Yamaha Earns 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike Manufacturer’s Championship at NJMP

Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing concludes roller-coaster season at New Jersey Motorsports Park and looks ahead to 2025

MARIETTA, Ga. –  September 30, 2024 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) received the MotoAmerica Superbike Manufacturer’s Championship at the final round of the 2024 season held at the New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) in Millville, New Jersey. Spearheading the campaign was the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team, who took home four wins and a total of 13 podium finishes during a roller-coaster ride of a season with injuries and adversity. It was a tough final race of the year that saw fill-in rider Xavi Forés finish 12th and Cameron Petersen come back to 18th. Also making a valuable contribution to the manufacturer’s title in the premier class was Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong, who ended the year third in the championship standings, earning two wins and a total of eight podium finishes. 

Forés continued to work on getting acquainted with the bike in challenging conditions as he filled in for the three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne at the last two rounds. In the final race of the season, the Spaniard got a good start from the second row to fourth. He was inside the top five for the first five laps and continued to battle but ultimately crossed the line 12th. 

For the second race at NJMP, Petersen got another flying start and grabbed the holeshot this time. Although he was shuffled to third going into the first turn on Lap 2, he was running a strong pace up front in the lead group. Unfortunately, on the following lap, he ran off track due to a technical issue and pulled into the pits. Petersen rejoined the race and put in some strong laps to gain valuable information and finish 18th. Despite the adversity, it was a strong season for the South African, who earned three wins and a total of eight podiums, contributing to the manufacturer’s title and securing sixth in the championship. 

Despite not feeling 100% with arm and hand issues, Gagne made a valiant defense of his title, scoring a win at the opening round and making five trips to the podium. Although he sat out the last two rounds while he focused on returning to full fitness, he finished the season a commendable seventh in the point standings. 

Tom Halverson – Yamaha Racing Assistant Department Manager for YMUS:
“Congrats to Bobby Fong, ADR (Aussie Dave Racing), and Wrench Motorcycles for earning third in the Superbike Championship. It was an incredible accomplishment in a very stacked 2024 Superbike field. We appreciate every Yamaha rider in the paddock, and it was their accomplishments that brought Yamaha the Manufacturer’s Trophy once again.

“Our Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team started strong, and Jake and Cam were in the championship hunt for most of the season. Injuries and a few technical issues ended our run, but we look forward to Jake’s return and fighting for wins and the championship once again.”

Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager:
“We had some wins, and we were leading the championship. Unfortunately, Jake had to sit out the rest of the season. It’s pretty difficult to take a rider, plop him into unfamiliar territory, and to ride at the top of his game. So we knew it was going to be a challenge throwing Xavi into the deep end. With Cameron, he came back from his injury and was making some headway but had a couple of bad crashes. This weekend he was strong. It was just unfortunate that there was an issue in the second race, and he had to pull in, but his pace was good. In the end, I think we found a pretty decent setup for him, and he could go with the guys in the beginning.

“I think we learned a lot this year, and where we are in relation to our competitors and where we are lacking, especially with the hard tires. We have a pretty good idea of where we want to go heading into the new year with the new bike. We’ll put together a good development package, get Jake healthy, and come back strong.” 

Xavi Forés – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #34:
“I enjoyed my time here on the team. I knew them from Daytona, and I was always so keen to try the Superbike. Unfortunately, the results were not as good as I expected them to be, but we faced some challenges that we didn’t expect to have. We worked really hard. The team was working so well on bringing us the best package possible, but unfortunately we were dealing with a lack of grip on the rear. Yesterday and today, in the first laps, I tried to stay on the back of the lead group, and I led some laps yesterday, but I was not able to stay at the front. I want to say thank you to the team for their trust in me for these couple of races. Hopefully, I gave them good information for the future, and hopefully, I can do more races with them. Thanks to Yamaha for all of their help. I have enjoyed it.”

Cameron Petersen – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #45:
“Yeah, it was a tough day. It was just a bummer to end the season like that, but if you take a step back and look at the season as a whole, it was really great. I got the most wins of my career in one season. I think there was a point there at Laguna where I had the most wins and podiums out of everybody and was in the hunt for the championship. Then it was just some bad luck with some injuries and bike stuff that put us behind. Unfortunately at the last three races of the year, we only had the hard tires available. I really wanted to give the team a result to smile about during the off-season, but we’ll go back to work and come back swinging next year.”

2024 MotoAmerica Superbike Results

About Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars [sold, serviced, and distributed by Yamaha Golf-Car Company], Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.

YMUS has a corporate office in California, three corporate offices in Georgia, as well as facilities in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Florida. YMUS subsidiaries Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC), based in Georgia, and Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing U.S.A. (YJBM) based in Tennessee, each assemble and manufacture selected Yamaha brand products. YMUS owns Skeeter Boats [Texas] with its division G3 Boats [Missouri]. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. (YMSC) with subsidiary Siren Marine [Rhode Island] and divisions Bennett Marine [Florida], Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders [Wisconsin] and Yamaha Precision Propeller Inc. [Indiana].

Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA, dba Yamaha Financial Services, is an affiliate of Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA offering financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha Customers nationwide.