MotoAmerica: How To Watch MotoAmerica Superbikes at Road Atlanta
It’s All Here: How To Not Miss A Bit Of The Action
Everything you need to know to watch the weekend racing in Atlanta
© , Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
MotoAmerica Previews The 2024 Steel Commander Superbike Championship (Updated)
Road Atlanta Preview: 10th Anniversary Season Set To Begin For MotoAmerica Superbike Championship
The 2024 Steel Commander Superbike Series Begins In Georgia, April 19-21
IRVINE, CA (April 17, 2024) – The 2024 MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Championship is set to begin on April 20 – 209 days after JD Beach won the 2023 series finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park and 244 days since Jake Gagne clinched a third successive MotoAmerica Superbike title in the third of three races at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
Later this week at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, a full slate of five MotoAmerica will get the 2024 championship started in earnest with three of the classes having their opening day (Steel Commander Superbike, Supersport and Junior Cup) while the other two (Mission King Of The Baggers and BellissiMoto Twins Cup) have already started their championships.
With the Steel Commander Superbike Championship kicking off its 10th season of racing, all eyes will be on MotoAmerica’s premier class at Road Atlanta. And for a fourth straight season, three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne remains the target for those wanting to earn the Superbike crown.
Simply put, if you want to be the 2024 MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Champion, you’re gonna have to take it from Mr. Gagne.
Gagne will open defense of his title on his Attack Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 following an 11-win, 17-podium season that ended with him 128 points clear of second place after scoring a nice and tidy 400 points on the season.
Gagne was off the podium three times and two of those were when his bike failed him. Once was an engine failure at Road America and the other was when he was stripped of his second place in race two at Circuit of The Americas for using illegal fuel. Gagne’s third off-the-podium finish was when he tip-toed his way to fourth place in horrible conditions at NJMP in the season finale.
It was Josh Herrin who came “closest” to Gagne in 2023 as he rode his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R to second in the championship with two wins and 12 total podiums. He will return to the team for a third season and second on the team’s Panigale V4 R. He will also do so with a new teammate with whom to share data, Loris Baz. Last year, was a one-man Superbike team on the Warhorse squad.
Baz returns to both the MotoAmerica Championship and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team after two years in World Superbike with the Bonovo Action BMW team. Baz finished fourth in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, but is still searching for his first win in the U.S. The Frenchman should prosper as he’s raced on eight of the nine tracks the series will visit and he won’t be alone in having to learn Mid-Ohio Sports Car course as MotoAmerica adds the iconic track to its schedule for the first time.
Five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier returned to the MotoAmerica series last year after his two years in Moto2, won five races and looked to be a serious challenger for what could have been a sixth championship. Beaubier had some bad luck in the latter part of the season and a horrific accident at Pittsburgh International Race Complex put him out of action for the rest of the year. With his five wins, including the season opener in his Tytlers Cycle Racing debut on the team’s BMW M1000 RR at Road Atlanta, and eight total podiums, Beaubier still managed sixth in the championship.
Beaubier spent the end of the 2023 season recuperating and has completed a full slate of team testing in preparation for another go at title number six in 2024. Beaubier is also just two wins behind 61-time winner Josh Hayes for second on the all-time AMA Superbike win list with 59 victories.
Beaubier will be joined on the Tytlers team by JD Beach with the Kentuckian earning his way back into a full-time Superbike ride with two podiums and a victory while filling in on the Attack Performance Yamaha team for the injured Cameron Petersen at the end of last year.
Petersen, however, will be back on the Attack Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 as a teammate to Gagne after rehabilitating his broken right wrist. Prior to the injury, Petersen had two podium finishes, including a second-place finish at Barber Motorsports Park.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante had an outstanding season in his sophomore year of racing in the Superbike class. Escalante earned his first MotoAmerica Superbike podium in race one at COTA and was consistently in the top five all season long to end up fourth in the final standings.
Escalante will be back to lead the Suzuki GSX-R750-mounted team and he will be joined there again by Brandon Paasch. Paasch started the season late after recovering from back surgery and he was also impressive with a best finish of fourth coming at COTA.
Among those returning in the Superbike class are Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates, Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong, FlowLaw Racing’s Benjamin Smith, Team Brazil’s Danilo Lewis and Thrashed Bike Racing’s Max Flinders.
Hayden Gillim is also entered in the Steel Commander Superbike class on a Real Steel Motorsports Honda CBR1000RR-R SP. Another late entry is Ezra Beaubier with Cameron’s younger brother set to race a BMW M 1000 RR for the Scheibe Racing team.
A lot of interest will fall on the return to MotoAmerica for 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Sean Dylan Kelly. Kelly left the series for a shot in the Moto2 World Championship, but the Floridian has opted to return and will make his Superbike debut on the team’s BMW M 1000 RR at Road Atlanta. Kelly’s teammate will be team owner Alex Arango.
Among the notables missing from the Steel Commander Superbike class are PJ Jacobsen and Mathew Scholtz. Jacobsen, who finished third in last year’s Superbike title fight, will race in the Supersport class on a Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2. Scholtz, who was fifth in the 2023 Superbike Championship, will also move to the Supersport class on a Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 after his Westby Racing pulled the plug on its Superbike program at the end of last season.
Pre-Road Atlanta Superbike Notes…
This year’s MotoAmerica round at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta will again be the opening round for the Steel Commander Superbike, Supersport and Junior Cup Championships while the Mission King Of The Baggers and BellissiMoto Twins Cup have already had their series openers. In fact, Mission King Of The Baggers teams arrive at Road Atlanta with four races under their belt – two at Daytona and two at Circuit of The Americas. The Twins Cup teams, meanwhile, had two races at Daytona in early March.
While the top Supersport racers (and some from Superbike as well) took part in the Daytona 200, that race isn’t a points-paying race in the MotoAmerica Championship, thus Road Atlanta marks the opening round of the Supersport Championship.
Jake Gagne earned pole position for the two Superbike race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with his lap of 1:23.453 to best Cameron Beaubier’s 1:24.381. Overnight rain meant that the Q1 lap times from Friday afternoon weren’t improved upon.
Gagne’s best lap in Q1 wasn’t fast enough to beat his Road Atlanta track record of 1:23.407.
Race one last year was won by Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier by just .340 of a second over Jake Gagne as the two fought out front for the duration of the 19-lap race. Josh Herrin was third, 1.9 seconds adrift.
Race two on Sunday at Road Atlanta will be remembered most by Josh Herrin losing his brakes going into the turn 10A-10B chicane and nearly taking out Cameron Beaubier, who had pushed Herrin wide in the fast right-hand kink at the end of the backstraight. Somehow the top four all made it through the melee with Jake Gagne beating Beaubier to the line by half a second. Mathew Scholtz was third and Herrin recovered for fourth.
Twenty-three riders have entered the two Steel Commander Superbike races at Road Atlanta on five different brands of motorcycles. BMW will have the most entries in the race with seven of the M 1000 RRs set to compete. Next up is Yamaha with six YZF-R1s. Then comes Suzuki with four GSX-R1000s and Ducati with three Panigale V4 Rs and a lone Honda CBR1000RR-R SP. For those of you doing math, that equals 22 bikes as Kaleb De Keyrel’s entry doesn’t yet have what bike the Scheibe Racing team will be racing.
Riders from four different countries have entered the season opener in the Steel Commander Superbike series: USA, Mexico, France and Brazil.
While Australian Mat Mladin sits atop the all-time AMA Superbike win list with his 82 wins, second place might come under fire during the 2023 Superbike season. Currently, that spot is held by four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes with 61 victories, but he’s now just two wins ahead of five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier and his 59 wins. Jake Gagne, meanwhile, has 40 career Superbike wins and he sits fourth all-time.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. To watch all things MotoAmerica, subscribe to MotoAmerica’s live streaming and video on demand service, MotoAmerica Live+
More, from a press release issued by Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati:
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati duo Josh Herrin and Loris Baz fired up for round one of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Sunnyvale, Calif., April 18, 2024 — It’s game time as the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati outfit of Josh Herrin and Loris Baz get set to take on America’s best at Road Atlanta for round one of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship over the April 19-21 weekend.
The 2024 season marks 10 years since the creation of the MotoAmerica Superbike era and Ducati will celebrate the milestone by fielding a two-rider Superbike team for the first time in series history.
Josh Herrin comes into his home race of Road Atlanta full of confidence after a dominating performance in the Daytona 200, the Georgian taking his third win in the iconic event and second straight victory for Ducati.
Shifting his attention to the Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike, Herrin was in contention right to the end of race two at Road Atlanta in 2024 and knows his way around the 12-turn, 2.54-mile road course better than anyone. And after a solid three-day test at Barber Motorsports Park, the number 2 has only the top step in mind come race time.
For Loris Baz, Road Atlanta marks his return to the series after a two-year hiatus in the WorldSBK Championship. Back to full fitness after a tough 2023 season, the popular Frenchman is looking for his first win in the series. Still, he will have the advantage of racing eight of the nine tracks on this year’s calendar, a luxury he didn’t have during his last MotoAmerica season with Ducati in 2021.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#2)
“We just finished up three days of testing at Barber Motorsports Park, so it’s nice to have some time on the Superbike right before we head to the first race,” Herrin said. “The test was productive as we got to try some things that we couldn’t use last year, which made me feel comfortable with the 2024 package.
“Getting to ride with Loris Baz has been great. I’m so excited to have him as a teammate. We get along well and can bounce ideas off each other to continually improve the V4 R’s setup.
“Road Atlanta was a great round for us last year. We were fighting for the win, and I really want to see two Ducatis on the podium in both races this year.”
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#76)
“It felt great to be back on the Ducati Panigale V4 R and get the feeling of going fast again after six months of injury recovery ahead of Road Atlanta,” Baz enthused. “I think we’ve found a good set-up direction for the first round but, more than that, it’s just nice to be back working with this team in the Ducati family.
“I love the V4 R, and it suits the Road Atlanta layout, so we’re aiming for nothing less than the podium. The weather might be strange, but we’ll be ready for whatever it does. Josh and I are looking forward to a great season.”
Round one of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will see Superbike action kick off with Free Practice 1 at 10:50 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 19. Race One will occur on Saturday, April 20, at 3:10 p.m., with Race Two scheduled for 3:10 p.m. on Sunday, April 21.
MotoAmerica: Gagne And Petersen Riding Yamaha Superbikes Again In 2024
Yamaha Reveals 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike Team
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing is ready to launch its fifth-consecutive MotoAmerica Superbike title campaign with returning riders Jake Gagne and Cameron Petersen
MARIETTA, Ga. – April 17, 2024 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) is pleased to announce a strengthened partnership with Attack Performance, which will continue to head its efforts in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship for another three seasons. The championship-winning program looks to add a fifth-consecutive premier class title in 2024 aboard the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing R1s with a returning two-rider roster – reigning three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne and Cameron Petersen. This weekend, they will launch their title run at the season opener at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, on April 19-21.
Attack Performance, one of the sport’s leading manufacturers of high-performance components and services for modern sportbikes, has carried on the winning tradition of the Yamaha R1. In just four seasons as the official MotoAmerica Superbike team for YMUS, the program has enjoyed a resounding success with four consecutive titles and 59 victories in the premier class. Progressive Insurance also returns in 2024 to support the championship-winning program.
Returning for his fifth season with the team, Gagne looks to defend his crown and keep his impressive premier-class title streak rolling. The Colorado rider has enjoyed a meteoric rise in MotoAmerica Superbike with the team over the past three seasons. In addition to claiming three successive titles, Gagne has amassed an impressive tally of 40 race victories, advancing him to fourth on the all-time AMA Superbike win list.
Petersen also returns in 2024 and enters his third season with Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing. The 2020 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion enjoyed a strong debut with the team in 2022, scoring a pair of wins and multiple podiums. Unfortunately, he was sidelined for most of the season last year and underwent surgery last Summer to repair a wrist injury. Back to full fitness, Petersen is eager to return to action and add more wins and podiums to his tally.
The team would also like to thank Yamalube, Yamaha Financial Services, Akrapovic, Braking, TrackDaz, Podium Club at Atessa, Capit, Suter, OZ, DID, NGK-NTK, Zero Gravity, and Full Spectrum for their support.
Tom Halverson – Yamaha Racing Assistant Department Manager for YMUS
“We are very excited to continue our partnership with Attack Performance Racing. They have the passion, technical knowledge and the right people in the right positions to be successful in this ultra-competitive sport. It seems like every season MotoAmerica has raised the bar, and we are very happy to be racing with them into the near future.
“Our three-time Superbike Champion Jake Gagne had a very productive testing season, and it’s great to see that Cameron Petersen is strong, fast, and ready to prove we haven’t seen the best of him yet.”
Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“Attack Performance is excited to continue our collaboration with Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, to race the R1 in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship for the next three years. Together we’ve enjoyed a lot of success over these first four years and have added more premier class titles to Yamaha’s 15 years of nearly continuous Superbike Championships. We’re also happy have the continued support of Progressive Insurance and our technical partners, and look to bring them another #1 plate in 2024.
“We’re looking forward to having both Jake and Cameron back this season, which we feel will continue to be a winning combination for the team. It’s been great to see Jake rise to become one of the winningest riders in the sport, and I look forward to the upcoming season and defending the championship. We’re also happy to have Cameron back and feeling healthy. It’s been a productive off-season, and we can’t wait to get on track and see our fans this weekend at Road Atlanta.”
Jake Gagne – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #1
“It’s awesome to be going on year five with the team. We’ve had a great three years here, and I’m just excited to get back to racing in 2024. We’ve had a good off-season and got some good riding in. The Superbike class is going to be really stacked this year. So I think we’ll have some good racing, and we’ll try to start off the year strong in Atlanta. I’m just ready to get riding again.”
Cameron Petersen – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #45
“I’m really looking forward to my third year with the team. Obviously, my second year wasn’t ideal. I had to sit out of most of it. It’s been a hard nine months and a tough off-season, but getting to ride the bike last week at the test, it’s the first time in a long time that my wrist has felt 100%, so I’m excited for 2024. The main thing for me is not to get ahead of myself and slowly build into it and get back to fighting for wins and podiums. The guys have done a lot of work on the motorcycle during the off-season, and the bike is on a different level, so I think it’s going to be a good year.”
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (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, three 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).
Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, U.S.A. (Yamaha Financial Services), an affiliate of Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., offering financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha customers nationwide. Yamaha Financial Services provides retail and commercial financing for the diverse line of Yamaha brand motor products based out of Cypress, CA and Marietta, GA.
Roadracing World Young Guns 2024: Yandel Medina
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 28th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 13 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2024 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
The entire Roadracing World Young Guns, Class of 2024 is featured in the April 2024 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
Yandel Medina
Age: 16.
Current home: Bronx, New York.
Current height/weight: 5’8”/155 pounds.
Current school grade level: 10th grade.
Began riding at age: 7 years.
First road race: 2019, Jupiter, Florida, CCS, Moto3 Novice, 1st place.
Current racebike: Kawasaki Ninja 400.
Current tuner/mechanic: Juaner Ortiz, Carlos Medina (father).
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Junior Cup.
Top sponsors: TopPro Motorsport, New York Safety Track, Carlo’s Track Day, Heroic Apparel, Hope Farm, Certified Knee Draggers, Mark Tenn Motorsports, Street & Competition, Moto-D Racing, Spears Racing, Ride On Time Limousine, Shelbys Powersport, WRS Brake Pads, Spark Exhaust System.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, placed 7th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (2 podiums, 7 total top-five finishes), won two ASRA National Championships at Race of Champions at Daytona; 2022 season, placed 11th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (3 top-six finishes); 2021 season, won Nicky Hayden Road Race Horizon Award, won 4 CCS National Championships (Moto3, 500 Supersport, 500 Superbike, GT500), won 2 AMA Grand Championships (500 Supersport & 500 Superbike), finished 2nd in AMA Moto3 Grand Championship race, won ASRA Moto3 race at Daytona, won CCS Mid-Atlantic and Atlantic overall Regional Championships, won 4 CCS Atlantic class Championships (Moto3, GT500, 500 Supersport, 500 Superbike).
2024 racing goal: Win MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship.
Racing career goal: Race in MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Fabio Quartararo.
Favorite track: New York Safety Track.
Favorite hobby: Cycling.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: A baseball player.
…
Some of the riders who have graduated from Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner J.D. Beach;
five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Moto2 World Championship point scorer Cameron Beaubier;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Champion Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and three-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, Moto2 World Championship point scorer, and MotoAmerica Superbike racer Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up Rocco Landers;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and three-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Championship runner-up James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
2022 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up and 2023 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship runner-up Gus Rodio;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and MotoAmerica Super Hooligan race winner Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
MRA Race School At High Plains Raceway Draws 38 Riders
A New Generation of Racers Take the Track at 2024 Race School
Byers, CO – The Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) has concluded its 2024 Race School at High Plains Raceway. Blessed with clear skies and temperatures in the mid to high 70s, the weekend provided ideal conditions for both the educational classroom and the on-track sessions.
The classroom session was hosted by Fay Myers Motorcycle World with instruction kicking off on Friday, April 12th. This foundational instruction set the stage for the next day’s practical experience. On Saturday, 38 students tackled the 2.55-mile Full Course at High Plains Raceway, applying lessons learned from MRA New Rider Director, Dan Spurlock, with their coaches.
“Weather usually isn’t on our side this time of year,” said Spurlock. “We were so fortunate for the conditions and the organization is excited by the strong turnout. I think it’s going to be a great season for the new racers!”
The main focuses of the Race School were safety, predictability, and understanding the track layout to enhance racing lines. Students were specifically coached on corner entry and exit techniques, as well as using their vision effectively to optimize their drive out of corners.
Student, Josh Radcliffe, shared his newfound enthusiasm for racing stating, “I definitely have a new perception of racing after completing the school. It’s even more awesome than I thought it would be! The MRA did a great job putting together a safe environment to learn proper race craft and being better on a motorcycle on and off the track. After the class, I have a new take on what I need to be successful in racing and have a ton to work on.”
Ryan Damian, another student, highlighted a critical learning moment, “My biggest ah-ha moment was realizing that I can be just as fast and work half as hard. For instance, coming out of turn three, I always tried to slam down the back straight to make up time; now that I have a good exit I don’t have to break super hard for turn four and push my body harder than I should.”
To conclude the day’s training, students participated in a mock race, putting their new skills to the test. This final exercise served as a practical assessment of their abilities and a direct introduction to motorcycle racing, marking a successful end to the 2024 School.
Of the participants, 15 have committed to purchasing their racing licenses, indicating a strong influx of new talent into the MRA. The MRA will continue to support these new racers as they prepare for the start of the season, fostering the growth of motorcycle road racing in Colorado and beyond.
Looking ahead, the excitement continues with MRA Round 1 at High Plains Raceway, scheduled for May 11-12. For more information on how to get involved or to sign up for MRA events, visit MRA Racing.
The MRA thanks all participants, coaches, the safety crew, and Dan Spurlock for making this year’s Race School a resounding success. The MRA looks forward to an exciting racing season ahead.
MotoAmerica: Tytlers Cycle Racing Previews Road Atlanta
Superbike, Supersport and Super Hooligans, Tytlers Cycle Racing are ready to race
Contesting three national championships, Tytlers Cycle Racing is ready for the 2024 MotoAmerica season to start at Road Atlanta this coming weekend.
Following on from a successful 2023, Tytlers Cycle Racing is delighted to welcome back Cameron Beaubier. The former multiple champion will once again take to the track aboard the latest BMW M1000 RR for the squad. He will be joined on the Superbike grid by former Supersport champion and Superbike race winner JD Beach who returns full time to the MotoAmerica paddock in 2024.
The squad also has its eyes firmly set on the Supersport prize and has once again put their faith in the talented Stefano Mesa who will compete aboard a ZX-6R Kawasaki.
Mesa, known for his ability to adapt to a variety of motorcycles, will also line up in the Super Hooligans series. As he did last year, he will campaign an electric Energica bike against a full grid of petrol-powered Super Hooligans. Ahead of the season opener, Tytlers Cycle Racing’s riders and technical team shared their thoughts.
Cameron Beaubier: “It has been a long off season for me, and I am ready to get 2024 rolling. I am grateful to be back with the Tytlers guys on our BMW’s and to build on last year. We have had a few positive tests in the last couple of months. JD and I have been buds since we were kids, so it will be cool to be teammates with him too.”
Dave Weaver – Crew Chief for Cameron Beaubier: “I’m eagerly anticipating the start of the 2024 superbike season with Tytlers Cycle Racing for the thrill of pushing my limits, the camaraderie among fellow riders, and the electrifying atmosphere of competitive racing. It’s about embracing the challenge, chasing victory, and creating unforgettable memories on the track. I know every race will be an exhilarating adventure worth savouring. I’m looking forward to getting this season underway. Cam has a year on the bike and has been feeling comfortable in off-season testing. JD is quickly adapting to the BMW and should be right there on the podium too.”
JD Beach: “I’m really excited going into the 2024 season. I’m thankful Tytlers have brought me into such a great program. Getting to do the last couple rounds in 2023 really lit a fire in me. I’ve got a great crew to work with and I’m excited to work with Scott Jensen again. Plus being teammates with a great friend like Cameron is awesome and I am looking forward to working with him and learning as much as I can.”
Scott Jensen – Crew Chief for JD Beach: “Coming into the 2024 season we have one of the strongest teams in the paddock and we are fully poised to exploit this to its maximum potential. I will be changing up riders for this season with the team bringing JD Beach into the Tytlers BMW Superbike program. Having history working with JD in 2012 and 2013 I am very excited and optimistic about what this season will bring! Our off-season testing proved fruitful, and we have some advancements on the motorcycles that should allow us to be more consistently at the front of the field. Bring on the races!”
Stefano Mesa – Supersport (Kawasaki) and Super Hooligans (Energica): “I’m pleased to be continuing into the 2024 season with Tytlers Cycle Racing in the Supersport class on the ZX-6R. We have put together a new team, but pre-season testing felt good, and we are looking forward to the fighting for the championship. There are a-lot of fast guys in the class again this year which should make for some great racing! We’re all excited to get on the gas at Atlanta! I must thank Michael, the whole Tytlers team, and my personal sponsors for helping to create this opportunity. Riding the Energica in Super Hooligans is a fun challenge, and I am excited to show what we can do their too.”
Derek Keyes – Crew Chief for Stefano Mesa: “I’m very excited to be working with Stefano and the Tytlers team this year. The competition is going to be tough in Supersport this year and I know Stefano is up for the challenge. Our pre-season testing was productive, fine tuning the ZX-6R and getting the team prepared for the season. We’ve got a solid package, and I cannot wait to go racing.”
Roadracing World Young Guns 2024: Kensei Matsudaira
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 28th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 13 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2024 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
The entire Roadracing World Young Guns, Class of 2024 is featured in the April 2024 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
Kensei Matsudaira
Age: 13.
Current home: Los Angeles, California.
Current height/weight: 5’3”/110 pounds.
Current school grade level: 7th grade.
Began riding at age: 3 years.
First road race: 2015, Rosamond, California, M1GP, CRF50 Cup, Terminator, 3rd place.
Current racebikes: BeOn PreMoto3, Honda NSF250R.
Current tuners/mechanics: JR Esteve, Juan Bellver.
Primary race series: RFME ESBK PreMoto3 Spanish National Championship.
Top sponsors: Evike.com, Iconic Motorbikes, HJC Helmets, Dave Designs, Bison Track, TJ Corse, Alpinestars, Almassera El Teular, California Superbike School, Moto Tecnica, Karen E. Ott Photography, MadLabs Minimoto, 73 Moto Parts, NLAB Graphics & Wraps, Bickle Racing, VNM Sport, Yoshimura R&D, D.I.D Chain, Galfer USA, Vortex, Suspension Matters, The Starting Grid, Mini Moto Alliance, Moto Survival School, Live 100 Moto.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, 11th in RFME ESBK Moto4 Spanish National Championship (1 podium, 3 total top-five finishes), was taken out while leading Race One and finished 4th while riding injured in Race Two in Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Cup event in Thailand, placed 8th overall in SGP4 at FIM Speedway World Cup; 2022 season, won MotoAmerica 190 Mini Cup Championship (4 wins, 8 total podiums in 8 races), placed 2nd in RFME Copa de Espana de MiniVelocidad Spanish National Championship (1 win 4 total podium finishes), placed 5th in Cuna De Campeones Moto5 Championship (1 win, 3 total podium finishes, led 5 of 6 races), won Youth 150cc AMA National Speedway Championship; 2021 season, won FIM MiniGP North America Championship, won MotoAmerica Mini Cup 110cc and 160cc Championships, won Mini 80 WERA West Sportsman Championship, raced in Cuna de Campeones MiniGP 110 Championship with a best race finish of 8th, placed 3rd in Youth 150 AMA Speedway Championship; 2020 season, won Mini 50 WERA West Sportsman Championship, won 65cc AMA Supermoto National Championship.
2024 racing goal: Race at the front in the RFME ESBK PreMoto3 Championship.
Racing career goal: Race in the World Championship.
Racing heroes: Daijiro Kato, Norick Abe, Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Jerez.
Favorite hobbies: Mountain biking, skiing/snowboarding, rock climbing/bouldering, air soft.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Compete in other sports like mountain biking, skiing, and rock climbing/bouldering.
…
Some of the riders who have graduated from Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner J.D. Beach;
five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Moto2 World Championship point scorer Cameron Beaubier;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Champion Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and three-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, Moto2 World Championship point scorer, and MotoAmerica Superbike racer Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up Rocco Landers;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and three-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Championship runner-up James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
2022 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up and 2023 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship runner-up Gus Rodio;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and MotoAmerica Super Hooligan race winner Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
MotoAmerica: Equitea MV Agusta By MP13 Racing Fielding Tamburini & Sneed
EQUITEA MV AGUSTA BY MP13 RACING WILL CAMPAIGN MV AGUSTA F3 800 RR IN MOTOAMERICA SUPERSPORT WITH ROBERTO TAMBURINI AND AIDEN SNEED
OCEANSIDE, Calif. (April 15, 2024) — Melissa Paris has never been one to back down from a challenge, and this MotoAmerica season will be no different for the former professional road racer and married mother of two young children. Through her team, MP13 Racing, Paris is stepping up from Junior Cup and Twins Cup to contest arguably the most competitive class in the 10-round championship: Supersport. And the Southern California native is doing so with support from a new manufacturer, MV Agusta, as well as a new title sponsor, Equitea.
Equitea MV Agusta by MP13 Racing will campaign two MV Agusta F3 800 RRs prepared by MP13 Racing and ridden by Roberto Tamburini and Aiden Sneed. MV Agusta is one of eight manufacturers producing motorcycles homologated for the deeply talented and quickly expanding Supersport Next Generation class. The 12-valve, 798cc “Trepistoni” engine that powers the F3 800 RR is housed in a unique aluminized-steel tubular trellis frame mated to an aluminum alloy swingarm.
One of the most iconic names in motorcycling, MV Agusta recently was acquired by Pierer Mobility AG, which also owns KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS. “Racing is a fundamental part of MV Agusta’s heritage that lives in the brand’s present,” said Luca Dovesi, head of MV Agusta North America. “Every MV Agusta motorcycle is developed with performance in mind, and therefore taking official part in MotoAmerica is a natural step for the company in a crucial market like the U.S. I am personally excited and proud of this step, which represents a testament to the renewed strength that MV Agusta has gained thanks to the partnership with Pierer Mobility.”
Another welcome addition to the MotoAmerica paddock, Equitea is a minority-owned business that produces organic, small-batch, cold-brewed adaptogenic teas blended for health and wellness. “Equitea is proud to partner with Melissa Paris and MP13 Racing,” said Quentin Vennie, co-founder and CEO of Equitea, available nationwide at Sprouts Farmers Markets. “Our functional teas, combined with MP13 Racing’s skill, determination, and stellar coaching, are a winning combination. We look forward to seeing everyone at the racetrack.”
Roberto Tamburini, 33, has experience in 125cc Grand Prix, World Supersport, WorldSBK, and the Endurance World Championship. “I am very motivated to face this season together and to ride an Italian bike—the MV Agusta F3 800 RR,” said Tamburini. “I will have to learn different things, such as the racetracks, a new bike with new tires, and get back on a 600 after many years spent on a 1000. For this reason, it might not be so simple, especially at the beginning, but I will try to bring my experience and speed to grow together step by step.”
Aiden Sneed returns to MP13 Racing for a second year after a strong showing in Junior Cup. The only rider in the class racing a 321cc twin, he finished 13th overall. The Texan will make his Supersport debut at Brainerd International Raceway, June 14-16, when he reaches his 16th birthday. In the meantime, Sneed will attend all races and test with the team. “I am absolutely thrilled to be competing in MotoAmerica Supersport on an MV Agusta,” said Sneed. “With the incredible support of MP13 Racing, I am confident this year will be nothing short of amazing.”
Another important piece of the MP13 Racing success story remains securely in place: Evan Steel, the owner of Tucson, Arizona-based Evan Steel Performance, who has enjoyed podium success with riders in both domestic and international competition, is returning to MP13 Racing for a third consecutive season to impart his special brand of two-wheel magic on the brace of F3 800 RRs. “Evan will manage our engine and electronics development,” said Paris. “Evan is my right-hand guy, and we are proud to have him as a part of our team.”
Equitea MV Agusta by MP13 Racing will kick off its 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship challenge on April 19-21 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. Fans of the series who can’t attend in person can subscribe to MotoAmerica Live+ to watch every round of the MotoAmerica Championship. All the high-speed action is also available on Fox Sports FS1, MAVTV, ESPN Latin America, YouTube, MTRSPT1, and MotoAmericaTV. Check local listings for broadcast dates and times.
Connect with MP13 Racing on Instagram:
@mvagustausa
@equiteaco
@mp13racing
@roberto_tamburini
@aiden_sneed15
MotoAmerica: Ezra Beaubier Riding Aftercare Scheibe Racing BMW In Superbike
Ezra Beaubier Joins Aftercare Scheibe Racing For 2024 MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Championship
Kingsford, MI – April 15, 2024 – Scheibe Racing is proud to announce that team title sponsor Aftercare is back for 2024. Also, former Stock 1000 multiple race winner Ezra Beaubier has joined Aftercare Scheibe Racing and will be aboard the team’s BMW S 1000 RR. Beaubier’s competition number has changed from 16 to 99, as the Californian makes his debut in MotoAmerica’s premier class. The announcements were made by Steve Scheibe, owner of Aftercare Scheibe Racing.
“We’re celebrating our 10th season of racing BMW motorcycles in the MotoAmerica series,” said Scheibe. “And it’s also my 18th year in Superbike racing. We’re very happy to continue our program with the long-term support of our sponsors, led by our title sponsor Aftercare. In addition, we’re excited to welcome Ezra Beaubier to our team. He is a terrific young rider whose talents on a literbike were definitely noticed this past year. Together, we expect to advance our program even further starting this weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.”
Beaubier notched three wins and five podiums aboard a BMW in Stock 1000 this past season, and he is highly motivated and ready to move up to the Steel Commander Superbike Championship this season.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to ride for Steve Scheibe,” Ezra Beaubier said. “Steve and his crew are a very experienced team with several Superbike seasons on the BMW. This is a great bike and platform for me to gain experience on in the Superbike class.”
Aftercare has been involved in the powersports industry for more than three decades. The company offers a wide range of innovative finance and insurance products available at powersports dealerships throughout the U.S.
Visit your local powersports dealer and “Ask for Aftercare.” Or call 800-832-3237 or visit them at AftercareCorp.com
The 2024 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship will get underway this weekend, April 19-21 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
MotoAmerica: More From The King Of The Baggers Races At COTA (Updated)
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FACTORY RACER KYLE WYMAN SETS A NEW TRACK RECORD AND WINS IN TEXAS TO HOLD KING OF THE BAGGERS POINTS LEAD
Rispoli Takes Third Podium in Four Races Aboard Factory Harley-Davidson Road Glide
MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing rider Kyle Wyman made his mark at Circuit of the Americas with a dramatic win, a new class track record, and the MotoAmerica® Mission King of the Baggers points lead. Wyman, aboard his race-prepared 2024 Road Glide® motorcycle, finished the doubleheader race day with second and first place finishes. His Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing teammate, James Rispoli, is third in points after hard-fought fourth and third place finishes.
The MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series appeared as part of the MotoGP™ Grand Prix of the Americas weekend on the challenging 3.4-mile, 20-turn Circuit of the Americas road course, adding a uniquely American flavor to the event and making many new fans.
The first six-lap race saw Factory Indian rider and pole sitter, Tyler O’Hara, lead a breakaway pack of six bikes, including Wyman and Rispoli, for the first five laps. On the last lap of the race, Wyman made his move, passing O’Hara for the lead. Factory Indian rider Troy Herfoss came with him after fighting his way to the front from as far back as sixth place. Moments later Herfoss dove below Wyman heading into turn 15, forcing Wyman wide. Herfoss held on to cross the finish line 0.295 seconds ahead of Wyman with O’Hara third, Rispoli fourth, and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Hayden Gillim fifth, all separated by less than one second.
Later Saturday afternoon, the second six-lap Mission King of the Baggers race saw Herfoss and Wyman pass O’Hara on lap two and gradually open a gap over the second group of riders, led by Rispoli. Wyman stalked Herfoss until the last lap before making his move on the brakes going into turn 1. Wyman then laid down a near perfect lap, setting a new lap record for the class at 2:14.8 and a win by 0.677 seconds.
“I knew I had some pace on the Factory Harley-Davidson Road Glide and methodically moved my way forward,” said Wyman. “I’m so pumped to get this win for Harley-Davidson. It was a really great race, I’m looking forward to Road Atlanta.”
Rispoli enjoyed another successful weekend on the Factory Harley-Davidson team with his third podium finish in four races.
“I am so stoked to be on the podium again,” said Rispoli after race two. “There were so many people battling for position, and it was so much work. I tried everything to hang on to third place for my guys who worked so hard this weekend. It’s such a confidence boost for me.”
After four of 18 rounds in the 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Wyman leads the championship with 95 points. Herfoss is second with 85 points, followed by Rispoli with 61 points, O’Hara with 46 points, and Gillim with 45 points.
Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing returns to action April 19-21 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga. during the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Road Atlanta event.
The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing Road Glide® motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.
Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing is sponsored by Mission® Foods, Rockford Fosgate®, Brembo®, Öhlins®, Protolabs®, SYN3® lubricants, and Screamin’ Eagle® Performance Parts and Accessories.
MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Circuit of the Americas Race 1
- Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Kyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- James Rispoli (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Hayden Gillim (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- Rocco Landers (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- Bobby Fong (Ind) SDI/Roland Sands Racing
- Cory West (H-D) Saddleman/Harley-Davidson
- Kyle Ohnsorg (Ind) RydFast Racing
- Max Flinders (Ind) Mad Monkey Motorsports
- Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddleman/Harley-Davidson
MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Circuit of the Americas Race 2
- Kyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- James Rispoli (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Bobby Fong (Ind) SDI/Roland Sands Racing
- Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Hayden Gillim (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- Rocco Landers (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- Kyle Ohnsorg (Ind) RydFast Racing
- Max Flinders (Ind) Mad Monkey Motorsports
- Cory West (H-D) Saddleman/Harley-Davidson
More, from a press release issued by Indian Motorcycle:
Indian Motorcycle Factory Rider Troy Herfoss Secures First-Career King of the Baggers Victory
Three-Time Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss Takes First & Second at Circuit of The Americas Alongside MotoGP
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. (April 15, 2024) – In what proved to be an exciting weekend at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) during MotoGP, Indian Motorcycle factory rider, and three-time Australian Superbike Champion, Troy Herfoss secured his first-career King Of The Baggers (KOTB) class win aboard the S&S Indian Challenger. In his first season racing baggers, Herfoss has proved to be a fierce competitor for the series championship, sitting second overall through four races.
Starting the weekend off hot, Herfoss won the Mission Foods Challenge and its $5,000 prize. After two qualifying sessions, Herfoss earned a front row starting position for Race 1. Despite starting third on the grid, Herfoss found himself mid pack early in the race. Having never raced at COTA and learning the track by playing a video game, Herfoss put on a master class, as he maneuvered his way to the front of the pack and into a three-way battle heading into the final lap. Ultimately, it was Herfoss taking the win by .295 of a second. Herfoss was joined on the podium by fellow Indian Motorcycle factory rider and 2022 KOTB Champion Tyler O’Hara, who captured his first podium of the 2024 season.
“It’s an honor to be standing here today and get my first win at COTA during MotoGP,” said Herfoss. “It’s early in the season, and I’m getting more and more seat time aboard the S&S Indian Challenger. It’s an incredible motorcycle – fast and smooth, but at 620-pounds, it’s like nothing I have ever raced before. With each lap and every race, I learn something new and gain even more confidence.”
While it’s Herfoss’ first move into bagger racing, his S&S Indian Challenger and S&S factory team are no strangers to the competition – having won the 2020 inaugural race and 2022 championship title with O’Hara piloting. Herfoss’ skills, paired with O’Hara’s experience, S&S’ engineering, and the Indian Challenger’s performance, make him a legitimate competitor for the 2024 title.
To start his KOTB career, Herfoss has never missed a podium, adding three second place finishes and to his one win. Herfoss is firmly planted second overall, 10 points behind the lead and 24 points ahead of third.
MotoAmerica’s Mission King Of The Baggers season continues at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta April 19-21.
The S&S Indian Challenger race team is sponsored by S&S, Progressive, Mission Foods, Drag Specialties, Parts Unlimited, and Performance Finance.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, X and Instagram.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®
Indian Motorcycle Company is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
INDIAN and INDIAN MOTORCYCLE are registered trademarks of Indian Motorcycle International, LLC. Always wear a helmet, protective clothing and eyewear and insist your passenger does the same. Ride within the limits of the law and your own abilities. Read, understand and follow your owner’s manual. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
ABOUT S&S® CYCLE
S&S® Cycle was born from a passion for racing and has spent over six decades building performance for the powersports market. Their unwavering focus on quality, reliability and top shelf power has made S&S® Cycle the absolute leader in high performance on the street and track.
MotoAmerica: How To Watch All The Road Atlanta Action
MotoAmerica: How To Watch MotoAmerica Superbikes at Road Atlanta
It’s All Here: How To Not Miss A Bit Of The Action
Everything you need to know to watch the weekend racing in Atlanta
MotoAmerica Previews The 2024 Steel Commander Superbike Championship (Updated)
Road Atlanta Preview: 10th Anniversary Season Set To Begin For MotoAmerica Superbike Championship
The 2024 Steel Commander Superbike Series Begins In Georgia, April 19-21
IRVINE, CA (April 17, 2024) – The 2024 MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Championship is set to begin on April 20 – 209 days after JD Beach won the 2023 series finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park and 244 days since Jake Gagne clinched a third successive MotoAmerica Superbike title in the third of three races at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
Later this week at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, a full slate of five MotoAmerica will get the 2024 championship started in earnest with three of the classes having their opening day (Steel Commander Superbike, Supersport and Junior Cup) while the other two (Mission King Of The Baggers and BellissiMoto Twins Cup) have already started their championships.
With the Steel Commander Superbike Championship kicking off its 10th season of racing, all eyes will be on MotoAmerica’s premier class at Road Atlanta. And for a fourth straight season, three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne remains the target for those wanting to earn the Superbike crown.
Simply put, if you want to be the 2024 MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Champion, you’re gonna have to take it from Mr. Gagne.
Gagne will open defense of his title on his Attack Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 following an 11-win, 17-podium season that ended with him 128 points clear of second place after scoring a nice and tidy 400 points on the season.
Gagne was off the podium three times and two of those were when his bike failed him. Once was an engine failure at Road America and the other was when he was stripped of his second place in race two at Circuit of The Americas for using illegal fuel. Gagne’s third off-the-podium finish was when he tip-toed his way to fourth place in horrible conditions at NJMP in the season finale.
It was Josh Herrin who came “closest” to Gagne in 2023 as he rode his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R to second in the championship with two wins and 12 total podiums. He will return to the team for a third season and second on the team’s Panigale V4 R. He will also do so with a new teammate with whom to share data, Loris Baz. Last year, was a one-man Superbike team on the Warhorse squad.
Baz returns to both the MotoAmerica Championship and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team after two years in World Superbike with the Bonovo Action BMW team. Baz finished fourth in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, but is still searching for his first win in the U.S. The Frenchman should prosper as he’s raced on eight of the nine tracks the series will visit and he won’t be alone in having to learn Mid-Ohio Sports Car course as MotoAmerica adds the iconic track to its schedule for the first time.
Five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier returned to the MotoAmerica series last year after his two years in Moto2, won five races and looked to be a serious challenger for what could have been a sixth championship. Beaubier had some bad luck in the latter part of the season and a horrific accident at Pittsburgh International Race Complex put him out of action for the rest of the year. With his five wins, including the season opener in his Tytlers Cycle Racing debut on the team’s BMW M1000 RR at Road Atlanta, and eight total podiums, Beaubier still managed sixth in the championship.
Beaubier spent the end of the 2023 season recuperating and has completed a full slate of team testing in preparation for another go at title number six in 2024. Beaubier is also just two wins behind 61-time winner Josh Hayes for second on the all-time AMA Superbike win list with 59 victories.
Beaubier will be joined on the Tytlers team by JD Beach with the Kentuckian earning his way back into a full-time Superbike ride with two podiums and a victory while filling in on the Attack Performance Yamaha team for the injured Cameron Petersen at the end of last year.
Petersen, however, will be back on the Attack Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 as a teammate to Gagne after rehabilitating his broken right wrist. Prior to the injury, Petersen had two podium finishes, including a second-place finish at Barber Motorsports Park.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante had an outstanding season in his sophomore year of racing in the Superbike class. Escalante earned his first MotoAmerica Superbike podium in race one at COTA and was consistently in the top five all season long to end up fourth in the final standings.
Escalante will be back to lead the Suzuki GSX-R750-mounted team and he will be joined there again by Brandon Paasch. Paasch started the season late after recovering from back surgery and he was also impressive with a best finish of fourth coming at COTA.
Among those returning in the Superbike class are Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates, Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong, FlowLaw Racing’s Benjamin Smith, Team Brazil’s Danilo Lewis and Thrashed Bike Racing’s Max Flinders.
Hayden Gillim is also entered in the Steel Commander Superbike class on a Real Steel Motorsports Honda CBR1000RR-R SP. Another late entry is Ezra Beaubier with Cameron’s younger brother set to race a BMW M 1000 RR for the Scheibe Racing team.
A lot of interest will fall on the return to MotoAmerica for 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Sean Dylan Kelly. Kelly left the series for a shot in the Moto2 World Championship, but the Floridian has opted to return and will make his Superbike debut on the team’s BMW M 1000 RR at Road Atlanta. Kelly’s teammate will be team owner Alex Arango.
Among the notables missing from the Steel Commander Superbike class are PJ Jacobsen and Mathew Scholtz. Jacobsen, who finished third in last year’s Superbike title fight, will race in the Supersport class on a Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2. Scholtz, who was fifth in the 2023 Superbike Championship, will also move to the Supersport class on a Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 after his Westby Racing pulled the plug on its Superbike program at the end of last season.
Pre-Road Atlanta Superbike Notes…
This year’s MotoAmerica round at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta will again be the opening round for the Steel Commander Superbike, Supersport and Junior Cup Championships while the Mission King Of The Baggers and BellissiMoto Twins Cup have already had their series openers. In fact, Mission King Of The Baggers teams arrive at Road Atlanta with four races under their belt – two at Daytona and two at Circuit of The Americas. The Twins Cup teams, meanwhile, had two races at Daytona in early March.
While the top Supersport racers (and some from Superbike as well) took part in the Daytona 200, that race isn’t a points-paying race in the MotoAmerica Championship, thus Road Atlanta marks the opening round of the Supersport Championship.
Jake Gagne earned pole position for the two Superbike race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with his lap of 1:23.453 to best Cameron Beaubier’s 1:24.381. Overnight rain meant that the Q1 lap times from Friday afternoon weren’t improved upon.
Gagne’s best lap in Q1 wasn’t fast enough to beat his Road Atlanta track record of 1:23.407.
Race one last year was won by Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier by just .340 of a second over Jake Gagne as the two fought out front for the duration of the 19-lap race. Josh Herrin was third, 1.9 seconds adrift.
Race two on Sunday at Road Atlanta will be remembered most by Josh Herrin losing his brakes going into the turn 10A-10B chicane and nearly taking out Cameron Beaubier, who had pushed Herrin wide in the fast right-hand kink at the end of the backstraight. Somehow the top four all made it through the melee with Jake Gagne beating Beaubier to the line by half a second. Mathew Scholtz was third and Herrin recovered for fourth.
Twenty-three riders have entered the two Steel Commander Superbike races at Road Atlanta on five different brands of motorcycles. BMW will have the most entries in the race with seven of the M 1000 RRs set to compete. Next up is Yamaha with six YZF-R1s. Then comes Suzuki with four GSX-R1000s and Ducati with three Panigale V4 Rs and a lone Honda CBR1000RR-R SP. For those of you doing math, that equals 22 bikes as Kaleb De Keyrel’s entry doesn’t yet have what bike the Scheibe Racing team will be racing.
Riders from four different countries have entered the season opener in the Steel Commander Superbike series: USA, Mexico, France and Brazil.
While Australian Mat Mladin sits atop the all-time AMA Superbike win list with his 82 wins, second place might come under fire during the 2023 Superbike season. Currently, that spot is held by four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes with 61 victories, but he’s now just two wins ahead of five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier and his 59 wins. Jake Gagne, meanwhile, has 40 career Superbike wins and he sits fourth all-time.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. To watch all things MotoAmerica, subscribe to MotoAmerica’s live streaming and video on demand service, MotoAmerica Live+
More, from a press release issued by Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati:
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati duo Josh Herrin and Loris Baz fired up for round one of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Sunnyvale, Calif., April 18, 2024 — It’s game time as the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati outfit of Josh Herrin and Loris Baz get set to take on America’s best at Road Atlanta for round one of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship over the April 19-21 weekend.
The 2024 season marks 10 years since the creation of the MotoAmerica Superbike era and Ducati will celebrate the milestone by fielding a two-rider Superbike team for the first time in series history.
Josh Herrin comes into his home race of Road Atlanta full of confidence after a dominating performance in the Daytona 200, the Georgian taking his third win in the iconic event and second straight victory for Ducati.
Shifting his attention to the Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike, Herrin was in contention right to the end of race two at Road Atlanta in 2024 and knows his way around the 12-turn, 2.54-mile road course better than anyone. And after a solid three-day test at Barber Motorsports Park, the number 2 has only the top step in mind come race time.
For Loris Baz, Road Atlanta marks his return to the series after a two-year hiatus in the WorldSBK Championship. Back to full fitness after a tough 2023 season, the popular Frenchman is looking for his first win in the series. Still, he will have the advantage of racing eight of the nine tracks on this year’s calendar, a luxury he didn’t have during his last MotoAmerica season with Ducati in 2021.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#2)
“We just finished up three days of testing at Barber Motorsports Park, so it’s nice to have some time on the Superbike right before we head to the first race,” Herrin said. “The test was productive as we got to try some things that we couldn’t use last year, which made me feel comfortable with the 2024 package.
“Getting to ride with Loris Baz has been great. I’m so excited to have him as a teammate. We get along well and can bounce ideas off each other to continually improve the V4 R’s setup.
“Road Atlanta was a great round for us last year. We were fighting for the win, and I really want to see two Ducatis on the podium in both races this year.”
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#76)
“It felt great to be back on the Ducati Panigale V4 R and get the feeling of going fast again after six months of injury recovery ahead of Road Atlanta,” Baz enthused. “I think we’ve found a good set-up direction for the first round but, more than that, it’s just nice to be back working with this team in the Ducati family.
“I love the V4 R, and it suits the Road Atlanta layout, so we’re aiming for nothing less than the podium. The weather might be strange, but we’ll be ready for whatever it does. Josh and I are looking forward to a great season.”
Round one of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will see Superbike action kick off with Free Practice 1 at 10:50 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 19. Race One will occur on Saturday, April 20, at 3:10 p.m., with Race Two scheduled for 3:10 p.m. on Sunday, April 21.
MotoAmerica: Gagne And Petersen Riding Yamaha Superbikes Again In 2024
Yamaha Reveals 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike Team
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing is ready to launch its fifth-consecutive MotoAmerica Superbike title campaign with returning riders Jake Gagne and Cameron Petersen
MARIETTA, Ga. – April 17, 2024 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) is pleased to announce a strengthened partnership with Attack Performance, which will continue to head its efforts in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship for another three seasons. The championship-winning program looks to add a fifth-consecutive premier class title in 2024 aboard the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing R1s with a returning two-rider roster – reigning three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne and Cameron Petersen. This weekend, they will launch their title run at the season opener at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, on April 19-21.
Attack Performance, one of the sport’s leading manufacturers of high-performance components and services for modern sportbikes, has carried on the winning tradition of the Yamaha R1. In just four seasons as the official MotoAmerica Superbike team for YMUS, the program has enjoyed a resounding success with four consecutive titles and 59 victories in the premier class. Progressive Insurance also returns in 2024 to support the championship-winning program.
Returning for his fifth season with the team, Gagne looks to defend his crown and keep his impressive premier-class title streak rolling. The Colorado rider has enjoyed a meteoric rise in MotoAmerica Superbike with the team over the past three seasons. In addition to claiming three successive titles, Gagne has amassed an impressive tally of 40 race victories, advancing him to fourth on the all-time AMA Superbike win list.
Petersen also returns in 2024 and enters his third season with Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing. The 2020 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion enjoyed a strong debut with the team in 2022, scoring a pair of wins and multiple podiums. Unfortunately, he was sidelined for most of the season last year and underwent surgery last Summer to repair a wrist injury. Back to full fitness, Petersen is eager to return to action and add more wins and podiums to his tally.
The team would also like to thank Yamalube, Yamaha Financial Services, Akrapovic, Braking, TrackDaz, Podium Club at Atessa, Capit, Suter, OZ, DID, NGK-NTK, Zero Gravity, and Full Spectrum for their support.
Tom Halverson – Yamaha Racing Assistant Department Manager for YMUS
“We are very excited to continue our partnership with Attack Performance Racing. They have the passion, technical knowledge and the right people in the right positions to be successful in this ultra-competitive sport. It seems like every season MotoAmerica has raised the bar, and we are very happy to be racing with them into the near future.
“Our three-time Superbike Champion Jake Gagne had a very productive testing season, and it’s great to see that Cameron Petersen is strong, fast, and ready to prove we haven’t seen the best of him yet.”
Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“Attack Performance is excited to continue our collaboration with Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, to race the R1 in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship for the next three years. Together we’ve enjoyed a lot of success over these first four years and have added more premier class titles to Yamaha’s 15 years of nearly continuous Superbike Championships. We’re also happy have the continued support of Progressive Insurance and our technical partners, and look to bring them another #1 plate in 2024.
“We’re looking forward to having both Jake and Cameron back this season, which we feel will continue to be a winning combination for the team. It’s been great to see Jake rise to become one of the winningest riders in the sport, and I look forward to the upcoming season and defending the championship. We’re also happy to have Cameron back and feeling healthy. It’s been a productive off-season, and we can’t wait to get on track and see our fans this weekend at Road Atlanta.”
Jake Gagne – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #1
“It’s awesome to be going on year five with the team. We’ve had a great three years here, and I’m just excited to get back to racing in 2024. We’ve had a good off-season and got some good riding in. The Superbike class is going to be really stacked this year. So I think we’ll have some good racing, and we’ll try to start off the year strong in Atlanta. I’m just ready to get riding again.”
Cameron Petersen – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #45
“I’m really looking forward to my third year with the team. Obviously, my second year wasn’t ideal. I had to sit out of most of it. It’s been a hard nine months and a tough off-season, but getting to ride the bike last week at the test, it’s the first time in a long time that my wrist has felt 100%, so I’m excited for 2024. The main thing for me is not to get ahead of myself and slowly build into it and get back to fighting for wins and podiums. The guys have done a lot of work on the motorcycle during the off-season, and the bike is on a different level, so I think it’s going to be a good year.”
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (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, three 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).
Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, U.S.A. (Yamaha Financial Services), an affiliate of Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., offering financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha customers nationwide. Yamaha Financial Services provides retail and commercial financing for the diverse line of Yamaha brand motor products based out of Cypress, CA and Marietta, GA.
Roadracing World Young Guns 2024: Yandel Medina
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 28th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 13 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2024 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
The entire Roadracing World Young Guns, Class of 2024 is featured in the April 2024 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
Yandel Medina
Age: 16.
Current home: Bronx, New York.
Current height/weight: 5’8”/155 pounds.
Current school grade level: 10th grade.
Began riding at age: 7 years.
First road race: 2019, Jupiter, Florida, CCS, Moto3 Novice, 1st place.
Current racebike: Kawasaki Ninja 400.
Current tuner/mechanic: Juaner Ortiz, Carlos Medina (father).
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Junior Cup.
Top sponsors: TopPro Motorsport, New York Safety Track, Carlo’s Track Day, Heroic Apparel, Hope Farm, Certified Knee Draggers, Mark Tenn Motorsports, Street & Competition, Moto-D Racing, Spears Racing, Ride On Time Limousine, Shelbys Powersport, WRS Brake Pads, Spark Exhaust System.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, placed 7th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (2 podiums, 7 total top-five finishes), won two ASRA National Championships at Race of Champions at Daytona; 2022 season, placed 11th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (3 top-six finishes); 2021 season, won Nicky Hayden Road Race Horizon Award, won 4 CCS National Championships (Moto3, 500 Supersport, 500 Superbike, GT500), won 2 AMA Grand Championships (500 Supersport & 500 Superbike), finished 2nd in AMA Moto3 Grand Championship race, won ASRA Moto3 race at Daytona, won CCS Mid-Atlantic and Atlantic overall Regional Championships, won 4 CCS Atlantic class Championships (Moto3, GT500, 500 Supersport, 500 Superbike).
2024 racing goal: Win MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship.
Racing career goal: Race in MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Fabio Quartararo.
Favorite track: New York Safety Track.
Favorite hobby: Cycling.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: A baseball player.
…
Some of the riders who have graduated from Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner J.D. Beach;
five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Moto2 World Championship point scorer Cameron Beaubier;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Champion Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and three-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, Moto2 World Championship point scorer, and MotoAmerica Superbike racer Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up Rocco Landers;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and three-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Championship runner-up James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
2022 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up and 2023 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship runner-up Gus Rodio;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and MotoAmerica Super Hooligan race winner Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
MRA Race School At High Plains Raceway Draws 38 Riders
A New Generation of Racers Take the Track at 2024 Race School
Byers, CO – The Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) has concluded its 2024 Race School at High Plains Raceway. Blessed with clear skies and temperatures in the mid to high 70s, the weekend provided ideal conditions for both the educational classroom and the on-track sessions.
The classroom session was hosted by Fay Myers Motorcycle World with instruction kicking off on Friday, April 12th. This foundational instruction set the stage for the next day’s practical experience. On Saturday, 38 students tackled the 2.55-mile Full Course at High Plains Raceway, applying lessons learned from MRA New Rider Director, Dan Spurlock, with their coaches.
“Weather usually isn’t on our side this time of year,” said Spurlock. “We were so fortunate for the conditions and the organization is excited by the strong turnout. I think it’s going to be a great season for the new racers!”
The main focuses of the Race School were safety, predictability, and understanding the track layout to enhance racing lines. Students were specifically coached on corner entry and exit techniques, as well as using their vision effectively to optimize their drive out of corners.
Student, Josh Radcliffe, shared his newfound enthusiasm for racing stating, “I definitely have a new perception of racing after completing the school. It’s even more awesome than I thought it would be! The MRA did a great job putting together a safe environment to learn proper race craft and being better on a motorcycle on and off the track. After the class, I have a new take on what I need to be successful in racing and have a ton to work on.”
Ryan Damian, another student, highlighted a critical learning moment, “My biggest ah-ha moment was realizing that I can be just as fast and work half as hard. For instance, coming out of turn three, I always tried to slam down the back straight to make up time; now that I have a good exit I don’t have to break super hard for turn four and push my body harder than I should.”
To conclude the day’s training, students participated in a mock race, putting their new skills to the test. This final exercise served as a practical assessment of their abilities and a direct introduction to motorcycle racing, marking a successful end to the 2024 School.
Of the participants, 15 have committed to purchasing their racing licenses, indicating a strong influx of new talent into the MRA. The MRA will continue to support these new racers as they prepare for the start of the season, fostering the growth of motorcycle road racing in Colorado and beyond.
Looking ahead, the excitement continues with MRA Round 1 at High Plains Raceway, scheduled for May 11-12. For more information on how to get involved or to sign up for MRA events, visit MRA Racing.
The MRA thanks all participants, coaches, the safety crew, and Dan Spurlock for making this year’s Race School a resounding success. The MRA looks forward to an exciting racing season ahead.
MotoAmerica: Tytlers Cycle Racing Previews Road Atlanta
Superbike, Supersport and Super Hooligans, Tytlers Cycle Racing are ready to race
Contesting three national championships, Tytlers Cycle Racing is ready for the 2024 MotoAmerica season to start at Road Atlanta this coming weekend.
Following on from a successful 2023, Tytlers Cycle Racing is delighted to welcome back Cameron Beaubier. The former multiple champion will once again take to the track aboard the latest BMW M1000 RR for the squad. He will be joined on the Superbike grid by former Supersport champion and Superbike race winner JD Beach who returns full time to the MotoAmerica paddock in 2024.
The squad also has its eyes firmly set on the Supersport prize and has once again put their faith in the talented Stefano Mesa who will compete aboard a ZX-6R Kawasaki.
Mesa, known for his ability to adapt to a variety of motorcycles, will also line up in the Super Hooligans series. As he did last year, he will campaign an electric Energica bike against a full grid of petrol-powered Super Hooligans. Ahead of the season opener, Tytlers Cycle Racing’s riders and technical team shared their thoughts.
Cameron Beaubier: “It has been a long off season for me, and I am ready to get 2024 rolling. I am grateful to be back with the Tytlers guys on our BMW’s and to build on last year. We have had a few positive tests in the last couple of months. JD and I have been buds since we were kids, so it will be cool to be teammates with him too.”
Dave Weaver – Crew Chief for Cameron Beaubier: “I’m eagerly anticipating the start of the 2024 superbike season with Tytlers Cycle Racing for the thrill of pushing my limits, the camaraderie among fellow riders, and the electrifying atmosphere of competitive racing. It’s about embracing the challenge, chasing victory, and creating unforgettable memories on the track. I know every race will be an exhilarating adventure worth savouring. I’m looking forward to getting this season underway. Cam has a year on the bike and has been feeling comfortable in off-season testing. JD is quickly adapting to the BMW and should be right there on the podium too.”
JD Beach: “I’m really excited going into the 2024 season. I’m thankful Tytlers have brought me into such a great program. Getting to do the last couple rounds in 2023 really lit a fire in me. I’ve got a great crew to work with and I’m excited to work with Scott Jensen again. Plus being teammates with a great friend like Cameron is awesome and I am looking forward to working with him and learning as much as I can.”
Scott Jensen – Crew Chief for JD Beach: “Coming into the 2024 season we have one of the strongest teams in the paddock and we are fully poised to exploit this to its maximum potential. I will be changing up riders for this season with the team bringing JD Beach into the Tytlers BMW Superbike program. Having history working with JD in 2012 and 2013 I am very excited and optimistic about what this season will bring! Our off-season testing proved fruitful, and we have some advancements on the motorcycles that should allow us to be more consistently at the front of the field. Bring on the races!”
Stefano Mesa – Supersport (Kawasaki) and Super Hooligans (Energica): “I’m pleased to be continuing into the 2024 season with Tytlers Cycle Racing in the Supersport class on the ZX-6R. We have put together a new team, but pre-season testing felt good, and we are looking forward to the fighting for the championship. There are a-lot of fast guys in the class again this year which should make for some great racing! We’re all excited to get on the gas at Atlanta! I must thank Michael, the whole Tytlers team, and my personal sponsors for helping to create this opportunity. Riding the Energica in Super Hooligans is a fun challenge, and I am excited to show what we can do their too.”
Derek Keyes – Crew Chief for Stefano Mesa: “I’m very excited to be working with Stefano and the Tytlers team this year. The competition is going to be tough in Supersport this year and I know Stefano is up for the challenge. Our pre-season testing was productive, fine tuning the ZX-6R and getting the team prepared for the season. We’ve got a solid package, and I cannot wait to go racing.”
Roadracing World Young Guns 2024: Kensei Matsudaira
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 28th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 13 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2024 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
The entire Roadracing World Young Guns, Class of 2024 is featured in the April 2024 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
Kensei Matsudaira
Age: 13.
Current home: Los Angeles, California.
Current height/weight: 5’3”/110 pounds.
Current school grade level: 7th grade.
Began riding at age: 3 years.
First road race: 2015, Rosamond, California, M1GP, CRF50 Cup, Terminator, 3rd place.
Current racebikes: BeOn PreMoto3, Honda NSF250R.
Current tuners/mechanics: JR Esteve, Juan Bellver.
Primary race series: RFME ESBK PreMoto3 Spanish National Championship.
Top sponsors: Evike.com, Iconic Motorbikes, HJC Helmets, Dave Designs, Bison Track, TJ Corse, Alpinestars, Almassera El Teular, California Superbike School, Moto Tecnica, Karen E. Ott Photography, MadLabs Minimoto, 73 Moto Parts, NLAB Graphics & Wraps, Bickle Racing, VNM Sport, Yoshimura R&D, D.I.D Chain, Galfer USA, Vortex, Suspension Matters, The Starting Grid, Mini Moto Alliance, Moto Survival School, Live 100 Moto.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, 11th in RFME ESBK Moto4 Spanish National Championship (1 podium, 3 total top-five finishes), was taken out while leading Race One and finished 4th while riding injured in Race Two in Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Cup event in Thailand, placed 8th overall in SGP4 at FIM Speedway World Cup; 2022 season, won MotoAmerica 190 Mini Cup Championship (4 wins, 8 total podiums in 8 races), placed 2nd in RFME Copa de Espana de MiniVelocidad Spanish National Championship (1 win 4 total podium finishes), placed 5th in Cuna De Campeones Moto5 Championship (1 win, 3 total podium finishes, led 5 of 6 races), won Youth 150cc AMA National Speedway Championship; 2021 season, won FIM MiniGP North America Championship, won MotoAmerica Mini Cup 110cc and 160cc Championships, won Mini 80 WERA West Sportsman Championship, raced in Cuna de Campeones MiniGP 110 Championship with a best race finish of 8th, placed 3rd in Youth 150 AMA Speedway Championship; 2020 season, won Mini 50 WERA West Sportsman Championship, won 65cc AMA Supermoto National Championship.
2024 racing goal: Race at the front in the RFME ESBK PreMoto3 Championship.
Racing career goal: Race in the World Championship.
Racing heroes: Daijiro Kato, Norick Abe, Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Jerez.
Favorite hobbies: Mountain biking, skiing/snowboarding, rock climbing/bouldering, air soft.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Compete in other sports like mountain biking, skiing, and rock climbing/bouldering.
…
Some of the riders who have graduated from Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner J.D. Beach;
five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Moto2 World Championship point scorer Cameron Beaubier;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Champion Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and three-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, Moto2 World Championship point scorer, and MotoAmerica Superbike racer Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up Rocco Landers;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and three-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Championship runner-up James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
2022 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up and 2023 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship runner-up Gus Rodio;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and MotoAmerica Super Hooligan race winner Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
MotoAmerica: Equitea MV Agusta By MP13 Racing Fielding Tamburini & Sneed
EQUITEA MV AGUSTA BY MP13 RACING WILL CAMPAIGN MV AGUSTA F3 800 RR IN MOTOAMERICA SUPERSPORT WITH ROBERTO TAMBURINI AND AIDEN SNEED
OCEANSIDE, Calif. (April 15, 2024) — Melissa Paris has never been one to back down from a challenge, and this MotoAmerica season will be no different for the former professional road racer and married mother of two young children. Through her team, MP13 Racing, Paris is stepping up from Junior Cup and Twins Cup to contest arguably the most competitive class in the 10-round championship: Supersport. And the Southern California native is doing so with support from a new manufacturer, MV Agusta, as well as a new title sponsor, Equitea.
Equitea MV Agusta by MP13 Racing will campaign two MV Agusta F3 800 RRs prepared by MP13 Racing and ridden by Roberto Tamburini and Aiden Sneed. MV Agusta is one of eight manufacturers producing motorcycles homologated for the deeply talented and quickly expanding Supersport Next Generation class. The 12-valve, 798cc “Trepistoni” engine that powers the F3 800 RR is housed in a unique aluminized-steel tubular trellis frame mated to an aluminum alloy swingarm.
One of the most iconic names in motorcycling, MV Agusta recently was acquired by Pierer Mobility AG, which also owns KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS. “Racing is a fundamental part of MV Agusta’s heritage that lives in the brand’s present,” said Luca Dovesi, head of MV Agusta North America. “Every MV Agusta motorcycle is developed with performance in mind, and therefore taking official part in MotoAmerica is a natural step for the company in a crucial market like the U.S. I am personally excited and proud of this step, which represents a testament to the renewed strength that MV Agusta has gained thanks to the partnership with Pierer Mobility.”
Another welcome addition to the MotoAmerica paddock, Equitea is a minority-owned business that produces organic, small-batch, cold-brewed adaptogenic teas blended for health and wellness. “Equitea is proud to partner with Melissa Paris and MP13 Racing,” said Quentin Vennie, co-founder and CEO of Equitea, available nationwide at Sprouts Farmers Markets. “Our functional teas, combined with MP13 Racing’s skill, determination, and stellar coaching, are a winning combination. We look forward to seeing everyone at the racetrack.”
Roberto Tamburini, 33, has experience in 125cc Grand Prix, World Supersport, WorldSBK, and the Endurance World Championship. “I am very motivated to face this season together and to ride an Italian bike—the MV Agusta F3 800 RR,” said Tamburini. “I will have to learn different things, such as the racetracks, a new bike with new tires, and get back on a 600 after many years spent on a 1000. For this reason, it might not be so simple, especially at the beginning, but I will try to bring my experience and speed to grow together step by step.”
Aiden Sneed returns to MP13 Racing for a second year after a strong showing in Junior Cup. The only rider in the class racing a 321cc twin, he finished 13th overall. The Texan will make his Supersport debut at Brainerd International Raceway, June 14-16, when he reaches his 16th birthday. In the meantime, Sneed will attend all races and test with the team. “I am absolutely thrilled to be competing in MotoAmerica Supersport on an MV Agusta,” said Sneed. “With the incredible support of MP13 Racing, I am confident this year will be nothing short of amazing.”
Another important piece of the MP13 Racing success story remains securely in place: Evan Steel, the owner of Tucson, Arizona-based Evan Steel Performance, who has enjoyed podium success with riders in both domestic and international competition, is returning to MP13 Racing for a third consecutive season to impart his special brand of two-wheel magic on the brace of F3 800 RRs. “Evan will manage our engine and electronics development,” said Paris. “Evan is my right-hand guy, and we are proud to have him as a part of our team.”
Equitea MV Agusta by MP13 Racing will kick off its 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship challenge on April 19-21 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. Fans of the series who can’t attend in person can subscribe to MotoAmerica Live+ to watch every round of the MotoAmerica Championship. All the high-speed action is also available on Fox Sports FS1, MAVTV, ESPN Latin America, YouTube, MTRSPT1, and MotoAmericaTV. Check local listings for broadcast dates and times.
Connect with MP13 Racing on Instagram:
@mvagustausa
@equiteaco
@mp13racing
@roberto_tamburini
@aiden_sneed15
MotoAmerica: Ezra Beaubier Riding Aftercare Scheibe Racing BMW In Superbike
Ezra Beaubier Joins Aftercare Scheibe Racing For 2024 MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Championship
Kingsford, MI – April 15, 2024 – Scheibe Racing is proud to announce that team title sponsor Aftercare is back for 2024. Also, former Stock 1000 multiple race winner Ezra Beaubier has joined Aftercare Scheibe Racing and will be aboard the team’s BMW S 1000 RR. Beaubier’s competition number has changed from 16 to 99, as the Californian makes his debut in MotoAmerica’s premier class. The announcements were made by Steve Scheibe, owner of Aftercare Scheibe Racing.
“We’re celebrating our 10th season of racing BMW motorcycles in the MotoAmerica series,” said Scheibe. “And it’s also my 18th year in Superbike racing. We’re very happy to continue our program with the long-term support of our sponsors, led by our title sponsor Aftercare. In addition, we’re excited to welcome Ezra Beaubier to our team. He is a terrific young rider whose talents on a literbike were definitely noticed this past year. Together, we expect to advance our program even further starting this weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.”
Beaubier notched three wins and five podiums aboard a BMW in Stock 1000 this past season, and he is highly motivated and ready to move up to the Steel Commander Superbike Championship this season.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to ride for Steve Scheibe,” Ezra Beaubier said. “Steve and his crew are a very experienced team with several Superbike seasons on the BMW. This is a great bike and platform for me to gain experience on in the Superbike class.”
Aftercare has been involved in the powersports industry for more than three decades. The company offers a wide range of innovative finance and insurance products available at powersports dealerships throughout the U.S.
Visit your local powersports dealer and “Ask for Aftercare.” Or call 800-832-3237 or visit them at AftercareCorp.com
The 2024 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship will get underway this weekend, April 19-21 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
MotoAmerica: More From The King Of The Baggers Races At COTA (Updated)
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FACTORY RACER KYLE WYMAN SETS A NEW TRACK RECORD AND WINS IN TEXAS TO HOLD KING OF THE BAGGERS POINTS LEAD
Rispoli Takes Third Podium in Four Races Aboard Factory Harley-Davidson Road Glide
MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing rider Kyle Wyman made his mark at Circuit of the Americas with a dramatic win, a new class track record, and the MotoAmerica® Mission King of the Baggers points lead. Wyman, aboard his race-prepared 2024 Road Glide® motorcycle, finished the doubleheader race day with second and first place finishes. His Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing teammate, James Rispoli, is third in points after hard-fought fourth and third place finishes.
The MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series appeared as part of the MotoGP™ Grand Prix of the Americas weekend on the challenging 3.4-mile, 20-turn Circuit of the Americas road course, adding a uniquely American flavor to the event and making many new fans.
The first six-lap race saw Factory Indian rider and pole sitter, Tyler O’Hara, lead a breakaway pack of six bikes, including Wyman and Rispoli, for the first five laps. On the last lap of the race, Wyman made his move, passing O’Hara for the lead. Factory Indian rider Troy Herfoss came with him after fighting his way to the front from as far back as sixth place. Moments later Herfoss dove below Wyman heading into turn 15, forcing Wyman wide. Herfoss held on to cross the finish line 0.295 seconds ahead of Wyman with O’Hara third, Rispoli fourth, and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Hayden Gillim fifth, all separated by less than one second.
Later Saturday afternoon, the second six-lap Mission King of the Baggers race saw Herfoss and Wyman pass O’Hara on lap two and gradually open a gap over the second group of riders, led by Rispoli. Wyman stalked Herfoss until the last lap before making his move on the brakes going into turn 1. Wyman then laid down a near perfect lap, setting a new lap record for the class at 2:14.8 and a win by 0.677 seconds.
“I knew I had some pace on the Factory Harley-Davidson Road Glide and methodically moved my way forward,” said Wyman. “I’m so pumped to get this win for Harley-Davidson. It was a really great race, I’m looking forward to Road Atlanta.”
Rispoli enjoyed another successful weekend on the Factory Harley-Davidson team with his third podium finish in four races.
“I am so stoked to be on the podium again,” said Rispoli after race two. “There were so many people battling for position, and it was so much work. I tried everything to hang on to third place for my guys who worked so hard this weekend. It’s such a confidence boost for me.”
After four of 18 rounds in the 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Wyman leads the championship with 95 points. Herfoss is second with 85 points, followed by Rispoli with 61 points, O’Hara with 46 points, and Gillim with 45 points.
Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing returns to action April 19-21 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga. during the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Road Atlanta event.
The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing Road Glide® motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.
Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing is sponsored by Mission® Foods, Rockford Fosgate®, Brembo®, Öhlins®, Protolabs®, SYN3® lubricants, and Screamin’ Eagle® Performance Parts and Accessories.
MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Circuit of the Americas Race 1
- Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Kyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- James Rispoli (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Hayden Gillim (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- Rocco Landers (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- Bobby Fong (Ind) SDI/Roland Sands Racing
- Cory West (H-D) Saddleman/Harley-Davidson
- Kyle Ohnsorg (Ind) RydFast Racing
- Max Flinders (Ind) Mad Monkey Motorsports
- Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddleman/Harley-Davidson
MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Circuit of the Americas Race 2
- Kyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- James Rispoli (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Bobby Fong (Ind) SDI/Roland Sands Racing
- Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Hayden Gillim (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- Rocco Landers (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- Kyle Ohnsorg (Ind) RydFast Racing
- Max Flinders (Ind) Mad Monkey Motorsports
- Cory West (H-D) Saddleman/Harley-Davidson
More, from a press release issued by Indian Motorcycle:
Indian Motorcycle Factory Rider Troy Herfoss Secures First-Career King of the Baggers Victory
Three-Time Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss Takes First & Second at Circuit of The Americas Alongside MotoGP
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. (April 15, 2024) – In what proved to be an exciting weekend at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) during MotoGP, Indian Motorcycle factory rider, and three-time Australian Superbike Champion, Troy Herfoss secured his first-career King Of The Baggers (KOTB) class win aboard the S&S Indian Challenger. In his first season racing baggers, Herfoss has proved to be a fierce competitor for the series championship, sitting second overall through four races.
Starting the weekend off hot, Herfoss won the Mission Foods Challenge and its $5,000 prize. After two qualifying sessions, Herfoss earned a front row starting position for Race 1. Despite starting third on the grid, Herfoss found himself mid pack early in the race. Having never raced at COTA and learning the track by playing a video game, Herfoss put on a master class, as he maneuvered his way to the front of the pack and into a three-way battle heading into the final lap. Ultimately, it was Herfoss taking the win by .295 of a second. Herfoss was joined on the podium by fellow Indian Motorcycle factory rider and 2022 KOTB Champion Tyler O’Hara, who captured his first podium of the 2024 season.
“It’s an honor to be standing here today and get my first win at COTA during MotoGP,” said Herfoss. “It’s early in the season, and I’m getting more and more seat time aboard the S&S Indian Challenger. It’s an incredible motorcycle – fast and smooth, but at 620-pounds, it’s like nothing I have ever raced before. With each lap and every race, I learn something new and gain even more confidence.”
While it’s Herfoss’ first move into bagger racing, his S&S Indian Challenger and S&S factory team are no strangers to the competition – having won the 2020 inaugural race and 2022 championship title with O’Hara piloting. Herfoss’ skills, paired with O’Hara’s experience, S&S’ engineering, and the Indian Challenger’s performance, make him a legitimate competitor for the 2024 title.
To start his KOTB career, Herfoss has never missed a podium, adding three second place finishes and to his one win. Herfoss is firmly planted second overall, 10 points behind the lead and 24 points ahead of third.
MotoAmerica’s Mission King Of The Baggers season continues at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta April 19-21.
The S&S Indian Challenger race team is sponsored by S&S, Progressive, Mission Foods, Drag Specialties, Parts Unlimited, and Performance Finance.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, X and Instagram.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®
Indian Motorcycle Company is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
INDIAN and INDIAN MOTORCYCLE are registered trademarks of Indian Motorcycle International, LLC. Always wear a helmet, protective clothing and eyewear and insist your passenger does the same. Ride within the limits of the law and your own abilities. Read, understand and follow your owner’s manual. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
ABOUT S&S® CYCLE
S&S® Cycle was born from a passion for racing and has spent over six decades building performance for the powersports market. Their unwavering focus on quality, reliability and top shelf power has made S&S® Cycle the absolute leader in high performance on the street and track.