BRANDON PAASCH THE FIRST AMERICAN TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIP IN HEL PERFORMANCE BRITISH MOTOSTAR MOTO3 AT BRANDS HATCH GP CIRCUIT
Brandon Paasch went out at Brands Hatch GP Circuit this past weekend on a mission to win the 2019 HEL Performance British Motostar Moto3 Championship. In a spectacular display of riding craftsmanship, he won both races, leading Saturday’s race flag-to flag to lock up the Moto3 Championship with one race to spare. In doing so, Brandon becomes the first ever US rider to capture any championship in the British Superbike series, adding the title of “International Champion” to his growing resume.
First practice on Friday was run in very damp and cold conditions, and the second practice saw the track dry out but the temperatures stay cool. Brandon finished the day in second spot, just 0.3 seconds behind the practice leader. Qualifying ran the next morning on a wet track also, and the field quickly set about running fast laps just in case the conditions changed. Brandon sorted his lines in the first few minutes, then strategically set about running with a clear track in front of him to lock in second place with a flying time on his final lap, just 0.16 seconds off the pole.
Brandon was determined to push hard in Race 1 to secure the championship, and that is just what he did. Getting his best start of the season and leading into Turn 1, he quickly pulled a gap of 0.8 seconds by Lap 3. He managed the lead throughout the race, putting a back marker between him and the rider behind him on Lap 9 that allowed him to lengthen his lead. Brandon cut the fastest lap of the race on his last lap and took the checkered flag to win the championship.
Brandon was on pole position for Race 2 as a result of his fastest lap in Race 1, and he had a strong warmup session that saw him lead the pack by over 1.0 second. While his start was not as strong as the previous race, he pushed to the lead and was first to cross the line on Lap 1. A fight ensued for the next three laps, until a rider fell out of Turn 3 which created a gap between Brandon and the rest of the riders. He pushed hard and set the fastest lap of the race on Lap 7, increasing his lead to 4.8 seconds by the end of the race when he crossed the finish line to complete the double win for the weekend.
“What a weekend – probably one of the best of my life!” said Brand Paasch. “After the win in Race 2 at Donington, I knew I could push it at Brands because that’s one of my favorite tracks in the series. I worked out pretty hard leading up to the weekend, so I was really ready for both races. The KTM Moto3 bike was running real strong, and thankfully we had no issues with the ECU. I expected a typically cold and wet English fall weekend, and I felt pretty comfortable right away in practice. I planned to take pole in qualifying to set myself up for the race, but second spot was pretty good, and I knew I would just have to pin it to be out in front for the race. I made the best start of the year and just put my head down to stay out front. There were a couple fast guys that would try to knock me off the box, but I was determined to get the win for the championship. When I crossed the line and got it, I was so happy that I could barely sit on the bike. It was such an amazing feeling to be a champion – the first US champion in BSB history!
“In Race 2 I knew everyone would be gunning for the win, but I just wanted to go out on top. I got a decent start and pushed for the lead right away. I had a couple dicey moments on the first few laps, but then I made a strong move out of Turn 3 and never looked back. I was just clicking off the laps all weekend, and I nailed the fastest lap of the whole weekend in that race. So I was pretty happy with the double win and wrapping up the season in style.
“I couldn’t have done this without a great team and great group of sponsors, supporters and fans! Everyone worked so hard and put in so much time to help me be a champion. Adrian and Sarah from Fireplace Warehouse are incredible. They not only ran a very organized and detailed team, but they were great mentors, too. Dave is a great guy and awesome mechanic, and Andy really was incredible working on the data to get us really dialed in. I also have to thank Andy’s family for taking me in and making feel like a part of them while I was in the UK; I’ll always be grateful for their support. For my sponsors, Dave, Paul, Scott and everyone else that stepped up financially, you really made an impact on helping the team this season. To Spidi and Arai – thanks for keeping me protected and helping me be confident to push hard when I was out on the track. Big thanks to my Partner Sponsors Electronic Concepts and luxeStar VIP, as well as my Presenting Sponsors Classic Car Club of Manhattan, NJMiniGP, Evolve GT, BJT Mechanical, The Three Horseshoes, and OTF.” Thanks to all my fans, you guys really grew a lot this year and helped pick me up when things looked tough. Last, but certainly first in my mind, is my biggest supporter – my Mom. Without you first, I really wouldn’t be here. Thank you for everything for all these years!”
“Once again, I have to say how proud I am of everyone that was involved with and supported this team this year,” said Team Owner Adrian Mason. “Sarah and I have been racing in BSB for over a decade, and I can’t recall a better season with such a great group. I know Brandon had the potential to be a champion, and working with him and seeing him grow this season was a pleasure. When we all got together at our first testing session of the year, I felt right away that it would be a good crew. We had some adjustments to make, but everyone stepped up and worked hard and really gelled as a team. We couldn’t have been successful without the strong individual efforts of both Andy and Dave working on the KTM, and I would be making a big mistake if I didn’t say a big thanks to my wife Sarah for doing all the other important work that kept the team running smoothly and let me concentrate on being prepared for each weekend. Working with Brandon’s manager and sponsors from the USA was very enjoyable, and meeting all the team’s other supporters and fans was incredible. I was very impressed with all the support, and I know we all appreciated it very much.
“It feels very good to bring home the Moto3 Championship in its final season, and to do it with the first US rider to ever win a BSB championship makes it that much more special. We’re going to step back and take a look at our options for next year, but I wish Brandon the best of luck for next season and look forward to seeing his career grow internationally. Thanks again to everyone involved this year, and I’ll savor this season for years to come.”
Having achieved one of the top goals of his career – winning an international championship in Moto3 – Brandon is in active discussions with teams regarding his options for the 2020 season. An announcement will be made when a final agreement is reached, and a new team is confirmed.
Fans and supporters can subscribe and follow Brandon for more updates on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter:
– YouTube: search for Brandon Paasch and subscribe to his channel
– Facebook: @BrandonPaasch facebook.com/BrandonPaasch/
– Instagram: instagram.com/brandon_paasch
– Twitter: @PaaschBrandon
– Hashtags: #SendItBP2020
Brandon Paasch is sponsored by Electronic Concepts, luxeStar VIP, Classic Car Club of Manhattan, NJMiniGP, Evolve GT, BJT Mechanical, Arai, and Spidi. Coaching and training provided by Birdhouse Training.
FPW Racing is an amalgamation of the Fireplace Warehouse and several like-minded bike enthusiasts to support one common goal – to establish young riders and to give them a leg up in their racing careers. FPW Racing is sponsored by The Fireplace Warehouse, Motul, Pro Bolt, Hel, Regina, Jennings Race Products. For more information, visit us at www.fpwracing.co.uk
