MotoAmerica: Superbike Tripleheader Coming To Laguna Seca

David Swarts

-

July 5, 2023

MotoAmerica: Superbike Tripleheader Coming To Laguna Seca

Tripleheader Round At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Awaits Superbike Men

Jake Gagne And Cameron Beaubier Take Their Title Fight To California For The MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey Tripleheader

IRVINE, CA (July 5, 2023) – With its three races and 75 points up for grabs, the fifth round of the MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, July 7-9, has the potential to be the most important round of the series thus far and in September when all is said and done, the tripleheader may go down as the most important of the season.

After four rounds and eight races, the nine-round, 20-race 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship has turned into a two-man battle between Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne and Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier, though it’s probably a tad early to discard Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin from the conversation.

Those are the three men who have won Medallia Superbike races this season and those are the three men who sit atop the championship point standings.

Gagne is where he has found himself for the past two years – atop the championship standings. The two-time and defending Medallia Superbike Champion has won four of the eight races held so far, including three in a row until Beaubier put a stop to that in race one at Road America. What’s different about the 2023 season is that Gagne has been beaten in a straight fight twice by Beaubier – in the first race of the season at Road Atlanta and in race two at Ridge Motorsports Park two weeks ago. Beaubier’s third race win was the aforementioned Road America race, but Gagne suffered a mechanical failure in what was a fairly horrible weekend for the Yamaha team.

Both Gagne and Beaubier have suffered a mechanical DNF with Beaubier also having a race crash to blemish his record. But fortunately, when he crashed at Ridge in race one while hounding Gagne, the race was red flagged, and the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion was credited with seventh place and the nine important championship points that came with it.

As surprised as many are that Beaubier and his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR have had the speed to run at the very front since the first race of the season, Gagne isn’t one of them. Mention Beaubier to Gagne at any time during any weekend and he will give you much the same response. “I never count that guy out.”

Herrin’s lone win came in Road America’s second race with the Ducati man holding off Beaubier’s teammate PJ Jacobsen for the win. By that point, Beaubier’s BMW had expired, and Gagne was third in what was a forgettable weekend for both him and the Attack team. Although Herrin was thrilled at Road America with his first win since 2019, he also knew he hadn’t beaten the other two when they were at their best.

The Ridge Motorsports Park round looked like it would be the place where Herrin would do just that as he qualified on pole position and looked to have the pace to run with Gagne and Beaubier in the two races. Shortly after nabbing pole, however, Herrin had a huge crash that left him battered and bruised and with a right foot that was later diagnosed with a fracture. Although the injuries put a damper on his chance to run at the very front, Herrin bravely rode to two third-place finishes that may pay dividends later in the season.

Herrin sits third in the championship standings, 11 behind Beaubier and 34 behind Gagne.

Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz had scored points in every race until he suffered a crash in Sunday’s race two at Ridge Motorsports Park – a day after he’d finished second to Gagne in race one. That was the fourth podium of the year for the South African who finds himself fourth in the title chase, but 55 points behind Gagne.

Jacobsen had a dismal (by his standards) round in Washington with sixth- and seventh-place finishes on his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR. The New Yorker sits fifth in the championship heading to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, 10 points behind Scholtz and just three points ahead of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante.

Escalante is off to a great start in the championship with double-digit points scored in six of the eight races so far. With three fourth-place finishes, it seems to be only a matter of time before the youngster from Tizayuca Hidalgo, Mexico, finds himself on the podium of a MotoAmerica Superbike race.

The number-three man on the Tytlers Cycle Racing team was the number-two man on the team at Ridge Motorsports Park with Corey Alexander having a career-best Superbike weekend with fifth-and fourth-place finishes on the weekend as he continues to improve with each and every race. Alexander is 13 points behind Escalante and eight ahead of Gagne’s Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing teammate Cameron Petersen.

Petersen would like to completely forget the first half of the season. A second-place finish in race one at Barber Motorsports Park is the only bright spot in his season so far as his scorecard is marred by three non-finishes. Still, the South African has the speed and the team behind him to make big gains in the second half of the season.

Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim and Toni Elias, who announced his retirement immediately after finishing fifth in race two at Road America, round out the top 10 in the championship heading into WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

The first of the three Medallia Superbike races on the Monterey Peninsula will take place at 3:10 on Saturday afternoon with race two and race three slated for Sunday at 12:10 and 3:10 p.m., respectively.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Pre-Race Notes…

Last year the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca race was round six of the 2022 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship, and the two races were won by Jake Gagne, who would go on to earn his second straight Medallia Superbike title. Gagne’s fastest race lap came in race two with his 1:23.443.

The MotoAmerica Superbike lap record at WeatherTech Laguna Seca is still held by Josh Herrin, who set the mark at 1:22.908 during Superpole in 2018. The Superbike race lap record is held by Cameron Beaubier who clicked off a 1:23.185 in race three in 2020, the only other time MotoAmerica has held a Superbike tripleheader at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna.

Last year, Gagne beat his teammate Cameron Petersen and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci in race one and then came back to beat Petrucci and Petersen in race two a day later. The two wins at Laguna were the sixth and seventh wins for Gagne on the season and he left California with the points lead for the first time, albeit by just three over Petrucci.

With his fourth win of the season and 33rd of his career coming in race one at Ridge Motorsports Park two weeks ago, Jake Gagne moved out of a tie with Toni Elias and Miguel Duhamel for fourth on the all-time AMA Superbike win list. Gagne trails all-time leader Mat Mladin and his 82 victories, Josh Hayes and his 61 wins and Cameron Beaubier, who has 57 AMA Superbike wins on his resume.

Josh Hayes, meanwhile, continues to chase history as his next win in any class will put him alone at the top of the all-time AMA road race win record as he is currently tied with Miguel Duhamel with 86 wins across all classes. Hayes will be aboard his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 in the extended Supersport race scheduled for Saturday afternoon at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. With his race-two Superbike win at Ridge two weeks ago, Cameron Beaubier, meanwhile, lurks in fourth on the all-time list with 78 wins – eight behind Duhamel and Hayes.

Brandon Paasch will make his MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike debut at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with the New Jerseyan set to race the ex-Toni Elias Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R in the three Superbike races at Laguna and for the rest of the season.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has a long history of hosting AMA Superbike races with the first-ever Superbike race at the track on the Monterey Peninsula taking place in 1976 and won by Reg Pridmore.

Dunlop hosted several of the top-tier Superbike racers to turn laps on the recently repaved WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca track on July 4. Though the track was extremely “green” on the morning of the test, racers reported that it was getting better as more laps were completed and rubber was put onto the racing surface. There was also a chance that a second test day would be held on the Thursday prior to Friday’s official practice and qualifying sessions.

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.

More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:

Three Through The Corkscrew For Mathew Scholtz And Westby Racing This Weekend

Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.

Tulsa, OK – July 5, 2023 – Round five of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship is this weekend, and it’s a special one not only because Mathew Scholtz and the Westby Racing team will be competing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world’s most distinctive and iconic tracks, but also because there are three Superbike races on the weekend schedule, with one on Saturday and the other two on Sunday.

In addition, the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course and “home of the Corkscrew” has been completely repaved. Like Road America’s complete repaving earlier this season, the track surface improvements should yield fast lap times as the weekend progresses.

Mathew and the team participated in a test session on Tuesday of this week, in order to help Dunlop assess which tires are best on the brand-new asphalt, while also putting some grip-improving rubber down on the surface.

“Laguna Seca is one of my favorite tracks on the schedule,” Mathew said. “It’s a place that has so much history. This year, there was some doubt about the brand-new pavement, but after the test, everything is positive, and we all have a really good feeling about the tires. I struggled with the new Dunlops at Road America, but we made a few changes for Laguna, and it has made a difference for us. We’re going to continue working in the same direction with the bike, and I’m sure we’ll be battling up front. I can’t wait to get out there and push the Westby Racing Yamaha R1 as far as we possibly can.”

Superbike final qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10:35 PT, Superbike race one will go green on Saturday afternoon at 3 PT, Superbike race two is on Sunday morning at Noon PT, and the weekend-concluding Superbike race two will start at 3 PT. All three races will be shown live on MotoAmerica’s YouTube Channel.

For all the action from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, as it happens, subscribe to MotoAmerica Live+, which is MotoAmerica’s live streaming and on-demand service.

Meet Mathew, Get An Autographed Poster, And More

Mathew will be available for autographs during the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk & Autograph Session, scheduled for 10:15 to 11:10 a.m. Sunday on pit lane at Laguna Seca. He and the team will be handing out free posters and T-shirts, so don’t miss it.

Check Out The Westby Racing Sponsor Showcase

GB Racing; Motorex USA; Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA; and Yoshimura R&D of America, Inc. are the featured team sponsors on display in the Westby Racing paddock area this race weekend, so be sure to stop by to say hello and learn about some of the companies that support the team.

For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit www.WestbyRacing.com

Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.

More On The Passing Of Hall Of Famer Peter Starr

David Swarts

-

July 5, 2023

0

More On The Passing Of Hall Of Famer Peter Starr

RIP, Peter Starr

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2023) – AMA Pro Racing offers its condolences to the family and friends of Peter Starr, who died Monday, July 3, following a long battle with cancer at the age of 80. Starr was a pioneer across film, television, and motorcycling who played a central role in bringing motorcycle racing to the masses.

Originally, hailing from the United Kingdom, Starr moved to the United States in the ‘60s where he pursued a career as a DJ, record producer, and eventually filmmaker. It was through the last of these in which he started down the path that saw him become one of motorcycling’s most influential and beloved ambassadors.

Starr first spread the gospel of two wheels on a large scale via his documentary filmmaking, most notably the award-winning documentary, “Take it to the Limit,” which provided viewers a glimpse into the lives of some of the world’s greatest motorcycle racers, including Grand National Champions Kenny Roberts, Jay Springsteen, Ricky Graham, and Bubba Shobert.

Starr was also an innovating force in motorcycle racing television production, introducing and developing some of the techniques still used today to effectively communicate the speed, grace, and excitement of the sport. He was the first to mount a film camera on a racebike during the 1980 AMA National from Laguna Seca, and later the first to produce live video from a motorcycle during a race at the 1985 DuQuoin Mile.

He also spearheaded the creation of the Stroh’s Mile National Dirt Track Championship, which aired on TNN and USA Network in 1985 and 1986. This served as a “series inside a series” as part of the larger Progressive American Flat Track championship. It utilized the Grand National Championship’s Miles as the basis for a televised series that paid its own points and bonus money with support from the national advertising partner that Starr attracted in Stroh’s Brewery.

Starr created, produced, and/or hosted dozens of other motorcycle related programs over the decades, including the first national motorcycle TV show, “The Peter Starr Motorcycle Show,” which aired on TNN in the early ‘80s. He was also a racer and stunt performer himself, whose work was featured in a number of Hollywood hit movies.

Starr never stopped breaking new ground, creating the MotoStarr podcast and YouTube Channel, in which he interviewed a number of motorcycle racing titans, in recent years.

He was inducted into the Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2011 and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2017.

Starr is survived by his sister, Lynn Greer, and his nephews, Stuart and Richard Greer.

About AMA Pro Racing:

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

More, from a press release issued by American Motorcyclist Association (AMA):

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Peter Starr Passes

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame offers its condolences to the family and friends of Peter Starr — motorcycle racer, author, TV producer and filmmaker, whose work includes dozens of productions about motorcycles and motorcycling. Starr passed away on July 3 at the age of 80.

Born on Nov. 2, 1942, in Coventry, England, Starr began riding motorcycles at a young age, later raced Nortons, Ariels and Triumphs, and then turned that passion into a four-year job with Triumph in the early 1960s.

Starr moved to the United States in the mid-1960s working as a DJ and later in record production before returning to his love of motorcycles as a filmmaker. His first film, titled Bad Rock, was funded by Hodaka and Penzoil and was distributed across the United States. Later, his film Take it to the Limit would become his most famous creation, starring riders at the top of their sport and a string of hit songs on its soundtrack.

Along with his films, Starr also directed over 50 television specials on motorcycling and motorsports. It was Starr who had the first film camera mounted on a motorcycle and later did the first live broadcast from a motorcycle in competition for ABC’s Wide World of Sports in 1985 at the AMA National on the Du Quoin Magic Mile.

In recent years, Starr became a global ambassador for motorcycling, and after being inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2017 became an ardent supporter of the Hall of Fame and its annual induction ceremony.

“Peter Starr was a fixture in the motorcycling community for decades,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “Peter was a man who always strove to highlight our sport to both enthusiasts and non-riders, and was also incredibly supportive of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and its mission. Seeing him inducted in 2017 was inspiring. His energy and positive outlook on the sport we all love will be missed.”

Starr battled cancer for many years. Despite his diagnosis, he lived a full and vibrant life and remained tirelessly active in motorcycling.

“When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2004,” Starr previously told the AMA, “I spent a lot of time thinking about dealing with aging, and I concluded that it required living a purposeful life.”

“For me, motorcycles were always a theme of my life,” he continued. “The concept for me became looking forward, and creating something with motorcycling that was very important to me … and being a rider gives you something to always look forward to.”

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.

American Flat Track: Series Heading To New York For Orange County Half-Mile

David Swarts

-

July 5, 2023

0

American Flat Track: Series Heading To New York For Orange County Half-Mile

Progressive AFT Returns to Orange County Fair Speedway for First Time in 35 Years This Weekend

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2023) – There’s some remarkable symmetry at play as Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, comes into this weekend’s Orange County Half-Mile at Orange County Fair Speedway, in Middletown, New York, on Saturday, July 8.

The Grand National Championship last visited the venue in July of 1988. And on that day, the iconic Scott Parker took the victory, one of the record-setting 35 Half-Mile wins of his Hall of Fame career. And now 35 years later, Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) storms in having just earned his 35th career Half-Mile win to match Parker’s mark and poised to claim sole possession of the all-time lead.

The reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle king is on an absolute tear, boasting four wins in his last five races and six on the season. Despite that form, he’s still trying to claw his way back to the top of the championship order. While he’s now just five points shy of doing so, it’s been a difficult task that doesn’t figure to get any easier due to the unwavering performance of second-year Mission SuperTwins ace Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).

Daniels hasn’t finished off the podium all season long with three wins, six runner-ups, and two thirds representing his 2023 tally to date. That said, the Estenson Racing pilot is looking for answers of his own, as he’s now six races removed from his most recent win and with his once healthy title advantage under threat of disappearing altogether.

What had been a two-man, two-manufacturer duel at the front has since taken on a new look. Two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) has battled for race wins aboard the increasingly potent Rick Ware Racing KTM three weekends in succession and seems likely to make a strong run down the stretch.

JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), and Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Corbin/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) were all in the podium hunt this past weekend in West Virginia and will look to pick up right where they left off in New York. It was somewhat surprising that Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) was not, although he’s proven time and again he can stand atop the podium on any given weekend.

And Robinson is not the only potential frontrunner looking to return to the top five at Orange County Fair Speedway with prior premier-class winners Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750), Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke) all lining this weekend’s stacked Mission SuperTwins entry list.

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

Just a few weeks ago, the pack was closing in around Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER points leader Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F). That’s no longer the case. The defending champ comes into this weekend working a two-race win streak while having opened his title lead up from just nine points to 40 with those back-to-back triumphs.

Rather than look behind, Kopp can now look ahead as he eyes a goal he narrowly missed achieving during last season’s successful title run. In 2022, the factory KTM ace racked up seven wins, one short of Dallas Daniels’ single-season class record.

Kopp already owns five on the 2023 season with several venues well suited to his strengths fast approaching on the schedule, including this weekend’s trip to Orange County Fair Speedway.

While Kopp has won nearly half of the year’s 11 Main Events, the other six wins have gone to a collective consisting of second-ranked Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), fifth-ranked Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), sixth-ranked Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and seventh-ranked Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).

That said, three of the hottest riders in the class are still seeking their first… of the season in the case of Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and of their careers for Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450).

Meanwhile, some of the category’s biggest names – namely Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F) – are just looking to get back on track following some uncharacteristically quiet outings.

There will be plenty to keep fans entertained at the track on Saturday as well, including numerous vendors, live music, free motorcycle parking, and fireworks following the conclusion of the Mission SuperTwins Main Event.

General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $40 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult GA ticket), with Reserved Grandstand tickets are just $10 more. Upgraded options include Indoor Suite Reservations, Party Deck tables, and Multi-Day Camping Passes.

Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/orange-county-half-mile-61333 to reserve your seats today.

Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT).

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv.

FOX Sports coverage of the Orange County Half-Mile, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 16, at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT).

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

About Progressive American Flat Track

Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on FOX Sports.

MotoAmerica: How To Watch All The Action From Laguna Seca

David Swarts

-

July 5, 2023

0

MotoAmerica: How To Watch All The Action From Laguna Seca

MotoAmerica: How To Watch MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey

It’s All Here: How To Not Miss A Bit Of The Action

Everything you need to know to watch the MotoAmerica Superbikes in California.

MotoAmerica Live+: MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey

It’s All Here: How To Not Miss A Bit Of The Action

Everything you need to know to watch the MotoAmerica Superbikes in California.

MotoAmerica: Gagne Fastest, Near Race Pace During Testing At Laguna Seca (Updated)

David Swarts

-

July 4, 2023

0

MotoAmerica: Gagne Fastest, Near Race Pace During Testing At Laguna Seca (Updated)

Two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne was the fastest rider during an invitation-only Dunlop test Tuesday morning at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, but more importantly Gagne was close to his 2022 race pace on the freshly repaved circuit.

Riding his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1, Gagne lapped the 2.2-mile course in 1:24.920 during the short test, which ended at 1:15 p.m. local time.

Gagne’s fastest lap on his way to winning both Superbike races at Laguna Seca in 2022 was a 1:23.443.

That 1.5-second difference is promising considering the new surface is only 22 days old and has only had 1.5 days of activity on it prior to Tuesday.

Other riders at the test were 1.5-2.0 seconds off their fastest race lap times from 2022.

According to Dunlop Tire Technician Tony Romo, all compounds of Sportmax Slicks that were tried were working well once the track temperature reached 40°C and Dunlop is continuing with its plan to supply only R7 and R8 tire compounds for the race weekend.

Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin rode only a few untimed laps on a Ducati Panigale V4 streetbike because he is nursing injuries, including a broken right ankle, he suffered in a crash at Ridge Motorsports Park.

Joe Roberts also did not record a lap time on the temporary timing and scoring system as he was riding what appeared to be a Yamaha YZF-R1 with only basic track preparation.

MotoAmerica is considering scheduling extra unofficial practice sessions for the Superbike and Supersport classes on the afternoon of Thursday, July 6, to help further improve track conditions. Tire stickers will not be required for these sessions, 50 minutes for each class, but plans are still being finalized and will be announced by MotoAmerica via a competitor bulletin.

We will update this post with more details and comments from riders as they become available.

Unofficial Lap Times (all on Dunlop tires):

Jake Gagne (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:24.920
Cameron Petersen (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:25.594
Mathew Scholtz (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:25.804
Richie Escalante (Suz GSX-R1000R), Superbike, 1:25.859
Cameron Beaubier (BMW M 1000 RR), Superbike, 1:25.959
Brandon Paasch (Suz GSX-R1000RR), Superbike, 1:26.418
Bryce Prince (Yam YZF-R1), Stock 1000, 1:27.439
Gabriel Da Silva (Yam YZF-R1), Stock 1000, 1:29.352
Josh Herrin (Duc Panigale V4), streetbike, no time recorded
Joe Roberts (Yam YZF-R1), Stock 1000, no time recorded

Update:

“When it started out, the track was pretty green and we were ripping up tires left and right,” said Beaubier. “At the beginning of the day the R5s were shredding. I tried an R3 on my second session, but it shredded up in two laps. Then the track started coming in. It got quite a bit better. The rear tires were hanging in there pretty decent, then I started shredding the fronts a little bit. We were on softer tires than we’ll be on during the weekend, so it should be good. I’m curious to try the harder options, because I think they will be good for the weekend.”

Social media posts from people who attended the SCCA event at Laguna Seca this past weekend reported that sections of the track’s new surface were “failing,” so we asked Beaubier about the condition of the track.

“They had some paint down here and there just on some of the problem areas that they’re going to patch, I think, before the [MotoAmerica] weekend starts,” the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion said. “I think they’re going to take care some of those problem areas, but they were all offline for us. There are a couple of bumps and stuff from the cars that were out last weekend, but other than that I’d say it’s in pretty good shape.”

For Paasch, helping assess and put rubber on the track was secondary to his career-first ride on a Superbike.

“I’m pretty happy with how everything went [for my] first day on the Superbike and my first time riding a 1000 in seven or eight months. I’m just excited to be here,” said Paasch, who finished fourth in the 2022 Stock 1000 Championship on an Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000R. “Honestly, the Superbike just kind of does everything that I wanted the Stock bike to do [but] just a little easier, so it’s a little bit less physical for me. But, dude, the thing is such a beast! It’s definitely hard to control, but it’s also a little easier to ride at the same time, if that makes any sense. The thing is it’s pretty awesome. I’m loving it and I’m excited to keep riding the thing and keep chipping away at it.”

MotoAmerica: Top Riders Testing For Dunlop Today At Laguna Seca (Updated)

David Swarts

-

July 4, 2023

0

MotoAmerica: Top Riders Testing For Dunlop Today At Laguna Seca (Updated)

Several top riders are participating in a last-minute test for Dunlop and MotoAmerica today at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California, ahead of the MotoAmerica event July 7-9 at the newly repaved track.

Riders invited to the test include BPR Tuning Yamaha’s Bryce Prince, Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha’s Jake Gagne and Cameron Petersen, Steel Commander Racing Yamaha’s Gabriel Da Silva, Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW’s Cameron Beaubier, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante and Brandon Paasch, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin, and Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz. Joe Roberts, who rides for the Italtrans Racing team in the Moto2 World Championship, is also expected to ride at the invitation of Dunlop.

Originally, only Prince, a former MotoAmerica Stock 600 Champion and Stock 1000 podium finisher who lives in nearby Bakersfield, was going to ride to gather information for Dunlop because he is a qualified rider and is not a regular on the MotoAmerica series.

When problems arose with the track’s 22-day-old new surface during an SCCA racing event over the weekend, however, more riders were called in on short notice to help gather tire data, put rubber down on the track, and assess the racing surface ahead of the MotoAmerica event.

A maximum of eight riders can be on the track at one time, according to Dunlop and MotoAmerica, which is a stipulation presumed to be due to the track’s insurance coverage.

Filmmaker, TV Producer, Author, Racer Peter Starr, R.I.P.

David Swarts

-

July 4, 2023

0

Filmmaker, TV Producer, Author, Racer Peter Starr, R.I.P.

Filmmaker, author, racer, motorcycle enthusiast Peter Starr died from cancer at the home of a friend in Colorado on July 3. He was 80.

He is survived by sister Lynn Greer, and nephews Stuart Greer and Richard Greer.

Starr fell in love with motorcycles while still a schoolboy in Coventry, England, where he was born November 2, 1942. He moved to the United States in the 1960s and worked as a radio DJ and record producer, before creating his first film. “Bad Rock” was a documentary about an International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) qualifier in Oregon that was funded by Hodaka and Penzoil, that originally aired on network TV in Los Angeles, and was later distributed all across America.

Starr is most famous for his award-winning motorcycle movie “Take it to the Limit,” which broke ground as the first documentary produced in Dolby Stereo and the first documentary to include current hit songs on its soundtrack. The film also featured several top riders of the day, including Roger De Coster, Mike Hailwood, and Barry Sheene.

Starr produced and directed over 40 TV programs and commercials, many about motorcycling and motorsports, that have been seen on ABC Sports, BBC, ESPN, History Channel, PBS, TNN, and USA Network. During these productions, Starr broke more ground by being the first to mount a film camera to a motorcycle during an AMA National road race at Laguna Seca in 1980 and the first to produce live video from a motorcycle in a race at the AMA Du Quoin Mile in 1985. He also rode motorcycles as a stunt performer in TV commercials and major motion pictures, including “Apollo 13,” “Batman and Robin,” and “Lethal Weapon 3.”

He authored two large-format autobiographical books, “Taking It To The Limit, 20 Years Of Making Motorcycle Movies” and “Motorcycle Traveler,” and has written articles for several motorcycle magazines.

In more recent times, Starr spent time traveling by motorcycle and promoting motorcycling. He also produced MotoStarr, a podcast/YouTube video series interviewing some of the greats of motorcycling.

He was inducted into the Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2011 and into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2017.

Learn more about Peter Starr on the bio page on his MotoStarr website and from his AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame biography.

MotoAmerica: Paasch Riding Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike

David Swarts

-

July 3, 2023

0

MotoAmerica: Paasch Riding Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike

BRANDON PAASCH JOINS TEAM HAMMER FOR REMAINDER OF 2023 MOTOAMERICA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

Team Hammer is pleased to announce that Brandon Paasch will compete for the team aboard a Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R for the remainder of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship, beginning with the event July 7-9 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Despite his youth, at 22, Paasch has a long record of success on a diverse collection of machinery in professional road racing. In 2016, Paasch won the MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup and finished third in the KTM RC Cup World Final. He then spent the majority of the next three seasons racing a Moto3 machine in England and Europe, winning the 2019 British MotoStar Championship.

In 2020, Paasch finished third in the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with 13 podium finishes. After winning the 2021 Daytona 200, he spent the rest of the year racing for a factory team in British Supersport.

Paasch started 2022 by winning the Daytona 200 for a second straight year, before riding an Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000R to six victories and a second in the MotoAmerica Superbike Cup Championship, and to four podium finishes on his way to fourth in the Stock 1000 Championship.

A back injury has kept Paasch from riding in MotoAmerica so far in 2023, but now fully recovered and fresh from a competitive run at the 100^th Loudon Classic, Paasch is ready to take on his new challenge.

“Obviously, I’m super excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Paasch. “This was a great surprise for me. My goal has always been to get into Superbike, but coming off an injury some may have been skeptical of me. Doing the Loudon Classic allowed me to prove that I’m still the same guy before I got hurt.

“I’ve been working hard every day to return to fitness, probably more than before Daytona, but I also know that I’m playing catch up. I also know I have a bit of a transition ahead of me as far as learning to ride the Superbike, but I’m ready for it. My only goal is to get a little faster and a little more competitive each time I go on track.”

ABOUT TEAM HAMMER

The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 350 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.

ABOUT VISION WHEEL

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

ABOUT SUZUKI

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

MotoAmerica: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Confirms Event

David Swarts

-

July 3, 2023

0

MotoAmerica: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Confirms Event

MotoAmerica Superbike SpeedFest Confirmed for July 7-9 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

MONTEREY, Calif., July 3, 2023—Coming this weekend, July 7 – 9, MotoAmerica Superbike SpeedFest will race on the 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca road course. All participants are excited to have this competitive event running on the newly resurfaced track.

Laguna Seca closed during last weekend’s SCCA club race when an incident occurred on track. No injuries were reported, but given it was the opening day of the resurfaced track and weather was excessively warm, track management canceled the final two days. Granite Construction performed the repairs. All other areas of the track were unharmed.

“After the standard and approved curing time, the track was ready,” said John Narigi, president, and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “It’s unfortunate that a track incident occurred on opening day. We are pleased, however, that the subsequent repair meets all safety guidelines.”

The weekend kicks off Friday, July 7 at 8:45 a.m. for the REV’IT! Twins Cup practice. To stay abreast of all the racing action or to purchase tickets, visit MotoAmerica.com or follow WeatherTech Raceway on social media.

AHRMA Announces Classic MotoFest Triple Crown Of Monterey

David Swarts

-

July 3, 2023

0

AHRMA Announces Classic MotoFest Triple Crown Of Monterey

AHRMA Announces 2023 AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ Triple Crown Award

MONTEREY, Calif., July 3, 2023 – Racers who go fast on pavement and off-road will be honored during the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey..

The multi-discipline event will be held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (WRLS), July 14-16, 2023.

Our MotoFest of Monterey is a celebration of on and off-road motorcycle competition which includes road racing, cross country, trials and motocross offered all at one venue. In addition to the diverse forms of competition, swap meet, bike show and family fun activities, AHRMA is proud to announce the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ Triple Crown of Monterey.

Devised in the spirit of awarding a title like the illustrious Grand National Champion, The AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ Triple Crown Championship will be presented to the racer that competes and acquires the most points across three of the racing classes offered by AHRMA at WRLS.

To be eligible to contend for the Triple Crown at WRLS, a racer must compete in three different vintage racing classes at the Classic MotoFest. It is mandatory for a participant to race in one or two Road Racing vintage classes on Saturday and round out their total entries to three by choosing from one or two off-road events offered on Saturday and Sunday including Trials, Cross Country and Motocross.

As many of our members like to road race and go bar to bar off-road and vice versa, the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey is a rare chance to compete on and off-road at a national event over the same weekend with bragging rights and a one-of-a-kind Triple Crown Champion Trophy offered up by Toad Town Racing. For questions, please contact Gary Swan at 818-675-5625.

Be sure to make room in your van or trailer for more bikes and register at www.ahrma.org/schedules-results!

About Toad Town Racing

Toad Town Racing, located in San Fernando Valley, CA, specializes in vintage Honda and British motorcycle repair and parts. Owned and run by Gary Swan, the shop offers complete motorcycle servicing including tune-ups, valve jobs, engine rebuilds, and brake jobs. Race engine work includes increasing the cc’s of your engine to your application.

About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned 2.238-mile traditional road course that was built in 1957 and was known at the time as Laguna Seca Raceway. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is owned by the County of Monterey and operated by A&D Narigi Consulting, LLC.

The 2023 premier event schedule includes the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest July 7-9, the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey July 14-16, the Monterey Pre-Reunion August 12-13, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 16-19, Corkscrew Hillclimb & Community Day August 20, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey September 8-10 and the Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 September 28 – October 1.

ABOUT AHRMA

American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and competing on historic motorcycles. With more than 3,000 members, AHRMA is the leading historic motorcycle racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.

MotoAmerica: Superbike Tripleheader Coming To Laguna Seca

July 5, 2023

Jake Gagne (1) comes to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a 23-point lead over Cameron Beaubier (6) with 75 points up for grabs in the tripleheader weekend in Monterey. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.