overtaking Josh Herrin on the inside, but there just wasn’t enough room, and he sent Herrin off the track, which resulted in Race Control awarding Herrin with a fifth-place result and Mathew was credited with sixth.
“Usually, I get pretty good results in the rain,” Mathew said. “I’m always smooth with the throttle and on the brakes, which is really a benefit in these kinds of conditions. Unfortunately, I got caught out by the standing water on the track, and before I knew it, I was in the grass and going too fast to avoid tipping over in the grass. I was OK, and the bike didn’t have any damage, so I was able to continue. After all that, I really wanted to salvage a top-five result, but there just wasn’t enough room on the inside of (Josh) Herrin when I tried to pass him. We’ll regroup and try for a better result tomorrow. It’s the final race of the season, so we’re determined to end the year on a high note.”
Superbike race two is on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, and it will be shown live on MotoAmerica’s YouTube Channel.
For all the action from Pitt Race, as it happens, subscribe to MotoAmerica Live+, which is MotoAmerica’s live streaming and on-demand service.
Meet Mathew, Get An Autographed Poster, And More
Mathew will be available for autographs during the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk & Autograph Session, scheduled for 11 to 11:45 a.m. Sunday on pit lane at NJMP. He and the team will be handing out free posters and T-shirts, so don’t miss it.
Check Out The Westby Racing Sponsor Showcase
SBS Friction A/S, Superbike Unlimited LLC, Worldwide Bearings, and Yamaha Racing are the featured team sponsors on display in the Westby Racing paddock area this race weekend, so be sure to stop by to say hello and learn about some of the companies that support the team.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
Tyler Scott took a thrilling victory in MotoAmerica Supersport Race One Saturday at rainy New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750, Scott won the 14-lap race by 0.206 second.
Anthony Mazziotto challenged Scott for the lead for the entire race but had to settle for the runner-up spot on his North East Cycle Outlet Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.
Riding in just the third Supersport race of her career, 16-year-old Kayla Yaakov made history by finishing third on her Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, becoming the first female to finish on the podium in a MotoAmerica Supersport race. Yaakov also turned the fastest lap of the race, a 1:40.650.
David Anthony was running third late in the race when he had a moment that dropped him to fourth, where he finished on his Wrench Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R750.
Josh Hayes led five laps of the race and was pulling away when he crashed his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 on lap eight. He was able to remount his machine and salvage fifth place.
Gillim Closes In On Mission King Of The Baggers Title At NJMP
Gillim, Scott, Davis And Block Come Up Big In New Jersey Rain
Hayden Gillim (79) won Saturday’s Mission King Of The Baggers race over his teammate James Rispoli (43) and Travis Wyman (10). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
MILLVILLE, NJ (September 23, 2023) – Hayden Gillim put himself in the catbird seat for Sunday’s Mission King Of The Baggers season finale with the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson-backed Kentuckian earning a rain-sodden victory on Saturday to take a seven-point lead into the season finale.
Gilim’s teammate James Rispoli kept his hopes alive by finishing second to Gillim, but the New Yorker doesn’t control his own destiny. Gillim, however, does. If he wins tomorrow and Gillim finishes second, the title will go to Gillim.
Sadly, the third contender for the title – H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Kyle Wyman – had a horrible day and fell out of championship contention after a warm-up lap crash and a non-finish.
Although Kyle Wyman’s crash put a big damper on it, his teammate and brother Travis earned his first podium of the season after riding the second H-D Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide Special to third place behind the two Vance & Hines Harleys.
Roland Sands Design/Indian Motorcycle’s Kyle Ohnsorg and Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands/Indian’s Bobby Fong rounded out the top five.
“Coming into the weekend, I was just happy no matter how the weekend ended up I would be top three,” Gillim said. “Now, after today, unfortunately with Kyle (Wyman) going out, it’s made it where now I can’t get lower than second. So, I’m enjoying it. It seemed like a foggy race, like it was just kind of happening. It just worked out. It was a weird one. I didn’t really think about it much until after the race was over. The last two weekends… last Sunday I had a little baby girl and the Sunday before that I won the Stock 1000 Championship. So, I’m really hoping that we can just have a good day tomorrow and keep my nose clean. Hopefully, get another race win and bring this championship home, too.”
Supersport – Scott In A Thriller
The Supersport race-one podium at New Jersey Motorsports Park had a slightly different look on Saturday with a couple of different riders joining four-time Supersport race winner Tyler Scott on the podium.
Tyler Scott (70) held off Anthony Mazziotto (23) to win the Supersport race on Saturday at NJMP. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Scott took the victory aboard his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki by just .206 of a second over runner-up place Anthony Mazziotto, who scored his second podium finish of the season aboard his North East Cycle Outlet Racing Yamaha.
Third place went to 16-year-old phenom Kayla Yaakov, who, in only the third Supersport race of her career, became the first female to reach the podium in a MotoAmerica Supersport race. She also recorded the fastest lap of the race during her spirited charge to the front of the pack aboard her Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki.
“In the early parts of the race, I was giving it good acceleration out there,” Scott said. “Then, a river formed right outside the corner, so you’d slip up once and then twice. That’s probably the trickiest spot on the track and the easiest to crash, even just pushing through there. You have to worry about your front end, as well.”
REV’IT Twins Cup – It All Comes Down To Tomorrow
Blake Davis (1) leads the REV’IT! Twins Cup title chase by just one point heading into Sunday’s season finale at NJMP after winning Saturday’s race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
The REV’IT! Twins Cup Championship will be decided on Sunday, the final day of the season, after the results of Saturday’s race one.
Defending class champion Blake Davis won the race in dominant fashion aboard his N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha, which gave him a one-point lead in the standings over Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia’s Gus Rodio, who finished third. Coming home second in the race was Team Iso Yamaha’s Dominic Doyle, who notched his fourth podium result of the season and is fourth in the championship.
“Yeah, I love the rain,” Davis said. “I like the rain a lot. Like Gus (Rodio), Q2 this morning was my first time on the twin in the rain. We had a whole season on it last year and just never got in the rain. Any bike I ride, I really love running in this kind of weather. I felt really comfortable. I’d love the weather to be the same tomorrow. I had a good race.”
Junior Cup – New Guy On The Block
(From left) Jayden Fernandez, Eli Block and Logan Monk celebrate after Block’s first career Junior Cup victory. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Although his 21st birthday was on Friday, Team ECB/Barton Racing’s Eli Block waited until Saturday to truly celebrate his 21st birthday and he did so with a first career victory in the MotoAmerica Junior Cup series.
Block, who lives in Connecticut and races quite a bit at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, was the rain master as he stormed off to a 27.167 victory over Fernandez Racing’s Jayden Fernandez. Fernandez, meanwhile, earned his second podium finish of the season by just .363 of a second ahead of MonkMoto’s Logan Monk, who landed on the podium for the first time in his career.
“I’ve been racing at Loudon since 2018, so either we have one or two rounds a year where we have rain and I’ve always loved it,” Block said. “I’ve always tried having a very smooth riding style where it’s really nice at Loudon because of how slick it is with all the paint strips. The Loudon Classic this year, I raced that.”
More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA, LLC:
TY SCOTT VICTORIOUS IN THE RAIN FOR VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI
GSX-R750s Continue to Dominate the Field on Saturday
BREA, CA, September 24, 2023 — Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer emerged victorious despite inclement weather at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Saturday, with Tyler Scott earning his fourth MotoAmerica Supersport victory of 2023 in difficult wet conditions.
Race Highlights:
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
Supersport
Tyler Scott won his fourth MotoAmerica Supersport race of the year with a great ride in the wet.
Teagg Hobbs earned 8th and picked up valuable wet racing experience.
Superbike
Richie Escalante had a difficult race but managed to finish 11th.
Brandon Paasch crashed out of fifth position but is looking forward to Sunday’s race.
The rain did not stop Tyler Scott (70) from victory aboard his GSX-R750 in Race 1. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott (70) fought to another victory on Saturday, eventually earning the win in brutal wind and rain. While several riders showed quick pace, the relentless Scott had a great start from pole and remained a factor throughout with a calculated performance. The Pennsylvanian avoided falling while maintaining his speed, managing a narrow lead, and earning the win despite pressure from rivals throughout the entire race.
Scott gained his fourth win and eleventh podium of his ‘23 campaign aboard the next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750. The proven GSX-R750 once again made up 50% of the top ten finish positions in Supersport.
“The whole race was really on the edge,” said the 17-year-old Scott, who started from pole. “I was passed early, and the leader was starting to get away, so I really started to push under braking and acceleration, using everything I had. I had a few moments and decided to keep a safer pace and maintain second. The leader unfortunately made a mistake in Turn 10 and ended up on the ground.”
Scott may have regained the lead in the middle stages of the race, but the action was far from over as several riders managed to set the fastest lap during the race. None, however, would pass Scott, who won by 0.206 after 14 laps. After winning races with last-lap heroics or dictating the pace from the front, the young rider added a strategic, victory in tough rainy conditions to his list of accomplishments.
“We were in the race lead, but I wanted to keep pushing the pace,” Scott continued. “I knew everyone else may have caught up if I wasn’t pushing. The track conditions got worse, lap-by-lap. The whole Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team has done a great job. I’m happy with my Suzuki and happy with the team. It’s cold and rainy, but I’m thrilled to see everyone here.”
With the challenging weather conditions, Teagg Hobbs (79) was able to notch another top-ten result. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Teagg Hobbs (79) was eighth in the race, with the young rider unable to find the podium form he has shown numerous times in his first year with the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team.
“It was a long race. I had an okay start, but I didn’t have any confidence to push my pace the way I wanted to, given the rainy conditions,” said Hobbs. “This track in the rain is a tough one. It was important to make sure we finished, and we’ll see how things are for tomorrow.”
Richie Escalante (54) is looking to finish his season strong in Race 2. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
After scoring his first Superbike podium at the previous event in Texas, Richie Escalante set his sights on a career-first premier-class victory in New Jersey. Escalante started his race in fourth on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R but fell back at the start and was never able to find his usual place near the front, finishing 11th.
“I want to finish the year strong. The first day, the bike was amazing and then the rain came,” Escalante said. “The rain is difficult for me. I needed more laps, and the conditions were windy and cold. My confidence was not good. We made progress and by the end, we had our fastest laps. I think we may make more progress tomorrow. We will seek more improvements to the bike and give it another shot. I am sorry to my team for not being more competitive, but I was happy to finish the race without destroying the bike, and I feel we improved. Looking to the future, you must be competitive in all conditions, so this is on my list. I want to be a Superbike champion, and know I need to improve my performance in the wet.”
Tricky conditions prevented Brandon Paasch (96) from completing the race but is looking to bounce back in Race 2. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike pilot Brandon Paasch (96) sought to make his mark in the wet race on his GSX-R1000R. Paasch entered the contest with eight top-ten results in ten attempts with the team and looked to earn his fourth top-five, but Paasche crashed out while running fifth late in the race.
Paasch said, “I got up to fifth on the start and tangled with another rider. I lost a lot of ground and wasn’t really able to make it up. I was stuck back in fifth or sixth. I was hoping to be in a good spot at the end and, as other riders had trouble, the race started coming back to me. I knew if I started to push, we might be able to get a good result. Then I hit a bad puddle, the bike hydroplaned, and it sent me to the moon.”
Paasch said he would race on Sunday, despite being sore from the shunt.
The 2023 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship season will conclude on Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 133 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 361 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..
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha’s Blake Davis took a dominant victory in MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup Race One Saturday at New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his YZF-R7 in the rain with gusty winds, Davis won the 10-lap race by 11.324 seconds.
Dominic Doyle finished second on his Team Iso Yamaha YZF-R7. Gus Rodio passed his Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia teammate Ben Gloddy on the last lap to secure third place.
Gloddy came home fourth, and Rocco Landers, who is riding with a broken left foot and sprained left ankle, placed fifth on his Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660.
Following the results of Race One, Davis leads the Championship point standings by a single point over Rodio with Landers 20 points behind Davis in the third.
Bulega triumphs as Manzi stumbles, edging closer to the 2023 WorldSSP title
Nicolo Bulega (11). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Race 1 at MotorLand Aragon proved to be a pivotal moment in the 2023 World Supersport Championship, as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) showcased his dominance by leading from the start and consistently extending his lead, ultimately crossing the finish line more than three seconds ahead of his rivals. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) experienced a race of ups and downs, initially making progress but eventually succumbing to a last-lap error, which just outside the top 10. Bulega’s stunning victory, combined with Stefano Manzi’s 11th-place finish, allowed him to extend his lead by a significant 80 points to potentially clinch the Championship in Race 2 on Sunday.
In an intense battle for the remaining podium places, Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) emerged as the runner-up after a thrilling contest. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) fought hard to secure third place, demonstrating incredible resilience. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) just narrowly missed out on a podium finish, crossing the line in fourth, a mere two tenths away from the top three. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) held strong to clinch fifth place, with Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in sixth, less than a second adrift from De Rosa.
Bulega dominates Race 1 at Aragon, inching closer to the 2023 WorldSSP Championship with an 80-point lead over Manzi.
Bulega will win the title on Sunday if:
He finishes 1st and Manzi finishes 11th or worse OR
He finishes 2nd and Manzi finishes 16th or worse
P1 | Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team
“I’m very happy because we did an incredible job. From FP1, I had an incredible feeling with my bike. I can push like I want. I’m enjoying every lap. If you enjoy riding your bike, you are fast, and this is what is happening to me. It’s an incredible feeling. Of course, I think about the Championship now, but I try not to think about it too much because I want to continue to enjoy the races. When it’s time, I will really think about the standings. I have a big gap, but there are a few more races to come. For sure, I am in the best position right now, but we will see.”
Michael Rinaldi won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, the Italian won the 18-lap race by 1.253 seconds.
Pata Yamaha Prometeon rider Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up, and Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea was a very close third.
American Garrett Gerloff finished eighth overall and as the top BMW rider on his Bonovo Action M 1000 RR.
Rinaldi’s teammate Alvaro Bautista, the defending World Champion and current Championship point leader, crashed and Did Not Finish (DNF).
Bautista’s misfortune opens title race as Rinaldi seizes victory in Aragon showdown
Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.
WorldSBK Race 1 at Aragon was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring the triumph of Michael Ruben Rinaldi and the unraveling of Alvaro Bautista’s Championship challenge.
At the forefront of the action, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) ended a two-year drought with a resounding victory, showcasing his unwavering determination. Hot on Rinaldi’s heels, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) secured second place, closing the gap on Championship leader Alvaro Bautista to 37 points.
The day wasn’t without its twists and turns, as Alvaro Bautista, the Championship leader, endured a disastrous outing. Bautista crashed twice during the race, once from the lead, and again on the final lap when he was poised to score points. These crashes significantly dented his championship campaign, adding an unexpected layer of drama to the season.
Alvaro Bautista (1) crashed twice during Race One. The first fall came ahead of Jonathan Rea (65) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) claimed the final podium spot. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) put in a solid performance, clinching fourth place. One of the race’s most remarkable stories unfolded with Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) starting from 24th on the grid to secure an astounding fifth place. Closing out the top six was Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven).
Rinaldi marked an emphatic return to the winner’s circle, ending his two-year victory drought in style.
P1 | Michael Ruben Rinaldi | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“It’s incredible! At Aragon, strange things happen, I had my first race win here and then this victory today is one of my best, as I fought! It was a race where I had to manage the tyre and think a lot. There’s been some really dark moments this year but this is the best road to come back. I decided to not give up and here I am, really happy and enjoying this moment.
I think that the problem for them was at the beginning of the race; I was lapping in the 1’50s but they went away, and I think they were using too much tyre, so at the end, it was the key as I was able to catch them. It’s what I thought at the beginning of the race. I’m sorry for Alvaro’s crash and I’m sure his pace was even better, but I took the opportunity and won the race. These things happen and I wish him the best for tomorrow. My target is to always be there fighting for the victory and we’ll see tomorrow if we can repeat it with Alvaro.”
Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson’s James Rispoli won the wet MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Challenge, a three-lap dash-for-cash, Saturday at New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey.
Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson’s Kyle Wyman was the runner-up, and Wyman’s teammate and younger brother Travis Wyman finished third.
Defending Champion Tyler O’Hara got the holeshot on the start but crashed his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian Challenger coming out of Turn One and Did Not Finish (DNF).
Kyle Wyman claimed provisional pole for the MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers during qualifying at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson Road Glide in dry conditions during Qualifying One (Q1) on Friday, the New Yorker lapped the 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway course in 1:24.447, which broke his own All-Time Lap Record of 1:24.553 from 2022. Then when rain hit NJMP during Saturday’s Qualifying Two (Q2), Wyman’s time became insurmountable, securing pole position for him.
Defending Champion Tyler O’Hara will start from the second spot on the grid thanks to the 1:24.639 he recorded during Q1 on his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian Challenger. Championship point leader Hayden Gillim ended up third on the grid based on the 1:24.647 he did during Q1 on his Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson Road Glide.
Riders qualifying on the second row included Wyman’s teammate and younger brother Travis Wyman (1:25.410), Gillim’s teammate James Rispoli (1:25.421), and Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands Design Indian’s Bobby Fong (1:25.822).
Kyle Wyman (1:41.475) was also fastest in wet conditions during Q2, but Rispoli (1:41.577) and Gillim (1:41.680) were close to his pace.
PJ Jacobsen earned MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike pole position at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), in Millville, New Jersey. Piloting his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, Jacobsen topped the field with a lap time of 1:20.647 in dry conditions during Friday’s Qualifying One (Q1) session. When rain and wind from Tropical Storm Ophelia lashed NJMP during Qualifying Two (Q2) on Saturday morning, it put Jacobsen’s time out of reach and secured his pole position for both of this weekend’s races.
Newly crowned three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne will start from the second spot on the grid based on the 1:20.819 he did on his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1 during Q1. Mathew Scholtz claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:21.135 on his Westby Racing Yamaha on Friday.
Row two starters include Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante (1:21.399), Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha’s Bobby Fong (1:21.779), and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin (1:21.908).
During Saturday’s wet Q2 session, however, Gagne (1:37.309) was quickest with Scholtz (1:37.956) a close second and the rest of the field far behind.
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