MotoAmerica: More From Pittsburgh International Race Complex

David Swarts

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August 22, 2022

MotoAmerica: More From Pittsburgh International Race Complex

SUPERSPORT ROOKIE TYLER SCOTT EARNS EIGHTH PODIUM OF THE YEAR IN PITTSBURGH

Suzuki GSX-Rs Continue Strong MotoAmerica Showing

BREA, Calif., August 22, 2022 — Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer added to their trophy collection in a strong conclusion to the MotoAmerica weekend at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania.

The podium once again came courtesy of the prodigious Tyler Scott, who registered the eighth podium of his rookie campaign aboard the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750. Suzuki GSX-R race bikes accounted for half of the top ten finishing positions in Supersport on Sunday.

It didn’t come easily, however, as the 16-year-old was shuffled back to seventh early and was forced to systematically work his way back into podium contention. While it took over half the race to arrive at the fight for third, Scott made quick work of two rivals to secure the position once there.

He pulled off a pair of timely passes on lap 10 of 16 to move from fifth to third in a matter of corners and then held strong to the checkered flag.

“I had a bad start. I was down in seventh or so I think,” Scott said. “But my Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki crew gave me a fantastic bike today, and that provided me with the confidence I needed to fight back. I am happy with the pace we showed, and we’ll take what we learned today and move on to the next one.”

With an eighth-place finish in Race Two, Cory Ventura (24) is happy to leave Pittsburgh healthy. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.

One of the riders Scott worked past during his charge was teammate Cory Ventura. The Californian, who has continued to impress while substituting for the injured Sam Lochoff, made his way up to fifth after starting ninth on the grid. Ventura would fade late and ultimately finished one position better than his qualifying position in eighth.

Liam Grant (90) continues to learn to ride his new generation Supersport GSX-R750. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.

Third Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport pilot Liam Grant finished 13th as he, once again, showed consistency in his first year with the team.

Meanwhile, in premier-class action, Superbike rookie Richie Escalante rebounded from a costly Saturday mistake to register a strong result on Sunday. Like Ventura, the former Supersport champion Escalante started in ninth position, but hustled the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R Superbike forward throughout the 17-lap race.

After a disappointing Race One, Richie Escalante (54) bounced back with a sixth-place finish. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.

Escalante made a concerted push for a top-five finish late, falling just 0.166 seconds short at the flag in sixth position.

He said, “It was a difficult weekend, but we had a good race today. Friday, I was a little less confident after crashing at Brainerd, but my confidence grew. On Saturday, I made a rookie mistake on the first lap. It was much better today. We battled for the top five and the gap to the winner was the same.

“I’m happy to have another few weeks to recover. The injury wasn’t affecting me much on the track, but I wasn’t able to train, and I didn’t have the energy I usually have in the last five or six laps. Now I can start my training on Tuesday and be ready for the next round.”

Jake Lewis (85) continues to get back in race shape with a ninth-place finish. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.

He was joined in the top ten by teammate Jake Lewis, who came home in ninth position despite a periodical bike issue.

Team Hammer will be back in action on September 9-11 for the penultimate round of the 2022 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing season at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey.

ABOUT TEAM HAMMER

The 2022 season marks Team Hammer’s 42nd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 128 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 344 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.

More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:

PJ Jacobsen secures the team’s first front row, he and Hector Barbera take solid points at Pittsburgh International Race Complex

Tytlers Cycle Racing took their first Superbike front row grid spot of the season at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex thanks to PJ Jacobsen’s efforts in qualifying at round eight of the 2022 MotoAmerica championship.

Jacobsen, who like his team mate Hector Barbera has been on the podium this season, shone on Saturday morning, ensuring the BMW M1000 RR was in a prominent position for both races. Barbera would line up on row two after an equally impressive session saw him fourth on the time sheet.

The first race of the weekend was a shortened five lap affair following an initial red flag. After running in the leading pack PJ unfortunately crashed out on lap two whilst Hector just missed the top six – he finished seventh.

A wet start to Sunday left the team looking to the skies as the day progressed following a damp morning warm up session. Thankfully by race time the track was dry, and the race ran to its full duration of seventeen laps. Hard fought performances from both riders throughout resulted in fifth and eighth respectively for PJ and Hector who both consolidated their top six positions in the overall standings with just four races remaining.

Stock 1000 regulars Corey Alexander and Travis Wyman both secured top ten finishes across the two Superbike races.

PJ Jacobsen (66). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.

PJ Jacobsen: “It was an interesting Saturday. It started well in qualifying and then in the red flag we made some changes, and I was running close to the top three, but I made a mistake and went down. Race 2 was pretty good. I felt quite good on the bike but was still struggling over race distance for grip which is stopping us from being closer to the podium. It was a solid top five, and we move onto my home race at New Jersey where I will be pushing hard to get a better result. We got our first front row, and the team as always did a great job.”

Hector Barbera (80). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.

Hector Barbera: “Saturday was so difficult, with the red flags. I made a good start initially, but I made some mistakes in the restart. I lost concentration and I must be honest about it. The team did a fantastic job but when the tyre has five laps on it, we lose group, but the poor result was on me today and I am sorry to the team for this. It was a tough race on Sunday with two penalties for cutting the chicane and moving at the start. We worked a lot on electronics and tried a lot of new things, but my race was ruined from the beginning. The main thing is we learned some positive things and understood some things that don’t work. Frustrating but we keep pushing and I remain optimistic.”

More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing:

Another 1-2 finish for Alexander and Wyman keep them both in title contention

Corey Alexander and Travis Wyman secured another 1-2 finish for the Tytlers Cycle powered by #RideHVMC BMW squad at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex yesterday in the latest round of the 2022 Stock 1000 championship.

The pair, who finished tenth and fourth respectively in Saturday’s opening race were at the sharp end of an electrifying three way fight for top honours a day later, Alexander seizing his moment to hit the front in the closing stages with a perfectly timed overtake on title rival Hayden Gillim to take his seventh win of the year, extending his lead in the overall standings to thirty nine points with only races at New Jersey and Barber Motorsports Park remaining. Wyman shadowed his team mate across the line.

Sunday’s double podium came after a hard-fought race twenty-four hours earlier – Corey Alexander encountering an intermittent electrical issue that saw him drop from the podium fight into the lower points scoring positions. He recovered to P10. Travis Wyman, who wasn’t feeling 100% faded in Race 1. He dug deep to secure a solid fourth at the flag.

Zac Schumacher just missed points on Saturday and Sunday. He finished eighteenth and seventeenth in the two races.

Corey Alexander (23). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing.

Corey Alexander: “I am happy with how the weekend ended after what happened on Saturday in Race 1. We were able to come away with another win and have extended the points lead. We suffered a technical issue on Saturday, but I could only manage tenth. I made a good start on Sunday and after leading was happy to run second. I set up my move for the lead and unfortunately Hayden (Gillim) went down which is never nice to see but we move on to New Jersey in a good position overall.”

Travis Wyman (10). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing.

Travis Wyman: “I woke up on Saturday and honestly felt terrible. I sat out second qualifying but was able to hold third on the grid. I made a good start and was able to run in the top three, but I dropped to fourth as my energy levels dropped. I wanted a podium but must be content under the circumstances, Sunday was a little better. I felt better in myself and was able to run with the lead group and was able to salvage a podium just behind Corey which keeps me in the hunt for the title.”

Zac Schumacher (90). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing.

Zac Schumacher: “I made a good start in Race 2. The track was still a little damp which made it a bit more challenging to overtake but I put up a good fight and was able to finish seventeenth. I want to thank the team for all their work.”

More, from a press release issued by Luke Power Racing:

Luke has his eyes on fourth overall in MotoAmerica Supersport after Pittsburgh

Luke Power consolidated his top six position in the overall standings of the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship after two hard fought races at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex this past weekend.

Despite having never ridden the 2.78 mile before, Power once again learned quickly and despite chasing set up on the opening day, he was able to secure a third row of the grid start in qualifying.

Saturday’s opening race saw the Australian youngster locked in a race long battle for eighth. He was classified tenth after incurring a time penalty for short cutting the chicane in the early stages.

Sunday brought a wet start with Luke looking comfortable in the morning warm up, confident of a better result, rain, or shine. From lights out the #68 gave it everything. Moving into the top six, he spent most of the race duelling with multiple champion Josh Hayes, the former Superbike ace narrowly getting the better of him at the flag.

The solid points haul means that with just two rounds and four races remaining Luke sits P6 overall in his debut MotoAmerica season, only ten behind P4 – an incredible achievement.

Luke Power (68). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Luke Power Racing.

Luke Power: “It wasn’t the race we wanted on Saturday. We struggled from the get-go with the grip and again at the start of the race it was the same. Our mid race pace was good, but lack of grip has been something we’ve struggled with all year and to add insult to injury on Saturday I got a five second penalty when I cut the chicane after being pushed wide. I was a little disappointed, but I have to remind myself of the bigger picture that every track is new to me. Race 2 was much more positive. The position we finished doesn’t reflect the step we made and the consistency we showed in terms of overall pace. It was one of my best races of the season, and I am happy with how I rode. The team worked hard so a big thanks to 3D Motorsports for all their efforts. I am leaving Pittsburgh happy, and I am looking forward to New Jersey and the two races there.”

More, from a press release issued by Pure Attitude Racing:

Points finishes, crashes and technical woes is the Pitt Race takeaway for Pure Attitude

Pure Attitude Racing arrived at Pittsburgh International Race Complex looking to build on their recent successes in both the MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Twins Cup series.

The team’s Junior Cup rider Chase Black had an impressive weekend, qualifying strongly on Saturday morning before narrowly missing a maiden podium later in the day. He crossed the line sixth after a string of days laps ensured he ran at the front in the closing stages. He finished a solid seventh on Sunday.

Liam MacDonald was able to salvage points finishes – P15 and P14 in the Twins Cup double header. A spill on Friday morning limited track time and resulted in a trip to the local hospital before the #37 returned to the track for the two eleven lap races.

Passed fit after his Brainerd crash, the weekend was over before it began for Trevor Standish who was unable to compete due to ongoing technical issues that couldn’t be fixed trackside.

Brycen Stein, the team’s Academy rider made a welcome return to the paddock. He too suffered a technical issue in Free Practice before a heavy spill in qualifying cut short his weekend. He escaped serious injury which is the main thing.

In other news, 81-year-old Leon Standish – who still actively competes in flat track – was present at the event meaning all three generations of the Standish racing family were able to enjoy the eighth round of the MotoAmerica series.

Chase Black (14). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing. — Chase Black (14). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.

Chase Black: “Race 1 was honestly really good. I lost a bit of time in the beginning but once I got some clear track, I had some real pace and was able to catch the front group. I set the fastest lap at one point and just missed the podium. Race 2 was a little disappointing to be honest. My pace at the beginning is where I struggle and is what I need to work on because I just left myself with too much to do again. Nevertheless, we scored another solid bunch of points which is good for the overall position, and we can move on to the final four races happy enough with the weekend.”

Laim MacDonald (37). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.

Liam MacDonald: “After the crash on Friday I am honestly glad to have been able to race. I made a great start on Saturday and was well inside the top ten, but I just didn’t have the raw pace or the energy. I dropped back a few places, and, in the end, I was able to cling on to fifteenth. I lost grip and was honestly happy to bring it home in one piece. Sunday’s race was a joke to be honest. There was an immediate red flag and then at the restart they held us for ever. There was so much confusion, and my clutch was fried. In the end they called the race after another red flag, and I scored a couple of points but honestly, I am frustrated as I don’t see how they can call the race after five laps of ten, but it is what it is. The team did a fantastic job, and I am looking forward to New Jersey.”

Trevor Standish: “I was still a bit sore following my crash at Brainerd but thankfully I was declared fit for the weekend. Sadly, the lingering technical issues that have plagued us this season were unable to be fixed and so that was my weekend over. We will go back to the drawing board and be ready for New Jersey. It would have been a challenge anyway but the extra time to be 100% fit physically will be a good thing. “

Brycen Stein: “I am obviously disappointed with the outcome of the weekend. We suffered a technical issue in FP1 and then I went down early in qualifying. I don’t remember much about the crash, but I want to thank Arai helmets and Bison Track for keeping me safe. Even though I couldn’t race it was fun to be back with the team and to take part in the various media activities. I look forward to being back on track soon.”

More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:

VELOCE RACING’S KALEB DE KEYREL NOTCHES SECOND PLACE FINISH IN SATURDAY MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP RACE AT PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL RACE COMPLEX

APRILIA RIDERS NOW SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH IN TWINS CUP POINTS STANDINGS

Kaleb De Keyrel (1). Photo courtesy Aprilia.

WAMPUM, PA – AUGUST 22, 2022 – It was a positive but frustrating weekend for Veloce Racing Aprilia rider Kaleb De Keyrel. The reigning MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion was in front-running form at the Aug. 19-21 MotoAmerica round at Pittsburgh International Race Complex but had to settle for second- and fifth-place finishes in the event’s two Twins Cup races.

The top two riders in the Twins Cup points standings at the start of the weekend — Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing rider Anthony Mazziotto and De Keyrel’s teammate Jody Barry – didn’t score their typical results but leave the Pitt Race round within one point and five points, respectively, of the championship lead. De Keyrel moved up from fifth to fourth in the championship standings and narrow his gap to the points lead from 47 to 33.

Two other top-performing Aprilia riders were the Robem Engineering duo of Ben Gloddy and Teagg Hobbs. Gloddy finished fourth in Saturday’s Twins Cup contest and sixth in Sunday’s race. Hobbs finished ninth on Saturday and seventh on Sunday to give Aprilia 10 total top-10 finishes on the weekend.

It was Gloddy’s and Hobbs’ first MotoAmerica action since the Laguna Seca round in mid-July, as the Robem Engineering team was forced to miss the previous round at Brainerd International Raceway due to technical problems with its transporter.

De Keyrel was the fastest Aprilia rider in Friday practice. He finished that session 0.145 seconds off the session leader and was one of four Aprilia riders in the top 10. Later Friday, three Aprilia riders provisionally qualified second, third and fourth. De Keyrel was the fastest Aprilia pilot again and missed out on pacing the field by 0.083 seconds. Gloddy ended the session in third, and Barry was fourth. There was a total of five Aprilias in the top 10, as Hobbs ended up ninth in the session and Mazziotto 10th.

Qualifying concluded Saturday morning with De Keyrel missing out on pole position by 0.218 seconds. Gloddy ended up qualifying fifth, Hobbs seventh, Barry eighth and Mazziotto 10th.

Saturday’s Twins Cup race saw De Keyrel get a good start and vie with another rider for the race lead. Though De Keyrel briefly took the lead on the last lap, his chief rival in the race was able to draft by him at the finish line. De Keyrel had to settle for a runner-up finish by a mere 0.053 seconds.

Gloddy was battling hard to claim the final step on the podium and was edged out for third place at the finish line by just 0.009 seconds. It was Gloddy’s third fourth-place or better finish of the 2022 season. Mazziotto advanced four positions during the 11-lap race to finish sixth, and Hobbs and Barry crossed the line in ninth and 10th.

Rain moved in overnight and continued into the morning hours. But dry conditions were on tap for Sunday’s late afternoon race – which was a wild affair.

De Keyrel got another good start and was battling for the lead with another rider for the first lap. However, the race was stopped on Lap 2 and the field was reset to its original starting grid for the restart. When racing got back underway, De Keyrel got another good launch off the line and was running in second at the end of Lap 1. De Keyrel led the field at the start of Lap 3 but got shuffled back to fifth during the following two laps. He was preparing to make a charge back to the lead when the race was stopped again and later called complete.

Gloddy had fallen back to seventh in the running order after the restart but rallied to finish just behind De Keyrel in sixth place. Hobbs had made up three places in the five laps after the restart to end up right behind his teammate in seventh, and championship contenders Barry and Mazziotto finished ninth and 10th, respectively.

Eleven of the 46 riders registered to compete in Twins Cup at Pitt Race were aboard Aprilia RS 660s.

The next MotoAmerica round takes place Sept. 9-11 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.

Kaleb De Keyrel / Veloce Racing

“I had a really good Race 1. We had the pace to win and it came right down to the line. I lost by a small margin, which was unfortunate. I really wanted to get some redemption in Sunday’s race, but MotoAmerica concluded the race after the second red flag. I really got the short end of the stick with that, as I had really good pace but had gotten shuffled back by some very aggressive passes made by other riders. I was figuring out how I was going to get back to the front but didn’t end up having a chance to.”

More, from a press release issued by Robem Engineering:

Robem Engineering riders Gloddy, Hobbs net one top-five, three top-10 finishes in MotoAmerica Twins Cup races at Pitt Race

Aprilia riders back in action at Aug. 19-21 event after missing previous MotoAmerica round

WAMPUM, Pa. — It’d been six weeks since Robem Engineering Aprilia riders Ben Gloddy and Teagg Hobbs last raced in MotoAmerica, but the pair of New Hampshirites posted positive results on Saturday and Sunday in the Twins Cup races at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.

Gloddy narrowly missed out on his second podium of the 2022 season on Saturday, and Hobbs showed improved pace in the cooler conditions Sunday in an unusual Twins Cup contest.

Despite missing out on a bunch of championship points at the previous MotoAmerica round at Brainerd International Raceway due to technical problems with the team transporter, Hobbs’ and Gloddy’s performances at Pitt Race helped them hold onto seventh and ninth place, respectively, in the Twins Cup points standings.

Both riders had slower-than-usual starts to the Pitt Race round. Gloddy and Hobbs finished Friday practice seventh-fastest and eighth-fastest, respectively. Later Friday, Gloddy shot up the time sheets to provisionally qualify third – while shaving more than a second off his best lap time from practice. Hobbs finished the session in ninth place.

The final Twins Cup qualifying session of the weekend took place late Saturday morning, which saw Gloddy slip a couple positions to secure fifth on the starting grid. Hobbs ended up qualifying seventh.

The Saturday Twins Cup race was a tough pill to swallow for Gloddy. He got a good start and was running in fourth place at the end of Lap 1. Gloddy moved up to third place on Lap 9 of the 11-lap race but missed out on claiming his second podium finish of the 2022 season by 0.009 seconds. Hobbs ran as high as sixth in Race 1 but had to settle for a ninth-place result.

Sunday’s Twins Cup race didn’t give either rider a realistic opportunity to get to the front of the field, but the pair salvaged as many points as they could in an unusual race. Gloddy got off the line well on the initial start, but racing was paused on Lap 2 due to a rider having crashed near the exit of the chicane between Turns 15 and 16. When racing got back underway, Gloddy got shuffled back a couple positions in the first two laps while Hobbs made up two positions in that same timeframe. The race was stopped again due to another crash near Turn 16 after five laps, and MotoAmerica called the race complete a short time later. Gloddy was classified in sixth place and Hobbs in seventh.

The next MotoAmerica round is slated for Sept. 9-11 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.

Teagg Hobbs (79). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Robem Engineering. — Teagg Hobbs (79). Photo by Sara Chappell Photos, courtesy Robem Engineering.

Teagg Hobbs / No. 79

“The weekend started off OK. From the past rounds, we’ve known where we’ve been struggling, and the team and I are working to shore up those weak points while keeping our strong points going. It’s been a year of struggles, but the team is dealing with everything we’ve had thrown at us. All we can do is move on and continue trying to progress at New Jersey.”

Ben Gloddy (72). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Robem Engineering. — Ben Gloddy (72). Photo by Sara Chappell Photos, courtesy Robem Engineering.

Ben Gloddy / No. 72

“We had a good start to the weekend. We struggled with setup a little bit early but figured it out and got a decent starting spot – fifth – for both races. I had a decent start in Race 1 and ended up just off the podium. I was battling for it the whole time though and got a good start today in Race 2. Three of us broke away out front before the red flag came out. For the restart, I didn’t get off the line well and was trying to save some tire for the end of the race. Then the race got cut short, but we’ll be back swinging at New Jersey.”

Robem Engineering’s technical partners for 2022 include Aprilia Racing, Piaggio Group Americas, The Center for Plastic Surgery, Synchrony, Velocity Calibrations, Bitubo Suspension, Dunlop, Woodcraft Technologies, Dymag, Vesrah, Sprint Filter, DID, Magura USA, Sara Chappell Photos, NGK/NTK, Blud Lubricants, Millennium Technologies, Motovation USA and SC-Project.

American Flat Track: More From The Sacramento Mile

David Swarts

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August 22, 2022

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American Flat Track: More From The Sacramento Mile

WHALE BATTLES THROUGH ADVERSITY TO SECURE RUNNER-UP FINISH AT SACRAMENTO MILE

Round 13 – American Flat Track Championship

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Closing in on the end of the 2022 American Flat Track Championship, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Max Whale scored second in Sacramento, California, marking his eighth podium result of the year in the AFT Singles class. Teammate Kody Kopp captured fifth at the Sacramento Mile and he continues to maintain a comfortable lead in the championship standings heading into the final four rounds of the series.

Qualifying just outside the top-10, Whale started from Row 2 of the grid during Semi 1 but that didn’t stop him from blasting into the lead off the start. With a pair of riders breathing down his back, Whale eventually slipped to third early on but he continued to contend for the top two spots until he crossed the finish line in third. Once again starting from the second row, Whale put his KTM 450 SX-F into fourth for the first half of the AFT Singles Main Event before working his way up to third for a few laps. He continued to showcase his speed late in the race, moving into second with a few laps to go, and he crossed the line in second, collecting yet another podium finish in 2022.

Max Whale: “Sacramento Mile was definitely an up and down day. I started the day off on the backfoot, struggling a lot, and then my mechanic wasn’t feeling well. In the main, I started from the second row and had an outside pick but I rode a smart race and ended up second. I just want to give it up to my team, they worked really hard all day and it was a hot one.”

After securing the fastest qualifying time, Kopp started Semi 1 on pole position. He powered off the line into second, where he continually put pressure on the leader throughout the race. However, Kopp was unable to get around his competitor and went on to collect second in Semi 1 aboard his KTM 450 SX-F. Starting from the front row in the AFT Singles Main Event, the series points leader immediately placed himself into the lead spot but he was drafted before he reached the end of lap one. Settling into second for a few laps, he then found himself in a battle to maintain the spot, but slowly dropped to fifth. Late in the race, he regained one position, temporarily, before ultimately taking the checkered flag in fifth.

Kody Kopp (12). Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.

Kody Kopp: “I ended up fifth on the day, but it doesn’t show how much effort we really put in. Fastest qualifying on a mile is definitely a jump in the right direction and that’s what we did. We made some small gearing changes to the bike trying to figure out what was best for the end of straightaway draft and I felt like for the main we had a good setup. We holeshotted the Main Event and led it down the back straightaway. I feel like I struggled toward the end of the race and kind of faded backwards, but we ended up fifth and gained another two points with four rounds left to go. I’m really looking forward to Springfield!”

With four rounds remaining, Kopp continues to hold onto the AFT Singles Championship lead with a 48-point margin over second-place. Teammate Whale sits in fifth, just 11 points from podium contention.

Next Race: Springfield Mile (Double Header) – Springfield, Illinois – September 3-4, 2022

Round 13 Results – Sacramento Mile

AFT Singles Main Event

1. Trevor Brunner, Yamaha

2. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

3. Brandon Kitchen, Husqvarna

OTHER

5. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

10. Hunter Bauer, KTM

AFT Singles Point Standings (After Round 13)

1. Kody Kopp, 257 points

2. Morgen Mischler, 209

3. Trevor Brunner, 204

OTHER

5. Max Whale, 193

8. James Ott, 100

10. Hunter Bauer, 83

13. Travis Petton IV, 64

WorldSBK: Gutierrez Riding For TPR Team Pedercini In France, Spain

David Swarts

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August 22, 2022

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WorldSBK: Gutierrez Riding For TPR Team Pedercini In France, Spain

TPR Team Pedercini announce Oscar Gutierrez for Magny-Cours & Catalunya

TPR Team Pedercini is pleased to announce that Oscar Gutierrez will race for them in the next two rounds of the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship – at Magny-Cours and Catalunya.

Gutierrez, who competed in Red Bull Rookies before racing to Spanish Supersport championship glory in 2019 and 2020, finished third overall in Spanish Superbikes last season. The talented Spaniard has been one of the leading riders in ESBK this year and following a successful maiden outing with the team on Day 1 of the #CatalanTest, will make his WorldSBK debut in France in a couple of weeks.

He will also continue to test with the team in Spain today, on day two of the #CatalanTest

Lucio Pedercini: “We are very happy with the progress that Oscar has made in Catalunya and that we have been able to agree terms for him to ride with us in France and Spain. He has a lot of potential and we are excited to see what we can achieve together.”

Oscar Gutierrez: “I have adapted well to the Kawasaki, which is a new bike for me. They tyres are also new and I am enjoying the experience of being in World Superbike. I am looking forward to the final day of testing in Catalunya and to racing in France and also in my home race for TPR Team Pedercini.”

WorldSBK: Teams Conclude Testing At Catalunya

David Swarts

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August 21, 2022

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WorldSBK: Teams Conclude Testing At Catalunya

Rea Fastest At Catalunya Test

Kawasaki’s official WorldSBK riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes joined several of their championship rivals for a weekend test at the Kawasaki Racing Team’s local Barcelona – Catalunya circuit.

On-track action started on Saturday 20 August, with the second and final day on Sunday 21. Due to the limits placed on the number of approved testing days over a season, each rider chose when to take to the circuit and when to sit things out.

In generally hot conditions the 4.657km long circuit near the KRT squad’s own HQ gave both riders and their pit crews a chance to evaluate the kind of set-up options they cannot try out in race weekends, due to time constraints during practice and qualifying.

Sunday’s action was ended by a fall of rain in the final 30 minutes, by which time both KRT riders had reached their personal pre-test targets.

Rea started his own Barcelona test schedule on Saturday afternoon, setting the best lap of the first day in hot conditions. He was to set the best lap of the weekend in the slightly cooler conditions of Sunday morning, with a 1’40.913.

Lowes tested his Ninja ZX-10RR for a full day on Saturday, but only Saturday, evaluating set-up options designed for the hot track conditions. His place was taken on track on Sunday by Florian Marino.

Lowes set his best lap time of 1’42.358 on the busy opening day, having made just over 90 laps of the circuit.

The WorldSBK championship returns to race action at Magny Cours in France, between 9-11 September. The Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya will host round eight of the WorldSBK championship, just two weeks after Magny Cours.

Jonathan Rea, stated: “It has been a really solid two days of testing. We started in the afternoon in the hot temperatures of day one, and straight away I got the rhythm for the track temperature, which got to the high forties and then 50°C. It was good to take the rhythm like that on day one. Step-by-step we worked through the test plan. We had some ideas during the season that we can only try at a test, without the stress of a race weekend. So it is good to check these things at a test. One of the things we had in mind was changing my position on the bike, to see what influence that would have. We drew some positive results from that. Also, the electronics side of the bike is an area where we never stop working. We understood how to take that forward. Aside from that, it was a great two days to test in hot conditions. I was able to be quite fast and consistent in these hotter conditions. We know it is an area we still need to improve on, but the first signs were positive. We focused on race starts on day two, in the afternoon, trying to understand the best set-up from an electronic and mechanical point of view. And also my style at the starts. I really enjoyed my bike these last two days and it has been nice to fill in the WorldSBK summer break again, after being at Suzuka on a different bike. So it is nice to come back here to understand the Pirelli tyres and the WorldSBK spec Ninja ZX-10RR.”

Alex Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

Alex Lowes, stated: “We just did one day of testing at Montmelo, a hot day, which was perfect for us. Our target was to improve our rear performance in hotter, more slippery track conditions. I think on Saturday afternoon we did a good job with that. We tried a lot of different set-up combinations on the rear of the bike to get me into a bit of a better position exiting corners, to get more grip. We found some positive results and it was fun. This was a good test and I enjoyed being back in WorldSBK mode with all my guys. I feel quite optimistic for when we go back racing at Magny Cours. I really enjoyed this test.”

Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “We did half a day on Saturday, and one complete day on Sunday. We mainly prepared a starting point for the Montmelo race in September, and of course, finding some areas we can improve in. These were mainly on the electronics side. We finally reached all the things we wanted to try. Johnny finished with a good feeling and we collected all the info we wanted from our plan. We are now ready to go to Magny Cours for the next round.”

Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “We know that this track has been not very friendly with our set-up in the past couple of years, so we were happy to have this test here at this time of year. We knew it was going to be hot so we took this opportunity to improve our bike in these hot and slippery track conditions. We had a clear target for this test. We wanted to improve some very important parts of our chassis package, mainly through the set-up. We were fast and consistent so we ended this test happy because we reached our target.”

Oliver König (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and new rider Oscar Gutierrez (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) were also testing at Montmelo, with Gutierrez signed up to ride at the next two WorldSBK events for TPR.

More, from a press release issued by Team HRC:

Team HRC concludes a very positive test in sunny Catalunya

Factory Team HRC have completed a successful two-day test in hot and sunny conditions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where they shared the circuit with many other WorldSBK teams.

With a maiden 2022 Suzuka8H win still a fresh memory for Iker Lecuona, and an HRC contract extension option exercised for Xavi Vierge, two happy and motivated riders used this mid-summer test session as preparation for the second half of the season, while adapting their bike set-up to suit the fast Spanish layout ahead of their home round that will run at the same circuit over the weekend of September 23-25.

On track from 10:00 to 18:00 on day one and losing only the final half hour on day two due to a thunderstorm, Iker and Xavi focused on various aspects of their bike set-up, including the electronics and mapping settings, and compared a multitude of components including some linkages, Pirelli tyres and, on Iker’s side, a new handbrake system.

Having responded positively to the intense work carried out over the two days with their respective crews, the riders will now take a final two weeks off, before returning to the track in Magny-Cours, France on Friday 9 September for round seven of the WorldSBK Championship.

Iker Lecuona 7

“Generally speaking, I’m very happy with these two test days. On the morning of day one we struggled with the brake setup and it also took me some time to readapt to the tyres and find my position on the bike, the setup of which is quite different for the Suzuka 8h’s one. It took a few hours to sort all these things but we were able to fix everything in the early afternoon and start to work effectively. I began feeling good and comfortable on my bike again and I also tried a handbrake that I liked. I couldn’t fully exploit it on day one but the more I used it, the more I got used to it and I think we will keep working in this area to further improve it. We tried a number of different setups, finding good pace on used tyres, and we also went for a fast lap with a qualifying tyre and were quick. So overall we leave here very happy.”

Xavi Vierge 97

“After having been forced to miss a lot of testing, I’m really happy with how these two days have gone. We had some extra jobs to do after missing the Donington and Misano tests, so we made many changes to the bike to understand the direction and we were able to make good progress, particularly today. We have found the way and I’ve finally got back my good feeling on the bike and was able to find a strong race pace. It was just a pity we couldn’t try a soft tyre, which was something we had planned for the final minutes of the session but then a storm forced us to pit. As I said, it was a very productive test that I hope will prove helpful during the second part of the season. I’m also pleased with a view to next year of course – you can be sure that the team and I will continue to aim for the top where we want to be.”

More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team concluded private testing at Barcelona (Spain). Bautista ended third while Rinaldi finished fifth

Two days of private tests with all five manufacturers of Superbike World Championship ended this afternoon on the “Circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya” (Spain)

For the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team it was a fruitful test during which Michael Rinaldi and Alvaro Bautista – the Spaniard lapped during the morning session only today) had the opportunity to try new components and to work in view of the Catalunya Round scheduled for September 23-25.

Here are the results of the two days of testing concluded by Bautista and respectively in third and fifth position in the combined standings

Day-1

P2 M. Rinaldi – 1’41.816 (+0.285) – 76 laps completed

P3 A. Bautista – 1’42.211 (+0.680) – 84 laps completed

Day-2

P3 A. Bautista – 1’41.281 (+0.368) – 66 laps completed

P5 M. Rinaldi – 1’41.621 (+6.01) – 83 laps completed

Alvaro Bautista (19). Photo courtesy Ducati.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19)

“I am satisfied with the work we did in these two days. It was important to get back on the bike after a three-week stop. We tried many solutions some of which could be useful in the rest of the season. Today we lapped only during the morning session also because, after yesterday’s hard work, it was important not to stress my hand too much. And if I have to be honest the best news is that I didn’t feel any pain today. See you in Magny Cours.”

Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Ducati.

Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)

“We conclude these two days of testing with the knowledge that we have carried out very intensive and productive work. We have tried new solutions with positive results although only the data will tell us if we can use them already this season. I am very satisfied with how things went yesterday: the feeling was immediately excellent. But I am also happy with today’s session. We didn’t focus on the time attack while in terms of race pace we were incisive. We go to France with great confidence.”

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK Completes Summer Test in Barcelona

Toprak Razgatlioglu (1). Photo courtesy Yamaha.

Defending FIM Superbike World Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and teammate Andrea Locatelli completed 1.5 days of running with the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK squad for a mid-season summer test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya today.

The main objective for both riders was to work on the set-ups of their Yamaha R1 WorldSBKs in the hot conditions for the Catalunya Round on 23-25 September, with a particular focus on generating rear grip in 30-plus degree temperatures. The team also had the chance to trial a new front tyre option from Pirelli.

On the first day, Razgatlıoğlu completed 79 laps and ran for 43 laps on Day 2 before a high-side on the exit of Turn 5 ended his half day at 43 laps. He was taken to the medical centre for checks and then local hospital to close a minor wound on his elbow.

“Loka” finished his 1.5-day test after 74 laps on the first day and 56 laps through to 2pm, making positive improvements on his lap time and #55 set-up to prepare for the second half of the 2022 WorldSBK season.

Next on the summer schedule is a special guest appearance at Cadwell Park with the McAMS Yamaha British Superbike Team, as both Razgatlıoğlu and Locatelli will tackle “The Mountain” for demo laps in front of a packed UK Bank Holiday crowd.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu

“It was a good test for me and also for Loka, because we ride the bike after a long summer break. We are always ready to race but also we try some new set-up for the Catalunya Round, a very positive day for me. I am happy for Loka, for his very good lap time, he is also very strong at this track and I hope in the race weekend we are on the podium together. On the second day today, I had a big crash but I am okay. We tried the new tyre, just some laps, and maybe we can use it in the race weekend – we will see. Thanks to the Pata Yamaha with Brixx team for this test. Now, in one week we go to Cadwell Park with McAMS, I am excited for this!”

Andrea Locatelli

“It was important to ride the bike and to understand where we need to improve, the mechanical set-up and some electronics here. We improved a lot in respect to yesterday – and probably yesterday was some strange conditions compared to normal with the heat and track surface. But this morning, the feeling came immediately. I’m happy because I think now we can arrive here in one month with a lot more focus and information. It was also important to ride so that we didn’t stop for a lot of time between the races. We tried the new front tyre and the feeling was a little bit different to the standard tyre we use on a race weekend but it will be interesting to also try maybe in Magny-Cours. It’s a positive test for sure, in general the feeling is good and when we arrive in France we can restart quickly and work to try to close the gap to the front guys. I want to try to get the podium, to be honest, we work for this and to continue to believe in myself and try to get some good results.”

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Race Two Results From Red Bull Ring

David Swarts

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August 21, 2022

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Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Race Two Results From Red Bull Ring

Session for AUT RookiesCup RAC2

More, from a press release issued by Red Bull:

Buasri bets on black to win Rookies 2 in Spielberg as Quiles loses on green

Tatchakorn Buasri rode another brilliant Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race at Spielberg and this time the 21-year-old Thai took victory as Màx Quiles, the 14-year-old Spaniard clipped the green with the wheels of his KTM on the exit to the last corner and was dropped a place.

Buasri had lost 2nd the same way on Saturday. Yesterday’s winner, 15-year-old Angel Piqueras crossed the line 3rd having narrowly got the better of fellow Spaniard and points leader 16-year-old José Rueda.

Collin Veijer, the 17-year-old Dutchman and arch rival in the points chase to Rueda took 5th after a late race battle with Marcos Ruda the 17-year-old Spaniard.

Buasri takes well deserved win

“I enjoyed the race today so much, my first win in Rookies Cup and standing on the podium under my country’s flag and hearing our anthem is so special.”

“Yesterday I just made too many mistakes. Today I kept calm, kept my concentration, I really learnt from yesterday and only made a few mistakes,” he laughed.

“Both of the last two years the races here have been good to me and I have taken a step forward. I hope the same for this year so that I can go to Aragon and Valencia and get the same sort of results there.”

Quiles almost inconsolable

“I am very angry and disappointed because of my mistake in the last turn but….” choked the youngster.

“I’m happy because I rode a good race, I got on the podium. The bike was great this weekend, it gave me a great feeling and I had a lot of rhythm.”

“I still had a little difficulty with some gear changes but less than yesterday as I was concentrating better.”

Piqueras missed the double

“Today, I don’t know, we rode faster than yesterday, the race time was quicker. I didn’t really feel so good on the bike, not so strong.”

“On the last lap I really pushed the limit but only got a podium this time, not the win.”

“It is a podium though and good points so I am happy. I think I can be battling at the front also in the last races of the season.”

Rueda extends points lead

“I’m happy because I get some good points for the championship but not too happy because I am not on the podium,” he chuckled. “It’s good for the title chase.”

“It’s a good track but personally I prefer more corners, this is good for the smaller riders. I hope it will be different in Aragon and Valencia, we’ll see.”

Veijer gives everything to stay in the hunt

“It was a hard race again, we did change the sprocket, went lower, from 38 to 37. It went a bit better, gave me more drive out of the corners but of course it cost me on top speed. It is what it is.

“I tried my very best, I pushed hard all race, the start and first lap was a lot better today.”

“At the end Ruda came past, it was difficult to get past him again and he lost the front 4 a bit so unfortunately a podium wasn’t possible this time.”

“We just missed a bit of straight line speed but I am happy that I got everything I could and look forward to the next one.”

MotoAmerica: REV’IT! Twins Cup Race Two Results From PittRace

David Swarts

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August 21, 2022

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MotoAmerica: REV’IT! Twins Cup Race Two Results From PittRace

Editorial Note: Race Two was called complete after a red flag came out on lap six of a 10-lap restart. By rule, if only one-third of the distance of a restarted race is covered it can be called complete.

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MotoAmerica: Medallia Superbike Race Two Results From PittRace (Updated)

David Swarts

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August 21, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Medallia Superbike Race Two Results From PittRace (Updated)

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More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Gagne Wins, Takes Over MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Points Lead With Perfect Weekend

Pole Position, A New Lap Record, Two Race Wins And The Series Points Lead For Jake Gagne At Pittsburgh International Race Complex

Jake Gagne (1) leads Hector Barbera (80), Cameron Petersen (45), Danilo Petrucci (9) and the rest of the Medallia Superbike pack at the start of Sunday's Superbike race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, photo courtesy MotoAmerica. — Jake Gagne (1) leads Hector Barbera (80), Cameron Petersen (45), Danilo Petrucci (9) and the rest of the Medallia Superbike pack at the start of Sunday’s Superbike race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, photo courtesy MotoAmerica.

WAMPUM, PA (August 21, 2022) – There are perfect weekends and then there are perfect weekends. Jake Gagne’s weekend at Pittsburgh International Race Complex was as immaculate at it could be. The defending MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion and his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Superbike didn’t put a wheel wrong at Pitt Race and the result was pole position, a new lap record, two victories and the points lead in the championship.

After snatching everything he could on Saturday, Gagne came back on Sunday and did the same thing. This time, however, the big bonus that came with his 10th win of the season and 27th of his career was a one-point lead in the MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship.

Gagne stormed away at the start, built a lead, and maintained it to the end of the 17-lap race. Behind him, he was getting help from Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz as the South African tore through from sixth on the grid to pass then-championship leader Danilo Petrucci and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 R for second place, a spot he would hold to the finish. And that gifted Gagne an extra four championship points, which translated to a one-point lead over Petrucci, 290-289.

Scholtz, who was racing with three broken bones in his left wrist, ended up 4.8 seconds behind Gagne and 1.9 seconds ahead of Petrucci, who earned his 14th podium in 16 races with his third-place finish.

Early on it was Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen who was tussling with Petrucci, but the South African couldn’t keep pace and slipped to fourth at the finish.

Tytlers Cycle Racing’s PJ Jacobsen finished fifth, barely besting Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante with both riders bouncing back from crashes in Saturday’s race one.

Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim ended up seventh, which made up in small part for his crash in the Yuasa Stock 1000 race. Gillim was just under a second ahead of Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Hector Barbera with the Spaniard being hit with two five-second penalties – one for jumping the start and the other for running straight in the chicane.

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Jake Lewis was ninth with Aftercare Hayes Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates rounding out the top 10.

With Gagne now leading Petrucci, 290-289, Petersen is third with 241 points, 22 more than Scholtz. Barbera is still fifth with 150 points.

The MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship resumes at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, September 9-11, with the ninth of 10 rounds.

Jake Gagne – Winner

“On paper, it was a great weekend. I’m happy. We worked great as a team, even starting on Friday. Most of these tracks this year, our goal has been to go faster than last year. On Friday, I thought it would be tough. Like these guys said, we had the rain this morning. The track was pretty slick there for that second race. I think no rubber. It was really green. It got really hot really quick. So, I’m happy where we’re at. Obviously, we’ve got two rounds left, four races, and it’s as tight as you could be in the points chase. So, I’m happy. It’s an honor to be racing these guys and be in the championship hunt with Danilo (Petrucci). I think it’s going to come down to us for a couple more races. For me, that’s exciting. For the series, it’s exciting. I’m enjoying it. I keep saying I’m not trying to think about the points, just race by race do the best we can and that’s all I can do. So, I’m not going to stress out about anything else. Hats off to the team. I’m looking forward to Jersey and Barber. I think everybody really likes those tracks. The Yamaha is going to go good there. Hats off to Matty (Scholtz), too. That guy is a warrior. I know he was pretty beat up and that wrist was gnarly. I can’t even believe after seeing that thing a couple weeks ago that he’s out here up on the podium. So, roll on to the next one.”

Mathew Scholtz – Second Place

“We have a joke that the team are going to break my wrist before every single race, and hopefully we’ll just finish it like this now. But honestly, when I was out there racing and stuff, I don’t really notice the wrist too much. The only problem for me today was the last four or five laps my fingers began going numb. That was the worst part of it, really. After the race finish, I could feel the wrist throbbing a lot, but when I was out there riding, I didn’t notice it. So, I can’t blame it on that. Jake (Gagne) was definitely the quickest guy today. I reeled him in a couple laps towards the end there. I think he knew he had a couple seconds’ gap, so he was just chilling, really. But I know that I definitely have to sort the first couple laps out. That always hurts me bad. That’s something that we’re going to have to look at.”

Danilo Petrucci – Third Place

(Was he hoping for a wet race) Yeah, but it’s a story of my life. When you hope for something, it never happens. So, it was even hotter than yesterday. For me, the track conditions were really, really difficult. I don’t know why we didn’t have any change on the bike, but really, I was struggling on braking to stop the bike. The worst part was releasing the brake and opening the throttle was really like zero traction. I think I just did the 41 just one time, because I was really, really in trouble. We cannot complain. We did our best, but it was not enough. For sure, New Jersey will be another tough race for us, but we’ll see. I’m happy to make it through the heat to the end of the race because I was really, really in trouble today.”

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Gagne Reclaims Championship Lead in Pittsburgh

Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne dominated today’s second MotoAmerica Superbike race at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex, notching his 10th victory of the season to reclaim the championship lead. Cameron Petersen took home another fourth-place finish on a challenging weekend in Wampum, Pennsylvania.

Although the morning warm-up was a wash with wet conditions, the rain stayed away for the final superbike race of the weekend. Gagne picked up where he left off with his perfect Saturday and grabbed another holeshot from pole position. The reigning superbike champ then executed his trademark disappearing act with the fastest lap of the race on Lap 2 and kept a hot pace to amass a comfortable six-second lead by Lap 10. He continued to manage the race up front, securing his 27th-career superbike victory and 10th this season. Gagne’s sweep in the Keystone State moved him back into the championship lead, giving him a one-point advantage as the series heads into a three-week break.

Petersen got off to another great start in second behind his teammate but soon found himself under pressure from Gagne’s championship rival. He tried to hold him off but was passed before the halfway mark. A few laps later, his fellow Yamaha rider Mathew Scholtz made his way through and then charged to a second-place finish. Petersen rode on to score another fourth-place finish at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex.

After the break, the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team heads to Millville, New Jersey, for the penultimate round of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 9-11.

Richard Stanboli – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager

“It was another good day for Jake and the Yamaha R1. We are once again in the points lead and will continue to work hard for the next two events to secure enough points to wrap up the championship. Cameron also did a good job with another great start, allowing Jake to get a bit of breathing space from his championship competitor. We look forward to seeing our fans at the next event in New Jersey.”

Jake Gagne – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing

“We thought we were in for a rain race for sure, but luckily the weatherman got it wrong, and we were able to get another dry race. I got off to a great start and pushed hard at the beginning to build a gap and manage my race. I’m happy to bring home another win for the team!”

Cameron Petersen – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing

“It was not the best weekend for me. I was off the mark all weekend, but I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work. We definitely had a bike to run up front. We’re going to keep working and come back stronger in New Jersey. It’s time to get this Yamaha back on the podium!”

More, from a press release issued by Ducati North America:

Close quarters for Danilo Petrucci and Ducati in Pittsburgh

A double podium closes the fight in the championship

Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo courtesy Ducati North America.

Sunnyvale, Calif., August 21, 2022 – Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC) claimed a second and third place finishes behind double winner, Jake Gagne (Yamaha), at the eighth round of the 2022 Medallia MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at Pittsburgh International Race Complex this weekend.

The double podium has made the championship effectively a two-round battle between Petrucci and Gagne, with just one point separating the due heading into the penultimate round at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 9-11.

Petrucci leaves Pittsburgh full of confidence heading to New Jersey, another track that he has previously ridden.

2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship Standing – Top 5

P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 290

P2 – Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) 289

P3 – Cameron Petersen (Yamaha) 241

P4 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 219

P5 – Hector Barbera (BMW) 150

Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – Ducati #9): “It was a tough weekend, more than I expected,” Petrucci said. “Regardless, we are still in the fight for the championship and we need to step up our performance. I have ridden at New Jersey before, so it’s not entirely new, and we will try our absolute maximum to get back into the championship lead.”

Petrucci and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati will rejoin for the last two rounds of the 2022 Medallia MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 9-11.

More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:

Scholtz Is Runner-Up In Sunday’s Superbike Race At Pittsburgh

Mathew Scholtz (11) leading Danilo Petrucci (9) during MotoAmerica Superbike Race Two at PitttRace. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.

Wampum, PA – August 21, 2022 – After finishing on the podium with a third-place finish in Saturday’s Superbike race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Mathew Scholtz, rider of the #11 Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R1, shrugged off the pain in his triple-fractured left wrist and put in another heroic effort on Sunday. In his encore performance, The Scholtz Kid outdid himself and finished second in Superbike race two.

Starting from the outside of row two on the grid, Mathew started moving towards the front on lap two. He went from sixth, to fifth, to fourth where he stabilized his position until lap 10 of the 17-lap race. He then made a brilliant pass on Cam Petersen with seven laps to go, which put him into third. Then, on lap 12, he overtook Danilo Petrucci for second and began pulling a gap on the former MotoGP race winner. Mathew ultimately crossed the finish line less than five seconds behind race winner Jake Gagne.

What a Sunday it was for Mathew Scholtz and his hard-working Westby Racing team. After the well-earned podium celebration, he reflected on the accomplishment:

“When I was out there racing, I didn’t really notice the wrist too much,” Mathew said. “The only problem for me today was, on the last four or five laps, my fingers began going numb. That was the worst part of it, really. After the race finish, I could feel the wrist throbbing a lot, but when I was out there riding, I didn’t notice it. So, I can’t blame it on that. Jake (Gagne) was definitely the quickest guy today. I reeled him in a couple laps towards the end there. I think he knew he had a couple seconds’ gap, so he was just chilling, really. I know that I definitely have to sort the first couple of laps out. That always hurts me bad. That’s something that we’re going to have to look at.”

After a well-deserved rest, Mathew and the Westby Racing team will be back in action for round nine of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, which takes place at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, on September 9 through 11.

MotoAmerica Superbike Standings

1. Jake Gagne – Yamaha – 290

2. Danilo Petrucci – Ducati – 289

3. Cameron Petersen – Yamaha – 241

4. Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha – 219

5. Hector Barbera – BMW – 150

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

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

MotoAmerica: Supersport Race Two Results From PittRace (Updated)

David Swarts

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August 21, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Supersport Race Two Results From PittRace (Updated)

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More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Point Leads Grow, Point Leads Disappear At Pittsburgh International Race Complex

It’s All Change After Thrilling MotoAmerica Support Races In Pittsburgh

WAMPUM, PA (August 21, 2022) – Just when it looked like Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim was going to make a battle out of the 2022 MotoAmerica Yuasa Stock 1000 Championship at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, it all went up in a cloud of dust. While in a heated fight for the lead with series rival Corey Alexander, the two made contact and Gillim crashed out of the race. And just like that, a 14-point lead is now a likely insurmountable 31-point lead with just 50 points left on the table.

With a victory on Saturday while Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC’s Alexander was plagued with mechanical ills and dropped to 10th, Gillim was just 14 points behind and in control of his own destiny. Three wins in the final three races and the title would be his. Not anymore.

With just a single race at both New Jersey Motorsports Park and the series finale at Barber Motorsports Park, Alexander’s lead looks solid but as Sunday proved, anything can still happen.

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race – Buyck Again

Kayleigh Buyck (16) won the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. race at PittRace, beating Crystal Martinez (25) and Chloe Peterson (55). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Sunday’s races began in the morning with Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. seven-lap sprint taking place on a slightly damp track that was the result of rain that had fallen earlier in the morning. It looked like Kayleigh Buyck, who had won all the BTR races thus far going into Pittsburgh, was going to have her winning streak snapped by Jennifer Chancellor. Unfortunately, Chancellor crashed out of the lead in the final turn of the final lap, and Buyck, who was in second, took the checkered flag once again. Second place went to Crystal Martinez, who was a little more than eight seconds behind Buyck, and third went to Chloe Peterson, who was only .083 of a second behind Martinez.

“Everyone thought I was going to go down,” Buyck said. “The bike was crazy. Coming down off the hill in the back, it was very wobbly. Dirt bike experience helps. I felt like I was on a Superbike when they always get crazy. I still had my rain gearing on, so it was completely off. I was hitting the rev limiter everywhere, so I was trying to balance that and be able to try to keep up with her. So, that set me back. Josh Hayes told me when he used to race that if his mechanic wrote “skirt down” that meant he was riding like a lady, and skirt up meant he was giving it hell. So, I just kept saying “skirt up” the whole time and I was able to catch up. I don’t want to take this win. That’s not how I want to get it. Hopefully (Chancellor is) all right. I saw it happening, and I was hoping she wasn’t going to go down because I think I may have had her. But with my gearing, she had way more drive than me so I think she would have gotten it either way. So, it was definitely a good race by her. Happy to be back up here with the blonde trio. They deserve it. Someone’s going to get me one of these times. I’m not ready for it, but it’s going to happen.”

Yuasa Stock 1000 – Alexander Wins, Gillim Crashes

Corey Alexander (23) and Hayden Gillim (69) had a heated battle in Yuasa Stock 1000 with Gillim crashing out of the race on the final lap. Travis Wyman (10) inherited second place. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica. — Corey Alexander (23) and Hayden Gillim (69) had a heated battle in Yuasa Stock 1000 with Gillim crashing out of the race on the final lap. Travis Wyman (10) inherited second place.
Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

In Yuasa Stock 1000 race two, the fortunes of the two main protagonists in the championship went in opposite directions. Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing BMW rider Corey Alexander started from the pole and looked to have the victory well in his grasp until Disrupt Racing Suzuki’s Hayden Gillim chased him down and took the lead. Alexander managed to overtake Gillim for the lead, and then, the two made contact, which resulted in Gillim crashing out of the race. Alexander prevailed with the win, and his teammate Travis Wyman inherited the runner-up position, which he maintained to the checkered flag. Altus Motorsports Suzuki rider Brandon Paasch finished third to complete the podium.

“First of all, it’s a bummer, for sure,” Alexander said. “I wanted Hayden to be up here. I want to win more than anything, but I don’t want to win like that where he has no chance of making another pass back or anything like that. I hope he’s all right. I think he is. I pulled over (after the race) to see if he was there still, see if he needed a ride, see if he was okay. Like I said, it’s not how we want to win, but it is a championship battle, and it was the last lap. I had a couple opportunities there through that section previously that I knew it was going to be tight if I wanted to do it and it wasn’t worth it on those laps, but on the last lap I needed to do something. He made a move through there on me that was pretty aggressive early on at the beginning of the race. It might not have appeared from the angle, but we had a little bit of contact there. It kind of put me in a predicament. Hayden rides hard. I knew that’s how it was going to be coming down to that last lap if we wanted to have a shot at the win there. So, I think I passed him clean. From my perspective, I was fully ahead of him. I think he just was trying to line me up for that next left like he had before and was going to kind of just block pass me. I think he just leaned on me a little bit too hard, and it took him out, unfortunately. Getting through Pittsburgh was always the challenge for me because I knew how good Hayden could be here. I know the last two rounds, I’m good at Jersey so I know we’ll get through that and then Barber will be a duel.”

SportbikeTrackGear.com – Wyman Pulls Clear

Cody Wyman (34) pulled out to a lead and held it to win the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup class for the second straight day. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Alpha Omega Kawasaki rider Cody Wyman, who won Saturday’s SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup race one, got the double win on the weekend with a victory in Sunday’s race two. Wyman started from the pole and led every one of the 10 laps. Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing’s Gus Rodio finished second in a race that was mostly processional for him. The battle for third place came right down to a photo-finish between SportTrackGear.com Kawasaki rider Max Van and Altus Motorsports Kawasaki rider Kayla Yaakov. At the stripe, it was Yaakov who grabbed the last spot on the podium with perfectly timed pass on Van.

“It was as good as it gets, really,” Wyman said about his perfect weekend. “I think I led every session and got two wins. Army of Darkness picked me up to do the endurance race here last weekend. I think just showing that if I can get some time on the track a little bit beforehand and just get in a flow, that this is the potential some weekends that we could have. I’ve really hit a rhythm in the middle of the year. Just enjoying riding motorcycles and working with my family. Things have been pretty good. Hats off to these two. These two are some of the smartest riders in the class, and I’m privileged to share the podium with them. I wish Kayla had some better luck in the middle of the year. I think all three of us are championship worthy. Really, overall, a great weekend. Probably the best weekend I’ve had.”

Supersport – Herrin Bounces Back

Josh Herrin (2) ran away in the Supersport race at PittRace on Sunday, besting Saturday's winner Rocco Landers (97). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica. — Josh Herrin (2) ran away in the Supersport race at PittRace on Sunday, besting Saturday’s winner Rocco Landers (97). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

After winning the past three Supersport races in a row, the question was whether a surging Landers Racing Yamaha’s Rocco Landers could keep his winning streak going in Sunday’s race two. Well, championship leader Josh Herrin had something to say about that. The Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC rider put in a dominant performance and even withstood an unplanned off-track excursion to notch his eighth win of the season and stretch out his championship lead to a rather gaudy 76 points over Landers, who finished as runner-up. Third place went to Vision Wheel M4 Suzuki ECSTAR’s Tyler Scott, who reached the podium for the eighth time in this, the 17-year-old’s rookie year in MotoAmerica’s hotly contested middleweight class.

“After how good of a season we’ve had, to get beat three races in a row, and not just beat but get walked away from, it hurt,” Herrin said. “Brainerd, he smoked us. Yesterday, he did really well, but unfortunately, I just chose the wrong tire. I was just beating myself up from the start of the warmup lap. I really wanted to get it today. I didn’t have a whole lot of confidence coming into the race if it was dry. I had a lot going into it if it was going to be wet, just because this morning I had really good feel. But, I looked back coming over turn five and saw a big lead and just put my head down and tried my hardest to pull a little gap. The track was pretty green, I think. The lap times were mid 44’s to low 45’s. I felt like I was pushing harder than I was in qualifying. When I ran off in turn one, I was scared. I thought for sure I was going to go down, just because it was wet out there and there was a lot of little pot holes. So, I thought I was going to hit maybe a puddle of water somewhere. But I got really lucky that I chose a good line, I guess, through the grass and was able to pull it off. Hats off to my entire team. They’ve worked super hard all year. I’m just excited to go into New Jersey, which is our home race, with a solid chance at getting the championship wrapped up.”

REV’IT! Twins Cup – Ventura Saves His Weekend

Blake Davis (22) finished second in the REV'IT! Twins Cup race on Sunday to move into the championship points lead. The race was won by Cory Ventura (28). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica. — Blake Davis (22) finished second in the REV’IT! Twins Cup race on Sunday to move into the championship points lead. The race was won by Cory Ventura (28). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

The Pittsburgh race weekend concluded with REV’IT! Twins Cup race two, and MotoAmerica tuner class put a fitting crescendo on the event. In a class that pits riders aboard Aprilia RS 660s versus riders aboard Yamaha YZF-R7s, it was Yamaha that swept the podium with MP13 Racing’s Cory Ventura getting his third win of the year. N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto’s Blake Davis, who won Saturday’s race one, finished second on Sunday, while BARTCON Racing’s Dominic Doyle was third.

“Coming into today and rolling around in the wet out there, I’m like, ‘Gosh, I just want this weekend to be over,’” Ventura said. “But, I took it one step at a time, got some great starts today and put myself right up with the leaders. I know that, from yesterday, they weren’t that much quicker than me, and I needed to learn from them and evolve very quickly, and that’s exactly what I did.”

More, from a press release issued by Ducati North America:

Two Podiums for Josh Herrin in Pittsburgh

A win and a second place for Josh Herrin in Pittsburgh

Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.

Sunnyvale, Calif., August 21, 2022 – Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC) put one hand firmly on the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with a measured performance at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex, taking second place behind Yamaha’s Rocco Landers on Saturday before romping home to the race two victory Sunday.

The Californian’s title advantage stays at 76 points coming into the penultimate round at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 9-11, meaning he only needs to finish race one with 75 points or more in hand over the second place rider to claim the title.

Herrin, however, isn’t getting carried away with the possibility of another championship, noting he perhaps took it too cautiously over the last two rounds to protect his points lead. The former MotoAmerica Superbike and Stock 1000 Champion will thus ride to win in New Jersey, and let the points take care of themselves.

2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship Standing – Top 5

P1 – Josh Herrin (Ducati) 309

P2 – Rocco Landers (Yamaha) 233

P3 – Tyler Scott (Suzuki) 192

P4 – Benjamin Smith (Yamaha) 123

P5 – Kevin Olmedo (Yamaha) 114

Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Ducati – #2): “It was a good weekend for us,” Herrin said. “I’m happy we could win today with some dominance and I’m happy about the weekend. The Ducati V2 is running great, we chose the right tire, and I’m so excited to go to New Jersey and try to clinch the championship.”

Herrin and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team will rejoin for the last two rounds of the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 9-11.

MotoAmerica: SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup R2 Results From PittRace

David Swarts

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August 21, 2022

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MotoAmerica: SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup R2 Results From PittRace

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MotoAmerica: Yuasa Stock 1000 Race Two Results From PittRace

David Swarts

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August 21, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Yuasa Stock 1000 Race Two Results From PittRace

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MotoAmerica: More From Pittsburgh International Race Complex

August 22, 2022

Tyler Scott (70) continues his podium stand with his eighth of the season in Race Two at Pittsburgh. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. — Young Gun and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Tyler Scott (70) at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.