Yoshimura Suzuki Statement on Road America Incident

Elkhart Lake, WI (June 3, 2018) — Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing is disappointed with MotoAmerica and FIM officials for not issuing a penalty for the last-lap incident in MotoAmerica Superbike race one Saturday at Road America. The incident resulted in a crash by series points leader Yoshimura Suzuki’s Toni Elias.

The episode at Road America’s Canada Corner saw Elias committed to his line and turned into the corner, when Cameron Beaubier came into the turn out of position to make a safe pass, running up on the inside hitting Elias and knocking him out of the race. From Yoshimura Suzuki’s point of view Beaubier was clearly at fault in the incident, yet no penalty was assessed. The resulting DNF for Elias was costly in terms of his championship points lead.

“We understand there is going to be tight racing and occasionally even contact between riders,” said Yoshimura Suzuki’s Don Sakakura, President of Yoshimura Racing. “But in the case of Saturday’s race we feel Cameron clearly entered the corner out of position to make a safe pass and Toni never saw him coming until he was down from contact. Toni had no opportunity to alter his line.”

Yoshimura Suzuki hopes that all riders in the championship will race in a safe and sportsmanlike manner and we implore MotoAmerica and the FIM to regulate those riders who fail to meet those standards.