MotoAmerica 600 Supersport racer, Jay Newton, put the TY Yamaha Racing R6 on the podium in the 600 Superbike class of the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival September 17-18 at the Zhuhai International Circuit of China. He would taste success only after a very eventful and difficult weekend. 

Newton showed his true grit to come back for what he traveled all the way from his hometown of Montgomery, Texas for. His track familiarization at Zhuhai began uneventfully, but Newton quickly realized that the bike set-up was far from what he needed. He would hit the deck in qualifying just after lap one, and was unable to score a qualifying lap time. 

The team submitted a “petition to race” on his behalf, and repaired the bike. However, there would be no more track time until race one, and Jay was feeling the effects of the crash with a knee injury. 

The following day, Newton would start at the back of the grid, but made his way to P2 by the end of lap one. He admittedly struggled and fought the bike the entire race, but the bike would win. He would tuck the front in the final turn of the last lap while in the hunt for the win, and was relegated to P13 after picking up the bike and crossing the line. 

Thoroughly disappointed, and wondering what had happened, he and the team could only try to make it back for race two on Sunday. After a long night, Jay was back on the grid for race two, and he would not be denied a podium this time. 

Though not the win he had anticipated going into the event, he knew he could not push the bike beyond its limits again. The young racer would take a P3 finish in the 10-lap competition, and regain his confidence and pride. 

Newton looks forward to getting home and continuing to race at some CMRA and WERA events if possible.