MotoAmerica: Gagne On Provisional Superbike Pole At COTA (Updated)

David Swarts

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September 8, 2023

MotoAmerica: Gagne On Provisional Superbike Pole At COTA (Updated)

Over the last several years, Suzuki has been utilizing the state of the art technology derived from MotoGP racing in the development of new motorcycles. The benefits now expand well beyond engine and chassis refinements to the development of a new high-performance motorcycle oil line: ECSTAR Suzuki Genuine Oil.

Newly crowned three-time MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion Jake Gagne claimed provisional pole position during Qualifying Two on a sizzling hot Friday afternoon at Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas.

With ambient temperatures reaching 106 degrees F, Gagne turned a best lap time of 2:08.818 while riding his Fresh N Lean Progressive Insurance Yamaha around the 3.4-mile, 20-turn track.

That’s close to the Race Lap Record of 2:08.649, which was set in cooler conditions in April 2022 by Danilo Petrucci.

Roger Hayden still holds the MotoAmerica Superbike All-Time Lap Record for COTA at 2:08.184, which was set in April of 2017.

Josh Herrin crashed his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R halfway through the session, rode back to the pits for repairs, went back out, and did a 2:09.428, which was good enough for second-best.

Richie Escalante constantly improved during the day and the session and ended up claiming the third and final spot on the provisional front row with a time of 2:10.491 on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R.

The session was red flagged in the early stages when Bobby Fong’s Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha suffered a catastrophic engine failure and dumped oil on the track. The oil caused Ashton Yates to crash his Aftercare Scheibe Racing BMW S 1000 RR before the session could be stopped.

Yates wasn’t seriously injured, was able to get back out for a few laps, and finished eighth with a 2:11.847.

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More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Gagne Beats The Heat To Lead Fry Day At Circuit Of The Americas

Jake Gagne Leads The Way In Triple-Digit Temperatures In Texas

Jake Gagne (1) saved his best for last and earned provisional pole position for the two Medallia Superbike races on his final lap at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

AUSTIN, TX (September 8, 2023) – Jake Gagne’s best lap in Q1 was his last lap on a blisteringly hot Friday at Circuit of The Americas and it resulted in provisional pole position for this weekend’s two Medallia Superbike races in Austin.

On his 11th lap and with time expiring in the session, Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Gagne slipped past Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin with his 2:08.818 a tick over half a second quicker than Herrin.

Herrin, meanwhile, was a full second ahead of third-placed Richie Escalante on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R. Herrin’s best lap came after a slow tip-over that came mid-session that he said actually helped his comfort level. Escalante, in turn, was just .141 of a second faster than Gagne’s teammate JD Beach, who was continuing to find speed in his second outing aboard the injured Cameron Petersen’s Yamaha YZF-R1.

Fifth fastest on an opening day that featured triple-digit heat was Tytlers Cycle Racing’s PJ Jacobsen with the New Yorker 1.8 seconds off Gagne’s pace on the 3.426-mile Circuit of The Americas.

Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz ended up sixth after missing nearly the entire first session with a mechanical problem on his Yamaha YZF-R1. Seventh and eighth went to Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch with the New Jersey resident lapping at an identical lap time as Aftercare Scheibe BMW’s Ashton Yates.

Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Corey Alexander and Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim rounded out the top 10.

Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong didn’t make a lap in Q1 with his Yamaha blowing a motor on his opening lap, bringing out a red flag. Fong will get the chance to qualify in tomorrow morning’s Q2.

Steel Commander Stock 1000 – Travis Wyman’s Day

Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman may be on the outside looking in at the Steel Commander Stock 1000 title heading into the season finale this weekend at COTA, but you couldn’t tell by the effort he turned in on Friday.

Wyman earned provisional pole position by lapping over a second quicker than championship contender Hayden Gillim with his 2:12.707 coming on his ninth lap on a blisteringly hot afternoon at COTA. Disrupt Racing’s Gillim’s best lap was a 2:13.877, but he was likely happy with that considering the man who leads him in the championship battle by eight points, Ezra Beaubier, was seventh fastest on day one.

The Steel Commander Stock 1000 Championship will be decided this weekend as the class is not part of the season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park in two weeks.

PDR Motorsports’ Diego Perez, meanwhile, ended the day with a spot on the provisional front row with Beaubier’s Orange Cat Racing teammate Kaleb De Keyrel fourth fastest. Benjamin Smith Racing’s Benjamin Smith completed the top five on Friday.

Supersport – Great Scott

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott managed to squeak past Supersport Champion elect Xavi Forés and his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V2 in the closing stages of Q1 on Friday at COTA.

Scott lapped at a best of 2:14.435 to better Forés’ 2:14.567 with the duo who are at the top of the championship standings separated by just .132 of a second.

Scott’s new teammate Torin Collins ended the day third fastest, 1.4 seconds off Scott’s best lap. Collins has been competing in the FIM JuniorGP series, a Moto3 feeder series, in Europe.

Squid Hunter Racing’s Josh Hayes and Wrench Motorcycles’ David Anthony rounded out the top five.

Mission King Of The Baggers – Kyle Wyman Strikes First

With just three points separating the top three, the Mission King Of The Baggers Championship will likely be decided in two weeks at New Jersey Motorsports Park. What happens this weekend at COTA, however, could play a massive role in how things transpire at NJMP.

In Friday’s Q1, it was H-D Screamin’ Eagle ‘s Kyle Wyman, who is tied for second with James Rispoli and just three points behind leader Hayden Gillim, with the upper hand as he ended the session on top and .947 of a second clear of Indian Motorcycle/Progressive/Mission Foods’ defending series champion Tyler O’Hara. Wyman was the only rider who lapped in the 2:16s with his 2:16.266.

Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands/Indian’s Bobby Fong was third fastest and 1.6 seconds behind Wyman. Then came the two Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidsons of Gillim and Rispoli rounding out the top five in Q1.

Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – McWilliams Owns It

Indian Motorcycle/Progressive/Mission Foods’ Jeremy McWilliams gave his competition plenty to think about tonight as he completely dominated Friday’s Q1 session in the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship.

McWilliams’s 2:17.836 was 2.3 seconds faster than his nearest rival, DiBrino Racing KTM’s Andy DiBrino, and 2.4 seconds ahead of his teammate and the man he’s tied with in the series championship, Tyler O’Hara.

Team Saddlemen’s Cory West ended the day fourth on his Harley-Davidson Pan America with Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa rounding out the top five on his Energica Eva Ribelle RS electric motorcycle.

MotoAmerica: Travis Wyman On Provisional Stock 1000 Pole At COTA

David Swarts

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September 8, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Travis Wyman On Provisional Stock 1000 Pole At COTA

Over the last several years, Suzuki has been utilizing the state of the art technology derived from MotoGP racing in the development of new motorcycles. The benefits now expand well beyond engine and chassis refinements to the development of a new high-performance motorcycle oil line: ECSTAR Suzuki Genuine Oil.

Travis Wyman continued his domination of the MotoAmerica Steel Commander Stock 1000 field during Qualifying One Friday afternoon at Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas. In spite of the 106-degree F heat, Wyman lapped the 3.4-mile course in just 2:12.707 on his Travis Wyman Racing BMW M 1000 RR to claim provisional pole position.

Hayden Gillim was the best of the rest with a time of 2:13.877 on his Disrupt Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000R.

Diego Perez was third-fastest with a 2:14.065 on his PDR Motorsports Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Championship point leader Ezra Beaubier struggled in the session and could only manage a seventh-quickest 2:15.540 on his Orange Cat Racing BMW M 1000 RR.

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IRTA CEO And Founder Mike Trimby, R.I.P. (Updated)

David Swarts

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September 8, 2023

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IRTA CEO And Founder Mike Trimby, R.I.P. (Updated)

Mike Trimby passes away

Friday, 08 September 2023

Mike Trimby has sadly passed away. Founder and CEO of IRTA, and an icon of MotoGP™, Trimby will forever be remembered.

Dorna Sports, and the entire MotoGP™ family, send their deepest condolences to Mike’s wife Irene, his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones at this most difficult time.

Mike was one of the most important figures in the history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing. His life, achievements and memory will be celebrated during the remainder of the San Marino Grand Prix as the paddock joins together to honour him.

More, from another press release issued by Dorna:

Remembering Mike Trimby

Saturday, 09 September 2023

Mike Trimby, the founder and CEO of IRTA, sadly passed away on Friday evening. Mike was one of the most important figures in the history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing and played a pivotal role in shaping the sport MotoGP™ has become.

Mike began his career as a rider and mechanic in the 1960s. From there, his focus moved off track and by the late 1970s he had already become a key figure in the World Championship. In 1982, the riders requested Mike formally represent them and four years later, in 1986, the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA) was founded with Mike at the helm.

IRTA has since played a pivotal role in shaping the sport, advocating for riders and teams. The huge increase in rider safety the sport has seen since that era is thanks in large part to IRTA, and to the work undertaken by Mike and his wife Irene.

1992 marked a milestone for motorcycle Grand Prix racing: the beginning of a new era of collaboration and consensus between IRTA, the FIM, the MSMA and Dorna Sports. This too owes much to the foundations laid by Mike and IRTA over the decade before, ensuring riders and teams have an equal voice at the table.

On Saturday, a special press conference was held in honour of Mike at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, where it was also announced that he will be named a MotoGP™ Legend and officially inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The MotoGP™ family send their deepest condolences to Mike’s wife Irene, his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. We thank him for a truly outstanding contribution to our sport.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “This is a great loss for our sport, our paddock, and the entire MotoGP family. We all send our condolences to Irene, Mike’s family, his colleagues, friends and loved ones. The paddock will not be the same.

“Mike’s contribution to motorcycle Grand Prix racing is second to none. So much of the sport we have today was built by Mike and we thank him for everything he has contributed. The foundations he helped to lay are ones that we will continue to build on, in his memory, as we continue our close collaboration working with IRTA and their dedicated staff.

“It was an honour for me to know Mike and work alongside him. He was a great friend, and I will truly miss him.”

Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “Mike was one of the key people for MotoGP’s success, an icon. We had a Grand Prix Commission meeting yesterday, he was in a very good mood and I finally convinced him to come to the FIM Awards, to receive an award. It was a surprise for him. I was really happy, and I hope his wife, Irene, will come to receive the medal in his honour because he truly deserves it. I met him more than 30 years ago when he was responsible for the Macau races and since then we’ve been friends.

“He was a very committed worker. Even yesterday we received the minutes after the meeting, it was his last paper that he sent to us. No one can believe what happened. He died doing what he loved to do. We will all miss him. But I think we will see him on the grid tomorrow as always. Thank you, Mike.”

Herve Poncharal, IRTA President: “When I was young Mike was a legend. He was the one fighting the authorities, he was the one fighting the local promoters, for the good things – for safety first, because that was point number one in terms of the most important things, but also, to have a better paddock. That was how IRTA was created basically.

“I have always had a lot of admiration for Mike because he was strong, he was a fighter, but he was clever. As IRTA president, that gave me the possibility to work closer to him. The more you work with him, the more you know him, the more you learn. I learned a lot from him. I was really glad for that exchange, because although he was a rock, he was sure about a lot of things and it was very difficult to get him to change his mind. We were quite different, but together we made a good team.

“Now, when it is so soon after, you don’t realise he isn’t here. But when I go to IRTA, and see his office empty, it’s going to be difficult. Mike always hated mourning; he didn’t like this. I think Mike would like us to continue on what he has done, and carry on. We know what his values and targets were, and we’ll continue to do it. With IRTA, with his team.”

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Salmela On Pole Position At Misano

David Swarts

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September 8, 2023

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Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Salmela On Pole Position At Misano

Qual Session for RSM RookiesCup QP

More, from a press release issued by Red Bull:

Salmela under lap record for Misano Rookies Pole

Rico Salmela put in a superb lap in sweltering conditions to take pole for the final weekend of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup season. The 15-year-old Finn put the lap in alone but knows that the races are likely to be quite different.

2023 Cup winner Angel Piqueras slid off trying to better Salmela’s time at the end of the session but the 16-year-old Spaniard was unhurt and determined to go for a record-breaking 9th win in a season.

He will have to deal with Álvaro Carpe though, for the 16-year-old Spaniard is 3rd fastest and got the better of him in Austria once, when these three shared the podium in both races.

Salmela with a new lap record in Misano debut

“It was a nice Qualifying. At the start of the session, I was one of the first riders on track. I didn’t want everyone following so I went through the pit lane. But that was a bit too long so I was on my own with no reference.”

“I did many laps alone, I also did good lap times alone but then on about the 5th lap, I could see a reference from the riders ahead and could make a good lap time. I think it is a new lap record.”

“The bike is great, I didn’t change since FP1. In FP1 I needed to get the front down a bit but as I braked harder in later sessions it came right. So now everything is good.”

“I still have to think about what sprocket to use tomorrow. I was riding alone and already in the back straight the rpms were a bit high, a little bit on the limitter. So I have to think about that.”

Piqueras picks himself to win

“I’m OK, it wasn’t a big crash, just a normal crash, I lost the front. I was getting ready to push on the last lap and it slid away.”

“I am happy with the bike though, with the setup and I enjoy the track. So tomorrow I will try to win again.”

“Rico is going so fast, also Carpe, it could be quite a fight, we will see.”

Carpe confident

“I’m really happy with that because I was riding alone for the session. I think with that lap time on my own I should be able to make the race like Austria where I was leading all the way.

“I’m really happy and I have a really good feeling with the bike, really positive after the Qualifying. The bike really came good for me in Austria and I feel the same here.”

“I was also quick, the fastest in FP2, with old tyres also riding alone. I’m not worried about the gearing because I am sure I am going to lead the race.”

Alberto Ferrandez fourth

“I’m really happy, that’s my best grid position this year,” enthused the 16-year-old Spaniard. “In FP1 I wasn’t so happy with the tyres and settings but after I understood why and we made a very good setup on the bike for the next session.”

“I was able to chase Morelli for a good lap time in Qualifying so I am happy with the time and the grid position.”

“I expect it will be a typical Rookies Cup race, a big group, a big battle, I am looking forward to it, I enjoy this track.”

Ruche Moodley learning fast for 5th

“The track is quite difficult, it’s my first time here, like Rico,” explained the 16-year-old South African. it was quite difficult to learn, most of the riders have been here before. It took the first and second sessions just to get used to the track.”

“I made some suspension changes, made the front a bit softer and in the Qualifying felt comfortable. So I feel ready for the race tomorrow.”

“In the first practice I was running the shorter gearing but it was hitting the limiter for too long so from FP2 I was with the longer gearing, it was much better and I will use that for the race.”

Marcos Ruda happy with 6th

“That was a good session and I am ready for the race tomorrow,” stated the 18-year-old Spaniard. “It’s a good position on the grid, my best this year. I am happy with the bike set up, front and back.”

“We didn’t have to change the bike really at all today, it has been good, fun to ride, turns 4 and 6 are a bit slippery but that’s OK, I think the same for everyone, no problem.”

Jacob Roulstone wanted more than 7th

“I wasn’t happy with some of the guys rolling off when we were going so fast, not a good thing at all,” explained the 18-year-old Australian. “It’s also frustrating when you are trying to put in a good lap time and it is wrecked by that.”

“Otherwise it was OK, on the last lap I was going for a quick lap, went to pass Rammerstorfer, lost the front, thought I was going to take both of us down but saved it. I had to go for it as I was on a fast lap and I think I could have got third but it is what it is.”

“Excited for the race, probably going to change the front a little bit but it should be good.”

World Supersport: Bulega Tops FP2, Debise Quickest Overall At Magny-Cours

David Swarts

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September 8, 2023

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World Supersport: Bulega Tops FP2, Debise Quickest Overall At Magny-Cours

Nicolo Bulega was fastest in World Supersport Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Magny-Cours, in France, but Valentin Debise was quickest overall on Friday.

Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V2, Bulega led FP2 with a time of 1:41.114 with Debise second-best at 1:41.178 on his GMT94 Yamaha YZF-R6. Frenchman Debise, however, was fastest overall with the 1:41.083 he did in FP1 on Friday morning.

WSS FP2
WSS FP1 + FP2

WorldSBK: Rinaldi P1, Gerloff P2 In Free Practice Two At Magny-Cours (Updated)

David Swarts

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September 8, 2023

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WorldSBK: Rinaldi P1, Gerloff P2 In Free Practice Two At Magny-Cours (Updated)

Michael Rinaldi was quickest during World Superbike Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Rinaldi lapped the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) track in 1:36.973 to lead the field of 24 riders.

Like he was in FP1, American Garrett Gerloff was second in FP2 with a lap at 1:36.981 on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.

Toprak Razgatlioglu was third-quickest in FP2 with a time of 1:37.114 on his Pata Yamaha by Prometeon machine.

WSBK FP2
WSBK FP1 + FP2

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Red flags shake up WorldSBK practice at Magny-Cours

A dramatic afternoon at Magny-Cours saw red flags disrupt WorldSBK practice. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) maintained his leading position, facing stiff competition from Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW), who secured second and third places, respectively. Toprak Razgatlioglu and teammate Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) delivered a solid performance in the combined standings, with fourth and fifth positions. Championship leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) settled for sixth place on the combined timesheets, highlighting Ducati’s progress at this traditionally challenging circuit.

Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Jonathan Rea held his ground at the top, despite the fierce competition in FP2.

P1 | Jonathan Rea | Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK

“It was a positive day. Right from the first lap, I felt really good with my bike. Of course, in the afternoon, the temperature came up, and we tried to do a long run with the rear option tyre. But we had a lot of red flags, which worked in our favor because we were able to go back to this morning’s setup. We changed the front of the bike during that break. I didn’t like it. We were trying to give me more confidence to stop the bike, but in the end, I couldn’t stop; braking on the side of the tire was even worse. The mechanics did a really good job changing everything back. By that stage, the tyre was quite old, but I went out and was consistent, setting my fastest lap at the end of the run.”

Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi showcased Ducati’s strength by claiming the second spot overall.

Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Garrett Gerloff impressed as the fastest BMW rider, securing a strong third place.

Championship leader Alvaro Bautista faced a challenging day, finishing in sixth place on the combined timesheets.

WorldSBK Combined Results after FP2

1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’36.900

2. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.073s

3. Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.081s

4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.160s

5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.242s

6. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.274s

Valentin Debise (94). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Debise dominates Friday at home

Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) continued his dominance at his home circuit, impressively topping the FP1 timesheets. His mastery of the French venue shone through, securing him the top spot in the combined classification. Despite falling behind Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) in Free Practice 2, Debise’s morning run ensured he remained in the overall lead. Bulega topped the FP2 timesheets, closing the gap between him and Debise. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki), facing challenging conditions that led to crashes, managed to secure third place. Stefano Manzi and Yari Montella also delivered strong performances in fourth and fifth places, respectively.

P1 | Valentin Debise | GMT94 Yamaha

“It’s always nice to be in first position after Free Practice. I know it’s only Free Practice but this season I had a few issues during the Superpole sessions so today I tried to ride alone as much as possible so I could understand my pace, which I did. I’m really happy with the work we did with the team. We had the chance to test here with the team a few weeks ago so the base setup was great and I could be fast immediately. Now I’m looking forward to Race 1 tomorrow!”

WorldSSP Combined Results after FP2

1. Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) 1’41.083s

2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +0.031s

3. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) 0.053s

4. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.302s

5. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.382s

6. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +0.416s

Matteo Vannucci (91). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Vannucci dominates in sweltering French heat, leading Free Practice Sessions

In the blistering heat of the Pirelli French Round at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) demonstrated his prowess by topping the charts in the combined classifications. Vannucci’s remarkable early lap in Free Practice 2 secured him the top spot, finishing more than three tenths ahead of the competition. Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo – PI Performances), who had earlier claimed the fastest time in Free Practice 1, settled for the second position. German star Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) ended Friday in third place, though he was 0.491 seconds behind Vannucci’s blazing pace. Championship leader Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) was fifth showcasing his championship-worthy form, staying in contention for another podium to extend his lead.

P1 | Matteo Vannucci | AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha

“I worked on my feeling with the bike in Free Practice 1, and in FP2 I tried to improve compared to the morning session. I’m happy to finish fastest overall on Friday. Tomorrow, I want to do better than in the previous race and try to recover some points to the championship leader.”

WorldSSP Combined Results after FP2

1 Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) 1’52.914s

2. Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) +0.363s

3. Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) +0.491s

4. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +0.578s

5. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) +0.599s

6. Samuel Di Sora (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) +0.700s

WorldSBK action resumes on Saturday with FP3 from 09:00 (Local Time), followed by Tissot Superpole at 11:10 and Race 1 at 14:00, while WorldSSP action continues on Saturday with the Tissot Superpole from 10:25, and Race 1 at 15:15. WorldSSP300 will be back in action at 9:45 with the Tissot Superpole and then Race 1 at 12:40.

MotoAmerica: McWilliams On Provisional Super Hooligan Pole At COTA

David Swarts

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September 8, 2023

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MotoAmerica: McWilliams On Provisional Super Hooligan Pole At COTA

Over the last several years, Suzuki has been utilizing the state of the art technology derived from MotoGP racing in the development of new motorcycles. The benefits now expand well beyond engine and chassis refinements to the development of a new high-performance motorcycle oil line: ECSTAR Suzuki Genuine Oil.

Former MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams took provisional pole position during MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan Qualifying One (Q1) Friday afternoon at Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas. With ambient temperatures approaching 105 degrees F, the Ulsterman lapped the 3.4-mile course in 2:17.055 on his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian FTR 1200.

Andy DiBrino was next-best with a time of 2:20.149 on his DiBrino Racing KTM 890 Duke R.

McWilliams’ teammate Tyler O’Hara, the defending Champion, did a third-fastest 2:20.311 on his Indian.

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MotoAmerica: O’Hara On Top In King Of The Baggers FP1 At COTA

David Swarts

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September 8, 2023

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MotoAmerica: O’Hara On Top In King Of The Baggers FP1 At COTA

Over the last several years, Suzuki has been utilizing the state of the art technology derived from MotoGP racing in the development of new motorcycles. The benefits now expand well beyond engine and chassis refinements to the development of a new high-performance motorcycle oil line: ECSTAR Suzuki Genuine Oil.

Defending Champion Tyler O’Hara topped MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Free Practice One (FP1) Friday at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), in Austin, Texas. Riding his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian Challenger, O’Hara covered the 3.4-mile circuit in 2:17.055 to lead the field of 18 riders.

2021 Champion Kyle Wyman was second-best with a 2:17.283 on his Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson Road Glide, while Bobby Fong was third-fastest with a lap time of 2:17.598 on his Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands Design Indian.

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MotoAmerica: Fores Dominates Supersport FP1 At COTA

David Swarts

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September 8, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Fores Dominates Supersport FP1 At COTA

Over the last several years, Suzuki has been utilizing the state of the art technology derived from MotoGP racing in the development of new motorcycles. The benefits now expand well beyond engine and chassis refinements to the development of a new high-performance motorcycle oil line: ECSTAR Suzuki Genuine Oil.

Xavi Fores dominated MotoAmerica Supersport Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), in Austin, Texas. Riding his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2, the Spaniard lapped the 3.4-mile course in 2:14.924 to top the field of 36 riders.

Josh Hayes was the best of the rest with a 2:15.603 on his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.

Young Gun Tyler Scott was third-fastest with a time of 2:16.733 on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750.

Veteran David Anthony’s 2:16.864 on his Wrench Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R750 ranked him fourth.

Newcomer Torin Collins, an 18-year-old Canadian who normally races in the FIM JuniorGP World Championship, was fifth in his first-ever MotoAmerica Supersport session with a 2:17.076.

Another newcomer to the class, Kayla Yaakov, age 16, was 19th in her debut session on the Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R with a 2:23.559.

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MotoAmerica: Travis Wyman Leads Stock 1000 FP1 At COTA

David Swarts

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September 8, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Travis Wyman Leads Stock 1000 FP1 At COTA

Over the last several years, Suzuki has been utilizing the state of the art technology derived from MotoGP racing in the development of new motorcycles. The benefits now expand well beyond engine and chassis refinements to the development of a new high-performance motorcycle oil line: ECSTAR Suzuki Genuine Oil.

Travis Wyman led MotoAmerica Steel Commander Stock 1000 Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), in Austin, Texas. Wyman, riding his Travis Wyman Racing BMW M 1000 RR, circulated the 3.4-mile course in 2:13.620, 1.1 seconds faster than the rest of the field.

Hayden Gillim was second-best with a 2:14.810 on his Disrupt Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000R, and Benjamin Smith was third-fastest with a lap of 2:15.695 on his Benjamin Smith Racing Yamaha.

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MotoAmerica: Gagne On Provisional Superbike Pole At COTA (Updated)

September 8, 2023

BJN77385_P — Jake Gagne (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.