Kyle Wyman Racing leaves Virginia with podiums, top-10 finishes
MACEDON, N.Y. — It was a hot weekend in Virginia for the Millennium Technologies/KWR team as the trio of Wyman brothers finished strong in their respective classes for the third round of the AMA/FIM MotoAmerica Road Racing Series at Virginia International Raceway. Supersport competitor Kyle Wyman secured two top-10 finishes while Travis made it four-for-four on the podium in Superstock 600 with a 3rd and 2nd place in races one and two, respectively. Youngest brother Cody scored 16th and 14th finishes in each Superstock 600 race.
For eldest brother Kyle, the weekend began with a big crash and a trip to the hospital. In the waning moments of qualifying, Wyman highsided in the turn-two area suffering a bruised forearm and lower back contusions.
“Friday was going to plan,” Kyle said. “My crew chief Robin Hawley put together a great qualifying strategy and I was gaining a lot of confidence with the bike. It was in the last few moments of qualifying where I ended up crashing while trying to hold on to the back of a faster rider. I was super bummed to see my Millennium Technologies bike tumbling.”
X-rays turned up negative for fractures after a trip to Danville Regional Medical Center, and Kyle lined up for Saturday’s race in 7th position on the grid. With two great starts and climbing as high as 4th place in race two, he finished 8th place in both races for the event.
“I can’t be too disappointed with how the weekend ended,” Wyman added. “Saturday’s race was really tough for me physically. My back was so stiff that it was hard to change direction of the bike, and VIR is the wrong track to have that problem, especially with the heat and a 23-lap race. Sunday’s race went better for me, but I was still in conservation mode. We still made great progress with the bike, and my KWR team stood behind me all weekend. I can’t wait for the next round at Road America.”
Saturday’s Superstock 600 race one was a hot 18-lap final where Travis and Cody started on the grid in 3rd and 19th respectively. Travis settled into a trio-breakaway with series rivals Joe Roberts and Richie Escalante, whom he had shared the podium with at the opening round at Road Atlanta.
“I got off to a good start in the beginning and just tried to hang on to the pace of Joe and Richie,” Travis said. “Unfortunately we ran a little too low of tire pressure and my tire went off after about three laps. Those guys were riding well but I was happy to come away with another podium finish.”
Superstock 600 race two appeared to mimic race one in the opening laps, with the same trio of riders breaking away at the front. It wasn’t until lap three that Roberts crashed, leaving Wyman and Escalante to fight it out for the win. Travis held on to Richie for a number of laps, until a big moment lost him some time.
“Once Joe went down I was just following Richie, studying his lines,” Travis said. “I was trying to figure out where he was faster, and where I was faster. When I had that moment in turn one it threw me out of rhythm and from there I settled in to second place. I’m happy to have four podiums in four races.”
Meanwhile, Cody Wyman progressed from his 16th place finish on Saturday to a 14th place finish in Sunday’s final.
“We struggled early on and spent the weekend playing catch up,” Cody said. “My team was working really hard with me and we improved drastically each session. I am getting more comfortable with the bike and I can not wait for Road America.”
In the MotoAmerica Supersport championship standings, eldest brother Kyle moved from 9th overall to 7th in the points after this weekend’s races. In the Superstock 600 category, Travis and Cody currently sit 3rd and 19th respectively.
The series heads next to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. for the fourth round of AMA/FIM MotoAmerica road racing May 29-31, 2015.
Stay up to date with KWR by visiting www.kylewymanracing.com
About Millennium Technologies:
Millennium Technologies is a premier supplier of high performance engine services and parts for many types of vehicles, notably in the powersports market. Starting in 1997 as a Nickel-Silicon-Carbide cylinder relating and servicing company, Millennium Technologies has branched out into complete service for cylinders, heads, crankshafts and top-ends and also supplies relevant parts such as pistons, gaskets, camshafts and more by working with OEMs, dealers, race teams and weekend mechanics. Millennium Technologies is also the parent company of its extended branches Revolution Performance, Xport CNC Services, Ballistic Performance Components and Forward Motion. For more information visit www.mt-llc.com
About Kyle Wyman Racing:
Kyle Wyman Racing (KWR) was formed in 2011 as a motorcycle road racing team focusing on healthy sponsorship opportunities for companies within and outside the motorcycle industry. KWR is the 2012 AMA Pro Harley-Davidson series championship winning team and current partner with Millennium Technologies family of companies. For more information visit www.kylewymanracing.com
More, from a press release issued by Yoshimura Suzuki:
ROGER HAYDEN SCORES A PAIR OF SUPERBIKE PODIUMS AT VIR
Hayden Jumps from 7th to 4th in MotoAmerica Superbike Standings aboard his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000
ALTON, VA – Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Roger Hayden worked hard to claw his way back into the championship picture this weekend in the MotoAmerica Superbike doubleheader in front of a big crowd at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). Hayden scored a strong pair of podium finishes. Meanwhile Superbike rookie Jake Lewis had a learning weekend at VIR scoring fifth in Race 1 before rebounding to improve to fourth in the second leg.
Under hot and humid conditions in Southern Virginia, Hayden raced his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a pair of podium finishes, including runner-up in Race 2, to jump all the way from seventh to fourth in the series standings. Lewis remains third in the series after three of nine MotoAmerica events.
Hayden kicked off the weekend qualifying on the front row with a time of 1:25.411. Lewis said he never got a clean lap during the short Superpole session and qualified seventh at 1:26.557.
“I would have liked to have been a little bit quicker,” Hayden admitted. “But personally I’m just struggling a little bit this weekend putting the whole track together. In one section I would be good and then kind of mess up the next one. So hopefully I can get it together tomorrow for 25 laps. The bike feels good; I’ve just got to be a little bit better. I look forward to racing.”
In a red-flag shortened Race 1 Hayden battled the leaders early before finishing third. In Race 2 he came back and ran with leader Josh Hayes in the first couple of laps, and then held off Cameron Beaubier in the end to take second. It marked Hayden’s best finish of the young season.
“I really want to thank my whole team,” Hayden said after the successful VIR weekend. “I really felt bad after Atlanta they had to go to North Carolina for three days and build me two bikes for this weekend. So I’m really appreciative to the whole Yoshimura crew. It was a tough race (referring to Race 2). Cameron was pushing me hard so I never really had the time to take a breather. Around lap 18 I picked up the pace to see if I could get a little bigger gap. It was a good race. I was glad to have a solid 25 laps and maybe at Road America we can be a little stronger.”
Lewis also felt more positive after a better run in Race 2.
“In the second race we made a few changes to the front end and had really good grip,” Lewis said of his nimble Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000. “It felt good and I was able to get up there with the front guys and see what I need to work on for the future. There’s definitely some work to do, but I’m happy with the way the day went and I’m looking forward to Road America in a couple of weeks.”
The VIR races will be nationally televised on May 24th on CBS Sports Network at 4:00 pm Eastern.
The Yoshimura Suzuki squad returns to action on May 29-31 at the scenic Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Check out www.motortrendondemand.com/live/ to watch the races live on May 31.
VIR AMA Superbike Race 1 Results:
1. Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
2. Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha)
3. Roger Hayden (Suzuki)
4. Danny Eslick (Honda)
5. Jake Lewis (Suzuki)
6. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki)
7. Bernat Martinez (Yamaha)
8. Stefano Mesa (Honda)
9. Elena Myers (Suzuki)
10. Mathew Orange (BMW)
VIR AMA Superbike Race 2 Results:
1. Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
2. Roger Hayden (Suzuki)
3. Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha)
4. Jake Lewis (Suzuki)
5. Danny Eslick (Honda)
6. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki)
7. Stefano Mesa (Honda)
8. Elena Myers (Suzuki)
9. Bernat Martinez (Yamaha)
2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship Points:
1. Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha), 131
2. Josh Hayes (Yamaha), 115
3. Jake Lewis (Suzuki), 84
4. Roger Hayden (Suzuki), 68
5. Bernat Martinez (Yamaha), 67
6. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki), 54
7. Elena Myers (Suzuki), 53
8. Stefano Mesa (Honda), 28
9. Danny Eslick (Honda, 24
10. Mathew Orange (BMW), 15
Team Yoshimura Suzuki is grateful for the support of their sponsors: Yoshimura R&D, Suzuki Motor of America, Motorex, Parts Unlimited, Dunlop, Shorai, Sunstar, K&N Performance Filters, NGK Spark Plugs, RK Racing Chain, Genmark Automation, Pilot, Chicken Hawk Racing and Zeta.
About Yoshimura R&D of America: Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com.
About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Outboard Motors and Automotive Parts and Accessories via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. SMAI’s supplier, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles and Outboard Motors. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has 147 distributors in 201 countries. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com
More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer PR:
CONSISTENT ANTHONY CHALLENGES FOR THE PODIUM IN VIRGINIA
M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki’s David Anthony underlined his status as a Supersport class frontrunner this weekend as the 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Championship brought the nation’s best road racers back to Virginia International Raceway for the first time in a half decade.
Following a pair of largely wet weekends to kick off the season, the weekend’s activities at VIR were instead soaked in sun. The upturn in conditions did nothing to upset Anthony’s outstanding early-season form, however, as the Australian continually ranked near the top of the charts.
Anthony put the M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki GSX-R600 second provisionally on Friday before locking down the fourth spot on the grid in final qualifying in Saturday. He then used that launching position to twice engage in hard-fought battles for podium positions, coming up a combined 0.203-second short of a earning a pair of top-3 results.
Saturday’s last-lap duel was decided by 0.200-second while Sunday’s was determined by a scant 0.003-second, as Anthony ultimately furthered his season-long run of top fives with two fourth-place results in Alton, Virginia. He now sits fourth in the standings with 66 points to his credit on the strength of a third, a fifth, and three fourths.
“Everything went really smooth right from the start of the weekend,” Anthony said. “I don’t think I even had to change a clicker on the suspension. All through practice and qualifying, we were up at the pointy end, so I knew we would be there in the races.
“In the first race, I fell a little bit back but was able to charge back up and just missed out on third. And on Sunday, it was another big battle. We went back-and-forth on the last lap, and there was some contact. We ended up just thousandths away from a podium again.”
The early-season success has Anthony seeking even loftier heights. “Going into the VIR weekend, it was the first time I honestly believed I could win, and the weekend only increased my confidence. We’re on the upswing and we’re looking to continue to build from here. Race wins are the goal this year.”
David Anthony and the M4 SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki crew will be back in action in two weeks as the 2015 MotoAmerica Championship will next head to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on May 29-31.
This year marks Team Hammer’s 35th consecutive season of operating as a professional road racing team. During that time, racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 59 AMA Pro National races, have finished on AMA Pro National podiums 137 times and have won five AMA Pro National Championships, (the most recent in 2012), as well as two FIM South American championships. The team has also won 133 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and won 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won the F-USA Championship four times.
More, from a press release issued by Team21Motosport:
McGraw Powersports Racing’s Elena Myers Continues to Improve at VIR
MCGRAW POWERSPORTS AND TEAM21MOTOSPORT HAPPY WITH ELENA MYERS AT VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
ATLANTA — McGraw Powersports and Team21Motosport Superbike racer, Elena Myers, is still on a very steep learning curve and this past weekend with MotoAmerica for round three at Virginia International Raceway was nothing short of that. Finishing ninth in race one, and eighth in race two, there is still room for improvement for the 21-year-old rookie, but Team21Motosport is happy with the progress thus far.
“Overall I’m very pleased with how the weekend went,” said Myers. “ We keep making progress and taking steps forward with both the motorcycle and team dynamics so I couldn’t be happier from the team owner perspective. On the riding side of things, I’m also quite pleased because with each session I improved and my progress never stopped. Of course I’d like to be a little further up in the pack but I’m taking a lot of valuable information from the weekend and applying it towards my training and preparations going into Road America.”
About Team21Motosport: Team21Motosport LLC was founded in 2015 by Elena Myers as a business for her racing team. Team21Motosport LLC is the operator of Elena Myers’ McGraw Powersports Racing GSX-R1000 and is based in Cartersville, Georgia.
More, from a press elease issued by Tuned Racing:
Tuned Racing Riders Improve Results at VIR
Tuned Racing riders came away from the MotoAmerica race at Virginia International Raceway with improved results. In Supersport, Corey Alexander is getting accustomed to his Tuned Racing Yamaha R6. “This weekend was another learning weekend for us being my first full dry weekend on an R6. We struggled initially with some bike set up problems. After sorting those issues out, we went a bit faster and ran into some more problems. My guys have been working hard to get me comfortable and acquainted with the new bike. I like the package overall, and I think once we get it sorted out we have a lot of potential to run up front with those guys up there. 10th and 9th place is definitely not where I want to be, but it’s progress. I’m looking forward to Road America and riding on a track I’m more familiar with. Big thanks to the Tuned Racing team, Tim and Ryan for working hard on the bike, and all of the sponsors that are getting me to the track. Special thanks to my Mom and Brother for surprising me this weekends, it means a lot to have good people around! “.
600 Superstock rider, Bryce Prince brought home the team’s best results with a pair of 4th Place finishes. “Heading in to VIR I was very excited having not ridden the track in a few years. I got an ok start in the Saturday race. I was in P6, and slowly worked my way forward up to 3rd. Halfway through the race, I got arm pump and my right hand went numb. I was not able to stay with 3rd, but was still able to salvage a 4th place finish. That night I found out that my gas cartridges had separated, explaining some of the odd handling features that I felt. Sunday morning warm up felt better but I was only able to do 6 laps before my hand went numb again. I was a little worried going into the race due to my hand, but the bike setup was a lot better. In race 2 I got a great start and was in 4th place with all of the leaders. One of them fell down and I was in a podium position. After lap 8 I had no feeling in my right hand. After missing the brake lever 2 times, another rider was able to catch and pass me. I tried everything I could to hang on but it just was not possible with my hand. Overall I am happy to come home with two 4th place finishes, but I’m disappointed because I know I could have done better. I have 2 weeks to see the doctor and hopefully get my hand sorted out before Road America, another track I truly enjoy.”
Tuned Racing’s other Superstock 600 rider, Jason Aguilar worked his way into the top 10 in the standings with a 6th place finish on Saturday and a 7th place finish on Sunday. “Pretty disappointed with how the weekend went. We had the pace to run much further up, but I made too many mistakes to make anything happen. Ended up coming away with a 6th & 7th which is definitely not what I want, but I’m happy to come away from this round with points. Looking forward to Road America. Thanks to my team and all my sponsors for their amazing support. We’ll get ‘em next round.”
Tuned Racing thanks all of its sponsors: Tuned Industries, Dunlop Motorcycle Road Racing Tires USA, EFSigns.com, PSR-USA, SBKPaint.com, Galfer Brakes, Arai, Dynojet, Big Gun Exhaust, SuperLite Sprockets, EK 3D Chains, SpeedAngle, FT ECU, Shorai Batteries, Torco Advanced Lubricants, Optimal Racing Bodywork, Fly Street, OFD Racing, Scott’s Plumbing, Lets Ride Trackdays, Motoyard.com, ACT Racing, and Solarmax Technology.
Corey Alexander thanks his personal sponsors: MJRS Freeman Racing, Defy All Odds Apparel, RideHVMC, Hudson Valley Racing, Arai Helmets, Spidi Leathers, XPD Boots, Boxed Water Is Better, Celtic Racing, Oakley, and Lapizta Watches.
Jason Aguilar thanks his personal sponsors: RS Taichi, Moto-Liberty, Scorpion USA, Sidi, and Impact Safe-T Armor.
More, from a press release issued by Marietta Motorsports:
Anne Roberts Keeps Lowering Lap Times in Superstock 600
Alton, VA — Anne Roberts’ positive attitude and hard work helped her overcome a lot of obstacles to finish well past her goals at MotoAmerica’s VIR round. “I didn’t know the weekend was going to turn out as good as it did when the very first thing that happened was my truck pulling the trailer went into ‘limp mode’ 30 miles from the track!” she recalled after the weekend. “We could only do 45 mph the rest of the way. I was on the phone ordering a new throttle position sensor from a store near the track while Huey (Anne’s mechanic Craig “Huey” Stewart) drove and kept us from getting killed by the 18 wheelers.” Roberts and crew arrived in plenty of time to repair the truck, get the bike teched and regroup for the weekend.
In the Bazzaz Superstock 600 class, aboard her Yamaha YZF-R6, Roberts’ lap times would drop with every session out. In only the first practice session she had quickly surpassed her fastest time at the course from a club race two years previous. Qualifying went just as smoothly until the last flying lap when a rider behind her crashed in the braking zone and his motorcycle collected her as she tipped into the fast turn 1. “I heard the tire squeal and next thing I know I’m flying through the air like Spider-Man looking down at my bike. I [communicated with the other rider], walked behind the tire wall and that’s when the pain started setting in. Turned out to be nothing more serious than a huge bruise on my hip but that nagged me the rest of the weekend.”
Race 1 was just a few hours after the qualifying session. Nearly every component on the left side of the Yamaha and all the bodywork needed to be replaced. Roberts rested and iced her hip in the trailer while Stewart repaired the bike. With mere minutes until tire-warmers had to be put on, the bike was rolled into hot pit! “Without Marietta Motorsports, not only wouldn’t I be in this series but there’s no way my bike would have ever made that race.” confided Roberts. “The guys and girls back at the shop get my bike and trailer ready during the week while I’m running my business then they handle everything for me at the races. One stop shop for sure!” Roberts rode very cautiously in race 1 due to her injury and even though she was still able to lower her lap times she could only manage a 23rd.
Sunday’s race 2 was truly a fresh start. Roberts recovered a lot from her crash and was chomping at the bit. “A lot of people had suggestions and everyone was helping with my lines. Even a corner worker I knew from WERA was giving me awesome tips! I’d really like to thank C. R. Gittere with Service Manager Pro! He raced AMA and knows a lot about VIR. When he was talking lines with me over the phone Saturday night it was like he had ridden there yesterday. I felt a lot more comfortable about how much the bike was moving around after talking to him.” Roberts got a great start and kept lowering her laptimes as she had done all weekend. She finished 19th and met her placement goal of being in “the teens”.
Anne Roberts Racing is tentatively planning for the Road America round and looks forward to learning a completely new track to her and meeting new fans of roadracing!
Anne Roberts Racing can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnneRobertsRacing
She proudly supports and is sponsored by: Marietta Motorsports, N2 Trackdays, Graves Motorsport, Motul, Belle Landscape, Yamaha Champions Riding School, Shoei, Highside Photo, Eberhart Creative, Galfer, Ballistik Apparel, Dunlop and The Color Spot.
Anne wishes to thank Craig ‘Huey’ Stewart, Celena Swift, John Risconsin, Chris Callaghan, John Ulrich, Chuck Graves, Keith Culver, C.R. Gittere, Stephen Tsotsoros, Shane Hobgood, Syrus DeJong and everyone that supports her online, in the pits and from the stands!
More, from a press release issued by Ben Young Racing:
A Pair of 7th Place Finishes for Young at VIRginia International Raceway
ALTON, VA – MAY 19, 2015 – Thornbury Ontario resident Ben Young piloted his #86 RoadRace Factory prepared Yamaha YZFR6 to two top 10 finishes in Supersport this past weekend at VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA at round three of the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Motorcycle Road Racing Championship .
It’s been five years since Young had raced at VIRginia International Raceway so he knew getting re-familiarized with the track’s intricacies and bike set up was paramount.
Young took to the 14-turn, 2.25-mile natural road course for the first time since 2010 for Friday’s free practice and quickly realized that the correct gearing choice was going to be crucial.
“The bike set up was okay but we needed to play with gearing and I found I wasn’t mentally ready as I knew I had to be.” said Young
Young hit the track for the first qualifying session with the new set up and was able to knock 4 seconds off of his time by the end of the session tentatively placing him 10th on the grid.
Saturday morning’s Supersport qualifying was the second class out on the track and it seemed no one was improving their times, however Young was able to earn 6th place in the session. With the combined results he would start the race from 8th on the grid.
In the first of the two Supersport races of the weekend Young did not get the start he had hoped for and was passed by a couple of riders before the first corner. Roadrace Factory teammate Tomas Puerta and Kyle Wyman began to increase the gap but Young was able to reel Wyman back in and pass him to eventually take 7th at the line.
Young got a better start in the second race of the weekend yet struggled on the long drive into corner one. He got passed Corey Alexander on the second lap and then by Kyle Wyman. The RoadRace Factory rider put his head down and began to close the gap on Wyman and then set his sights on teammate Cameron Petersen. Young was gaining almost 2 seconds a lap on Petersen and would eventually repeat his results from the day before with another solid 7th place finish.
“All I needed was half a lap more and I would have got 6th place!” said Young. “Both races were twenty-three long laps and very hot! I managed to put my fastest lap of the two races on my last lap of the weekend going after Cameron so I feel pretty well prepared physically to fight hard for the entire Supersport Championship season.”
After this past weekend’s results Young holds on to 5th overall in the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship standings.
MotoAmerica Round 3 from VIR will air on Sunday, May 24, at 4:00 PM EST with a replay later that day at 9:00 PM EST, and a second replay on Tuesday, May 26, at 10:00 AM EST.
For the complete MotoAmerica TV broadcast schedule on CBS Sports Network, please visit http://po.st/7z4js3 .
Young will be back in action when the MotoAmerica series heads to Barber Motorsports Park – Birmingham, Alabama, June 12-14, 2015.
Young is thankful for the support of the RoadRace Factory team‘s partners and is proud to represent his personal sponsors; Scot-Build Developments Inc., Tim Hortons (Sudbury), AXO America and Bell Helmets.
To connect with Ben Young visit: http://www.fogi.us , on Twitter: @bcyoung86, and on Facebook: http://www.fogi.us
To learn more about the RoadRace Factory team visit: www.facebook.com/RoadRaceFactory on twitter: @RoadRaceFactory and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RoadRaceFactory
Corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available with Ben Young, a team member of RoadRace Factory, one of the most visible and marketable teams in the MotoAmerica paddock. Contact: Scott at: benyoungracing @ hotmail.com or Mike at: motorsports @ infinetdesigns.com for more information.