Cameron Beaubier, riding his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, was fastest during MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Free Practice One (FP1) Friday at Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Riding on Dunlop’s new Sportmax Slicks on the newly repaved four-mile course, Beaubier did a 2:10.575, which was just shy of Jake Gagne’s All-Time Lap Record of 2:10.529.
Beaubier’s teammate PJ Jacobsen was right behind him in the order with a 2:10.778.
Josh Herrin was third-quickest with a 2:11.802 on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 R.
Richie Escalante was fourth in the session with a lap time of 2:12.034 on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R.
Two-time and defending Champion Jake Gagne was an uncharacteristic fifth with a 2:12.227 on his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1.
Four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes was sixth-best with a 2:13.051 on another Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha. Hayes rode in the session to prepare himself in case he is needed to finish the weekend for Gagne’s injured teammate Cameron Petersen.
The plan was for Petersen to test his broken right hand/wrist during FP1 to see if he was good enough to complete the weekend. However, Petersen’s Yamaha broke after just two laps and he finished with a 15th-fastest 2:19.012 and unanswered questions.
Top Trap Speeds From Superbike FP1:
Cameron Beaubier (BMW), 186.4 mph
PJ Jacobsen (BMW), 186.0 mph
Josh Herrin (Ducati), 183.4 mph
Jake Gagne (Yamaha), 179.4 mph
Cameron Petersen (Yamaha), 178.6 mph
Corey Alexander (BMW), 178.3 mph
Richie Escalante (Suzuki), 178.3 mph
Josh Hayes (Yamaha), 177.9 mph
Toni Elias (Suzuki), 177.1 mph
Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha), 177.1 mph
Ashton Yates (BMW), 174.8 mph
Benjamin Smith (Yamaha), 173.3 mph
Hayden Gillim (Suzuki), 173.0 mph
Max Flinders (Yamaha), 169.7 mph
David Anthony (Yamaha), 169.4 mph
Danilo Lewis (BMW), 165.0 mph