KurveyGirl.com brings you the results of this weekend’s events.

At our online motorcycle parts store, you’ll find a specialized selection of quarter turn “Dzus” fasteners, titanium hardware, premium tire valve stems, Vesrah racing brake pads, Brembo parts and accessories, and other unique hardware specifically designed for race and trackday motorcycles.

Xavi Fores won the MotoAmerica Supersport Extended Race Saturday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California.

Riding his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2, Fores won the 38-lap, double-points race by 12.685 seconds. It was Fores’ eighth straight win, setting a new record for the MotoAmerica Supersport class.

Pole-sitter Josh Hayes overcame a troubled pit stop to finish a strong second on his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.

Tyler Scott ran near the front from start to finish and came home third, 20.623 seconds behind Fores, on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750.

Stefano Mesa got fourth on his Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R, and Scott’s teammate Teagg Hobbs rounded out the top five finishers.

More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Fores Still Perfect With Eighth Straight Win Coming At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Fores, Gillim, McWiliams Score Victories On Saturday On The Monterey Peninsula

MONTEREY, CA (July 8, 2023) – Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Xavi Fores won his eighth straight MotoAmerica Supersport race on Saturday afternoon at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to break Garrett Gerloff’s consecutive win streak from 2017. Although Fores isn’t the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion yet, he’s getting close with his perfect 250 points stretching his championship points lead to 100 points after eight races.

Supersport – Fores The Record Breaker

Xavi Fores wasn’t overly confident going into Saturday’s “Extended” Supersport race after suffering the first two crashes of his season on Thursday and Saturday morning. He also knew that Squid Hunter Racing’s Josh Hayes had good pace. Put those two things together and it was as close to trouble as Fores has been in all year.

But then it all fell into place when the race started. Fores suddenly felt more comfortable, and he could match Hayes’ pace, though he did lose valuable time in lapped traffic just prior to the mandatory pit stops.

And the pit stop is where Fores won the race, though it wasn’t in his pit. The race was handed to him when Hayes’ crew struggled to get the front wheel into the fork during his stop and it ultimately cost him victory.

At the completion of the 38-lap race, Fores was 12.685 seconds ahead of Hayes and had his eighth straight win in hand. Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott finished third with the youngster being caught and passed by Hayes in the closing laps.

Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa and Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Teagg Hobbs rounded out the top five.

“I was not 100% convinced about this race, especially after the crash we had this morning because I had some pain in my neck and I was a little bit not 100% concentrated,” Fores said. “I was a little bit confused because the bike was not working 100% well. The front tire consumption all the weekend was horrendous, especially on the left side. Honestly, the first part of the race I had a good fight with Josh, but then on the last four laps before to come in, I lost the front two or three times in turn nine and turn five. I nearly crashed and then I had to run off. Then we got the pack of slow riders. He was really brave passing them on the Corkscrew. After my crash this morning, I said, I’m going to stay away of this. Then I lost a couple of seconds there. But, honestly, when we did the pit stop the guys in the pit stop were working perfectly. My tired changes and my feeling on the bike. We didn’t lose much time there. So, I went out the first two or three corners, the rear tire was a little bit cold, and it took a little bit to get warm. But then when I passed on the straight, I see Josh coming out of the pits but quite early yet, so I said, maybe he had some issue on the pit stop. I started to see I was still P4, then P3, then P1. I was managing the gap on the last 18, 17 laps. So honestly, I was not the fastest one this weekend, but we did a good strategy on the race. I came maybe two laps earlier than we had been expecting, because the front tire was not working well. We managed well the situation. That was the key to win the race. Honestly, Josh was much faster than me this weekend, more solid and especially in the right corners. He was always pulling meters away from me. When I catch him on the first part of the race, I was like, I have no more. I was taking some risks. So fair play to him, his team. It was a shame to don’t arrive to the end of the race fighting me and him because it would be great to have a good battle with him until the last lap.”

Mission King Of The Baggers – A Wild Finish

Talk about a wild finish. Indian Motorcycle/Progressive/Mission Foods’ Tyler O’Hara stuffedhis way past H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Kyle Wyman heading into the Corkscrew and held that lead all the way to the final corner. With his Indian snaking under braking, O’Hara flicked it into the final corner, lost the front end and crashed. But that’s not all. Just a millisecond later, Wyman made exactly the same miscue and both riders found themselves trying to pick up their motorcycles.

Meanwhile, Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson’s Hayden Gillim streaked past to score his first victory in the class – 2.9 seconds ahead of his teammate James Rispoli with the pair smiling under their helmets like five-year-olds at Christmas.

Ditto for Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands/Indian’s Bobby Fong, who also found himself gifted with a podium finish.

O’Hara won the race of the fallen to finish fourth, just ahead of Team Saddlemen’s Jake Lewis.

“I immediately looked back to see where he was, because I was so focused on them that I ran wide and I was just hoping he wasn’t close to get a run,” Gillim said. “It sucked to see. I kind of figured one would go down. The way those two guys go at it; I knew it was going to get a little dicey. I had kind of given up when I had come across the stripe going onto the last lap because I was kind of starting to move around a little bit more and they were going fast. They had picked up the pace once Kyle (Wyman) got in front. So, I had kind of called the dog off and then they started going at it and I was like, ‘all right. I need to kind of keep going because in case something does happen, if they run wide or something, I need to be there to capitalize.’ I got lucky and brought it home. First bagger win. I’ve done three championships of it, so this is my first win. It’s awesome. I’m happy to be up on top. I need to fix my starts, though. I think I was eighth going into turn one, starting from fourth. So, I was a little nervous the first couple laps, for sure. The Vance & Hines guys have put a great bike underneath me. We’re going to keep making steady progress, like James said, and hopefully actually be able to get up there and be a part of that fight tomorrow.”

Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – McWilliams Does It

Jeremy McWilliams flew back to Northern Ireland an angry man after learning that his first-career Super Hooligan victory at Ridge Motorsports Park was taken from him due to a protest that resulted in his disqualification for a technical infraction.

McWilliams stewed for the two weeks, but came back with a vengeance, leading the practice sessions, qualifying on pole, and winning Saturday’s race by a scant .071 of a second on his Indian Motorcycle/Progressive/Mission Foods Indian FTR1200 over DiBrino Racing KTM’s Andy DiBrino.

Cory West rode the Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America to third place.

“I went home and was very pissed off for a long time,” McWilliams said. “I came here with only one goal in mind, and it was to win at all costs, win it or bin it. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, it doesn’t really matter. I needed that win for myself. Just to kind of prove to everybody that it doesn’t matter where you put your handlebars. You can still win the race because they’re not up a little bit, but it looks like with the new rules we can put them back down exactly where we had them at the Ridge. Take all that aside, put it behind us and move on. I need championship points, and that’s what I was more pissed off at the Ridge in the race because I hadn’t had a win and just for my sanity, I needed a win. I needed to beat Tyler (O’Hara) at his own. That rivalry between teammates makes it a great team. He just basically said he had nothing left at the Ridge, fair and square. Coming here, I needed it at all costs. So, thanks to S & S. They put a great motorcycle together. Indian are behind it. I think with that little bit of factory support, it definitely bolsters us a little bit at every round. We just have that kind of safety net around us with the factory support. So, it’s a big thanks to the guys believing in me and keep signing me to come and do this because the last time I was here was 1993 or ’94, so it’s nice to come back here and perform still on this circuit which I dearly love.”

REV’IT! Twins Cup – Landers Takes Over

REV’IT! Twins Cup had their first race of the weekend on Saturday, and pole sitter Rocco Landers notched his fifth win of the season by more than four seconds aboard his Robem Engineering Aprilia in a contest where he was chased by his stablemate, Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering’s Gus Rodio. For Rodio, it was his sixth podium aboard his Aprilia RS 660. Finishing third after overtaking defending class champion Blake Davis was Dominic Doyle aboard his Team Iso Yamaha YZF-R7.

Landers’ victory enabled him to take over the championship lead by one point over Davis, 141-140, and after celebrating on the podium, he said, “It was a great race. I had tons of fun. I didn’t get the best initial start, but I think they got together in turn two and I was able to get by Blake (Davis) out of five. Then, I was just able to run my own race and click off laps. Like five laps to go, my front tire just took a dive off a cliff. I had absolutely no feel out of that coming down Rainey (Curve). The thing would just start chattering. But Gus and I have been working together probably more than we have all season this one weekend. Made the bikes work as good as possible. Been trading data, making sure to have the best setup possible to race so we can get some one-twos for Aprilia and for the team, and also for the championship. Matt, my crew chief, my mechanic Chad, they’ve been busting their butts all weekend, making the thing work as good as possible. We have an amazing setup.”

More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA, Inc.:

VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI’S TYLER SCOTT EARNS PODIUM SPOT AT
LAGUNA SECA

BREA, CA – July 9, 2023 – Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer were key players in a dramatic day of racing as the 2023 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship resumed at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. All four of the team’s riders earned top five results, with Tyler Scott in third aboard his Suzuki GSX-R750 Supersport machine and celebrating on the podium.

Race Highlights:

•  Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
  • Superbike
    • Richie Escalante charged from the back of the field to score another fourth-place result.
    • Brandon Paasch landed inside the top-five in his team debut.
  • Supersport
    • Tyler Scott earned another podium result after finishing third.
    • Teagg Hobbs led early and was rewarded with the fifth spot.

The on-form Richie Escalante took a circuitous route to secure his fourth fourth-place finish in his last six MotoAmerica Superbike starts on Saturday. The Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki pilot was a popular pre-race pick to claim his maiden premier-class podium after earning a front-row qualifying position aboard his GSX-R1000R. Richie was able to slot into third early on before a red flag brought the proceedings to a temporary halt. Escalante’s podium hopes took a big hit when his tire warmer cover melted to his brake disc during the red flag, forcing him to miss the sighting lap and therefore line up in last position for the restart. Escalante immediately carved his way up the field and joined the tail-end of what turned out to be a race-long, multi-rider fight for the podium. That battle ultimately ended early when a second red flag ended the race and awarded Escalante another fourth-place finish.

“It was a crazy race,” said Escalante. “I am the only rider at the front who chose the Dunlop R7 tire compound, so I wasn’t happy when I saw the red flag. Then when I was leaving the pits, we had an issue with the tire cover warmer, which caused me to start at the back of the grid. I tried to make up as many positions as I could. I’ve been feeling good this weekend, and my confidence has been strong but I made a couple of mistakes in the race and would lose ground and then make it up. I couldn’t advance any further. In the end, I am happy about getting good points, but I am really glad there are two more races. A big thank you to not only the team and everyone who supports me but also to all the fans.”

Brandon Paasch, meanwhile, had a stellar race debut as the newest member of the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team. Despite the young rider’s history of success across several different classes, he’s still new to a full-blown Superbike. But that inexperience did not show. Paasch, still recovering from a broken back, did well to fight up to sixth on the team’s GSX-R1000R and then defended the position all the way to the red flag. He was ultimately awarded a fifth as a result of the final red flag.

“For the first time out, it was a pretty good result,” said Paasch. “I didn’t know what exactly to expect, this being our first race on the bike. So far, the lap times are getting closer every time out so I think we are making good progress. In the race, we didn’t have any issues and I was happy with the lap times we were turning at the end. I felt I got stronger and definitely faster so it was a good first race.”

The Supersport class saw a return of a sole 38-lap “long race” with a mandatory pit stop this weekend in California. Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott ran a strong, measured race to earn third on his next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750. Ensconced in the top ten early, Scott emerged in podium contention after his strong pit stop on lap 18 and ran as high as second on the repaved track.

“We started this weekend behind,” Scott said. “The Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team did a great job step-by-step all weekend. We got a really good setup going into the race and I felt good. I dropped back when I made some mistakes but then I started becoming more consistent with good times. The pit stop was great and I pushed until the end. It was a great race.”

Teagg Hobbs led the race early and gained valuable experience at the front of the Supersport pack. Hobbs was the first of the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki racers to pit, entering on lap 16 and emerging with a clean stop. Hobbs then chased his teammate Scott inside the top three before eventually earning fifth on the day.

“It was cool to lead and it felt good,” said Hobbs. “We had a strong qualifying and there are tons of positives to take away. But we chose the wrong tire for the race and that made for a long day and kept us from getting a better result. I am looking forward to going to Brainerd, which is one of my favorite tracks.”

While the weekend is now complete for the MotoAmerica Supersport contenders, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike pilots Escalante and Paasch will have two more shots at the podium on Sunday as the premier-class racing continues at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

For more racing news, results, and special team content please visit https://suzukicycles.com/racing/road-racing.

ABOUT SUZUKI

Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.

ABOUT TEAM HAMMER

The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Race bikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 351 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.

ABOUT VISION WHEEL

Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.

KurveyGirl.com brings you the results of this weekend’s events.

At our online motorcycle parts store, you’ll find a specialized selection of quarter turn “Dzus” fasteners, titanium hardware, premium tire valve stems, Vesrah racing brake pads, Brembo parts and accessories, and other unique hardware specifically designed for race and trackday motorcycles.

Hayden Gillim won MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Race One Saturday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California.

Defending Champion Tyler O’Hara and Kyle Wyman were battling for the lead on the last lap. O’Hara led Wyman into the final corner, where both men tucked the front and crashed individually. This promoted Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson’s Gillim from third to first and his first win the King Of The Baggers.

Gillim’s teammate James Rispoli came home second, and Bobby Fong finished third on his Sac Mile/SDI Racing/RSD Indian Challenger.

O’Hara picked up his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian in time to still get across the line in fourth. Jake Lewis rounded out the top five finishers on his Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson.

Wyman was also able to pick up his Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson Road Glide and finish the race, salvaging enough points for ninth to retain a share of the Championship lead with Rispoli.

KurveyGirl.com brings you the results of this weekend’s events.

At our online motorcycle parts store, you’ll find a specialized selection of quarter turn “Dzus” fasteners, titanium hardware, premium tire valve stems, Vesrah racing brake pads, Brembo parts and accessories, and other unique hardware specifically designed for race and trackday motorcycles.

Jake Gagne won MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race One Saturday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California.

Riding his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1, Gagne led the restarted and red-flag-shortened race from start to finish and won by 5.368 seconds.

Josh Herrin hung with Gagne at the beginning, maintained second place through the middle of the race, and then fended off PJ Jacobsen at the end to take the runner-up spot.

Jacobsen, riding his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, caught up to Herrin but lost any opportunity to make a move on him when a crash by Mathew Scholtz brought out a red flag that ended the race.

Scholtz was in the battle for second with Herrin and Jacobsen when he highsided coming out of Rainey Curve (Turn Nine). The South African was able to walk away from the crash.

A technical issue caused Richie Escalante to miss the sighting lap for the restart, and he was forced to take the restart from the back of the grid. He got up to fifth place on the first lap of the race and ended up finishing fourth.

Escalante’s new Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammate Brandon Paasch came home fifth in his debut race for the team. Paasch and most of the field were scored as one lap down because the top four racers took the checkered flag before the red flag came out and stopped the race.

The original race start was halted when Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen got the holeshot and then crashed in front of Jacobsen’s teammate Cameron Beaubier, taking him down with him. Neither were able to make the restart.

More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Gagne Wins First Of Three Medallia Superbike Races At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Gagne Wins Race-One Crashfest In MotoAmerica Superbikes At Monterey

MONTEREY, CA (July 8, 2023) – Jake Gagne cast a lonely shadow on the front row of the grid for the second part of the red-flag-interrupted Medallia Superbike race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday as the other two front-row starters were nowhere to be seen.

A scary crash on the exit of turn two on the opening lap of the first start had taken out pole sitter Cameron Beaubier and Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen. Prior to the restart, Richie Escalante – the third fastest qualifier – had a brake issue and missed the sighting lap and was put to the back of the grid. Thus, a lonely Gagne was the only rider on the front row while the second row also lacked Petersen who, like Beaubier, was unable to make the restart.

But first things first. The crash. With Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Petersen nabbing the holeshot from the second row, he led the field through turn two and then highsided on the exit. Beaubier and the Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR had nowhere to go, and he slammed into Petersen’s crashed Yamaha YZF-R1 and also went down. At that point the race was stopped.

On the restart, Gagne wasn’t challenged, and he led every one of the 19 laps, eventually crossing the finish line 5.3 seconds clear of second place. The victory was the fifth of the year for the championship points leader and his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1 and the 34th of his career.

A battered and bruised Josh Herrin finished second on the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, besting a fast-closing PJ Jacobsen on the Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR. The red flag cost Jacobsen any chance of a late-race attack on Herrin and he finished just .368 of a second behind the
Ducati.

Considering he started from the back row of the grid, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante continued to show that he’s a top-tier Superbike racer as he carved his way through the field to latch on to the back of the Jacobsen/Mathew Scholtz battle for third. When Scholtz crashed out of the race with two laps to go, Escalante inherited fourth place just hours after earning the first Superbike front-row starting spot of his career in the second qualifying session on Saturday morning. Scholtz’s crash in Rainey Curve brought out a second red flag and the race was called complete.

Escalante’s Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammate Brandon Paasch finished an impressive fifth in his debut on the factory Suzuki GSX-R1000R. It was also Paasch’s comeback ride after he suffered a broken back in an off-season motocross crash.

Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong ended up sixth with Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim seventh. Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Corey Alexander, Thrashed Bike Racing’s Max Flinders and Aftercare Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates completed the top 10.

Superbike Race One

1. Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
2. Josh Herrin (Ducati)
3. PJ Jacobsen (BMW)
4. Richie Escalante (Suzuki)
5. Brandon Paasch (Suzuki)
6. Bobby Fong (Yamaha)
7. Hayden Gillim (Suzuki)
8. Corey Alexander (BMW)
9. Max Flinders (Yamaha)
10. Ashton Yates (BMW)

Quotes…
 
Jake Gagne – Winner

“I had a feeling that it would be some carnage in today’s race, just because especially when Cam (Petersen) went down in the beginning I was shocked. Then both Cams (Petersen and Beaubier) are tumbling on the road. I kind of swerved, and I was just hoping nobody got… The worst thing to see is somebody sliding down the road in front of you. Obviously, I wasn’t surprised to get a red flag. I want to win races. I want to get points in the championship, but it sucks doing it like that. With Beaubier going out like that and Cam P., my teammate. So, I hope those guys are all right. Then after the restart. I just knew the wind is really chilly today. I knew from sitting on the grid before that crash even happened that the first couple laps, we had to be patient on those tires to get the heat in them. So, I was surprised, but I wasn’t surprised to see some of that carnage right in the beginning. We’re going to have to be patient on those tires with the cool breeze and sitting on the grid. So, I just tried to do that and build heat in these Dunlops. It seems like they get a little bit better after a couple laps. Just being patient. I was keeping an eye on my pit board. I knew Josh (Herrin) was behind me in the beginning. I could hear that Ducati roaring. I was just trying to be smooth. I think the big thing was trying to be easy on that front tire, because we’ve all been struggling with tearing a little bit on the front tire. It’s getting better throughout the weekend, but I tried to focus on just using different parts of the tire and I was happy with how that came in and happy with the team for helping me out and showing me what I need to do better, especially yesterday to today. So, good day and I’m looking forward to a good battle with those guys. Hopefully we can all keep it upright tomorrow and put in some good two races and put on a show for everyone.”

Josh Herrin – Second Place

“I think I ended up fourth and I was trying to go on the outside of Jake (Gagne) in, I call it one, but two, and then cross over to the inside right there where they went down. As I was starting to get on the throttle coming out of two, I decided I’m going to sneak back behind Jake because I wasn’t going to make it. I didn’t really see. I saw some movement, but I was focused a little bit further ahead on the track. As I was driving out of two picking it up to lean right a little bit, Jake just peeled off really quick to the left. Those guys were sliding right in front of me. I had nowhere to go. I kind of just checked up and got really lucky that they slid out of the way when they did. But it was pretty spooky because it’s like when you’re out on the freeway and somebody just peels off in front of you because there’s trash in the road and you’ve got nowhere to go. It was a really scary moment. I had a feeling they were going to red flag it. I was surprised that they waited as long as they did, just because it looks like they were in the middle of the track. It was a scary moment, for sure.”

PJ Jacobsen – Third Place

“It was a crazy race. It sucks for Cam P. and Cameron Beaubier, my teammate. Just that whole situation. Then after that it was weird. I was lining up on the grid and it was just so empty. So, it was kind of a strange race. I’m just a bit lucky to be up here. The other guys would have obviously been in this whole fight and stuff like that, but I guess at the end of the day it’s motorcycle racing. This morning, I completely totaled my bike. Destroyed it for the guys. So, I was really just disappointed in myself and for my side of the crew to put that back together. I was just going around not too happy this morning and it put me in a bad qualifying position for the race today. But the race was going pretty good. (Mathew) Scholtz passed me and at the end there I started to catch Josh (Herrin) and was trying to push with that two laps to go, or whatever. Unfortunately, the red flag came out because of Scholtz. I hope he’s okay. I’m just happy to be up here and be on the podium for the Tytlers Cycle Racing team.”

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Gagne Expands Points Lead with Laguna Seca Victory

Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne fires the first shot with a win in the opening race at the Laguna Seca tripleheader

MARIETTA, Ga. – July 8, 2023 – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne returned to the top step of the podium in today’s opening race of the MotoAmerica Superbike tripleheader at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The defending champ’s fifth victory of the season and 34th of his career also made championship gains, expanding his lead to 39 points. Teammate Cameron Petersen was on track for another top performance, but unfortunately, his race ended on the opening lap with a crash in the tricky conditions.

There were some unknowns regarding tire wear with the newly repaved track surface at the iconic 2.238-mile track in Monterey, California, which presented challenges. The Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team went to work and made progress, with Gagne claiming the number two spot on the grid in the final qualifying session. When the lights went out, he got a great start and slotted into third, but the red flag was drawn after a crash in Turn 2. The Colorado rider grabbed the holeshot after the restart and never looked back. Gagne threw down some consistently fast laps to build a healthy lead before the second red flag, securing his fifth victory of the season by over a five-second margin.

Petersen also made progress and qualified fourth. From there, he got a great start from the second row of the grid to grab the holeshot. Unfortunately, he high-sided on the exit of Turn 2, and the rider behind got caught up in the crash, bringing out the red flag. Petersen was unhurt but, unfortunately was unable to line up for the restart.

The Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team returns for twice the MotoAmerica Superbike action tomorrow as the tripleheader concludes at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Richard Stanboli – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager

“The team did a great job finding a solution for the increased tire wear that is indicative of a freshly paved track. Unfortunately, Cameron crashed after getting the holeshot. Jake, however, went on to run a great pace to win decisively. We will continue to improve our Yamaha R1 and be ready for Race 2 & 3.”

Jake Gagne – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing

“Today was a wild start! It was a bummer to see Cam (Petersen) go down in the lead in Turn 2. The temperature made things tricky the first few laps, but we learned from today and are ready for the doubleheader tomorrow.”

Cameron Petersen – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing

“Man, that was a tough one. I was feeling good going into the race and got a great start, but unfortunately went down while leading the race and was unable to restart. We’re going to put today behind us and focus ahead to tomorrow’s doubleheader and will try and get back to the front.”

About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.

YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).

KurveyGirl.com brings you the results of this weekend’s events.

At our online motorcycle parts store, you’ll find a specialized selection of quarter turn “Dzus” fasteners, titanium hardware, premium tire valve stems, Vesrah racing brake pads, Brembo parts and accessories, and other unique hardware specifically designed for race and trackday motorcycles.

Rocco Landers won MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup Race One Saturday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California. Riding his Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660, Landers won the 13-lap race by 4.180 seconds.

Gus Rodio was second from start to finish on his Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660.

Team Iso Yamaha’s Dominic Doyle passed defending Champion Blake Davis into Turn Two on the last lap and held on to get third.

With the race victory for Landers and N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha Davis finishing fourth Landers takes over the Championship point lead from Davis.

KurveyGirl.com brings you the results of this weekend’s events.

At our online motorcycle parts store, you’ll find a specialized selection of quarter turn “Dzus” fasteners, titanium hardware, premium tire valve stems, Vesrah racing brake pads, Brembo parts and accessories, and other unique hardware specifically designed for race and trackday motorcycles.

Jeremy McWilliams won MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan Race One Saturday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

McWilliams led the restarted, five-lap race from start to finish on his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian FTR 1200 and won by 0.071 second.

Andy DiBrino hounded McWilliams all the way to the finish line but had to settle for second on his DiBrino Racing KTM 890 Duke R.

Cory West got third place, the final podium position on his Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250.

Larry Pegram, age 50, finished fourth as a fill-in rider for Bobby Fong on the Roland Sands Design (RSD) Indian FTR 1200.

McWilliams’ teammate and defending Champion Tyler O’Hara ran off track on lap three and had to settle for fifth.

KurveyGirl.com brings you the results of this weekend’s events.

At our online motorcycle parts store, you’ll find a specialized selection of quarter turn “Dzus” fasteners, titanium hardware, premium tire valve stems, Vesrah racing brake pads, Brembo parts and accessories, and other unique hardware specifically designed for race and trackday motorcycles.

Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson’s Kyle Wyman won the three-lap MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Challenge dash-for-cash Saturday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Hayden Gillim was the runner-up, 1.461 seconds behind Wyman on his Vance & Hines Mission Harley-Davidson.

Tyler O’Hara got third on his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian Challenger.

Travis Wyman, Kyle Wyman’s brother and teammate was the fourth and final finisher.

KurveyGirl.com brings you the results of this weekend’s events.

At our online motorcycle parts store, you’ll find a specialized selection of quarter turn “Dzus” fasteners, titanium hardware, premium tire valve stems, Vesrah racing brake pads, Brembo parts and accessories, and other unique hardware specifically designed for race and trackday motorcycles.

Kyle Wyman claimed pole position during MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers qualifying at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Riding his Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson Road Glide, Wyman secured the top spot with the new All-Time Lap Record of 1:28.586 he set in Qualifying One (Q1) on Friday.

While Wyman did not go faster in Q2 than he did in Q1, Tyler O’Hara did, improving from 1:29.009 to 1:28.773 on his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian Challenger and earning the second spot on the grid.

Bobby Fong took the third and final spot on the front row with a lap time of 1:28.825 on his Sac Mile SDI Racing/RSD Indian Challenger.

KurveyGirl.com brings you the results of this weekend’s events.

At our online motorcycle parts store, you’ll find a specialized selection of quarter turn “Dzus” fasteners, titanium hardware, premium tire valve stems, Vesrah racing brake pads, Brembo parts and accessories, and other unique hardware specifically designed for race and trackday motorcycles.

Five-time MotoAmerica Superbke Champion Cameron Beaubier took pole position during MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Qualifying Two (Q2) Saturday morning at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Riding his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, Beaubier did a 1:22.959, which was just shy of Josh Herrin’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:22.908.

Two-time and defending Champion Jake Gagne pushed late to secure the second grid spot with a 1:23.069 on his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1.

Richie Escalante earned the third and final spot on the front row with a lap time of 1:23.272 on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R.

Row-two starters include Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen (1:23.529), Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz (1:23.534), and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin (1:23.679).

The top eight qualifiers were separated by just 0.8 second.

The first of three Superbike races is scheduled to start at 3:10 p.m. Pacific Time.

KurveyGirl.com brings you the results of this weekend’s events.

At our online motorcycle parts store, you’ll find a specialized selection of quarter turn “Dzus” fasteners, titanium hardware, premium tire valve stems, Vesrah racing brake pads, Brembo parts and accessories, and other unique hardware specifically designed for race and trackday motorcycles.

Four-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion Josh Hayes, age 48, earned pole position during MotoAmerica Supersport Qualifying Two (Q2) Saturday morning at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

In spite of the 58-degree F ambient temperatures, Hayes was able to improve on the 1:27.817 he did on Friday with a 1:27.031 on his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 on Saturday to top the 28-entry field.

Teagg Hobbs was fifth on Friday with a 1:28.206 but at the very end of Q2 he threw down a 1:27.230 lap time on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 to claim the second spot on the starting grid.

Hobbs’ teammate Tyler Scott also improved from a 1:28.053 on Friday to 1:27.335 on Saturday to secure the third and final spot on the front row.

Xavi Fores, the current Supersport Championship point leader, crashed during Saturday morning’s Q2 session (his second crash of the weekend) and did not improve on the 1:28.664 he did on Friday. Fores has been complaining about a lack of front-end feel. He will start the 38-lap, double-points Extended Supersport race from eighth on the grid.

The race is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.