It’s been a long and painful road to recovery since he broke his left hand and right shoulder in a motocross crash February 27, but 2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Rookie of the Year Jake Lewis is ready to return to MotoAmerica action this coming weekend at VIRginia International Raceway.
“I’m definitely going to ride,” 20-year-old Lewis told Roadracingworld.com Monday. “I just went to the doctor today. It’s been 10 weeks, and I got cleared to ride. I’m definitely going to give it a shot.
“I’m definitely going into VIR at a little disadvantage because everyone else has done three rounds and at least one test and I haven’t ridden any [since February], but I’ve ridden dirt bikes the past couple of weeks and felt pretty good. I have most of my strength back and feel like I’ll do OK.
“I didn’t want to sit home another week and watch and then have to wait another two weeks for Road America. So I’m just going to use VIR as a little test to get everything back up to speed, start working with the new crew and get everything going.”
As previously announced by Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) on April 29, Lewis will not be returning to the Yoshimura Suzuki Superbike team. Lewis’ substitute Toni Elias has become his full-season replacement. As a result, Lewis will instead be relocating to Team Hammer’s M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki team to race in the Superstock 1000 category.
Team Hammer is in the process of building Lewis’ new GSX-R1000 Superstock racebike.