Cameron Beaubier, riding his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, destroyed the All-Time Lap Record during MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Qualifying One (Q1) Friday at Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Riding on Dunlop’s new Sportmax Slicks on the repaved 4.0-mile course, Beaubier did a 2:09.629, which was significantly faster than Jake Gagne’s 2021 All-Time Lap Record of 2:10.529.
Beaubier’s teammate PJ Jacobsen was second-best and also under the old lap record with a time of 2:10.469.
Josh Herrin was third-quickest with a 2:11.656, which was a slight improvement over the 2:11.802 he did on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 R in Free Practice One (FP1).
Richie Escalante also improved during Q1, lowering his lap time from 2:12.034 in FP1 to 2:11.839 on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R, ranking him fourth again.
Mathew Scholtz rounded out the top five in Q1 with a 2:12.226 on his Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R1.
Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha’s Jake Gagne and Cameron Petersen sat out Q1 due to technical problems with their machines that could not be fixed prior to Q1.
Josh Hayes also sat out Q1 and said during an interview that his role as a potential fill-in for injured Petersen was no longer needed.
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
Beaubier Blitzes Lap Record At Road America
Cameron Beaubier And His BMW Unstoppable On Friday In Wisconsin
ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 2, 2023) – With Road America newly repaved, it was a given that Jake Gagne’s MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike lap record from 2021 would be bettered at some point this weekend. Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier didn’t wait that long as he completely obliterated the lap record with his 2:09.629 just under a full second quicker than the previous record on Friday afternoon.
Beaubier’s best came on his ninth lap of Q1, and it earned him provisional pole for the weekend’s two Medallia Superbike races. Beaubier also made it clear that he and his BMW M 1000 RR are the combination to beat on the fast and flowing four-mile racetrack. To further emphasize just how good the BMW was working, Beaubier’s teammate PJ Jacobsen was also under the lap record of 2:10.529 with his 2:10.296 putting him second on the provisional front row. Despite sitting out a lot of Q1, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin ended up third fastest with his 2:11.656.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante was fourth fastest with Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz rounding out the top five.
So where was Medallia Superbike Championship points leader Jake Gagne and his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha racing teammate Cameron Petersen? In street clothes and under the team’s awning along with their stripped down YZF-R1s as the team encountered mechanical issues in the first practice session on Friday morning. Four-time AMA Superbike Josh Hayes also took part on a third YZF-R1 on Friday morning, but he also didn’t take part as Petersen and his injured right wrist only got two laps of practice before his bike failed him, Apparently it was enough to show him that his wrist was race-ready, though.
The two Yamahas will try to improve their position tomorrow morning in Q2.
Steel Commander Stock 1000 – Beaubier The Younger
Like his older brother Cameron, Orange Cat Racing’s Ezra Beaubier was the class of his class on Friday at Road America as he topped the Steel Commander Stock 1000 Q1 session to earn provisional pole position.
Beaubier’s best was 2:14.311, which was .392 of a second faster than Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman and 1.4 seconds faster than Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim. Beaubier’s teammate Kaleb De Keyrel and Nielsen Racing’s Justin Miest rounded out the top five.
Junior Cup – Dreher Again
Bad Boys Racing’s Junior Cup Championship leader Avery Dreher put his Kawasaki Ninja 400 on the provisional pole position with a best lap of 2:39.366 around of the four-mile Road America which was .795 of a second quicker than Bicknese Racing’s Hayden Bicknese with SportbikeTrackGear.com’s Max Van ending the session third fastest.
Supersport – Mesa On Top
Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa bested undefeated Xavi Fores and his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2 by .619 of a second to take provisional pole position for Saturday’s and Sunday’s two Supersport races at Road America.
Mesa did his 2:18.732 on his fifth lap to best Fores, the winner of the first three MotoAmerica Supersport races of the season.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Teagg Hobbs was third fastest with Michael Gilbert Racing’s Michael Gilbert fourth and the last rider within a second of Mesa. Squid Hunter Racing’s Josh Hayes completed the top five.
Mission King Of The Baggers – Fast Fong Flies
We sometimes forget that Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands/Indian’s Bobby Fong has won a Superbike race at Road America so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that so far Fong is the fastest of the Mission King Of The Baggers.
Fong ripped off a 2:20.817 on his sixth lap, and he was the only rider to crack into the 2:20s as he bested Indian Motorcycle/Progressive/Mission Foods’ Tyler O’Hara by .497 of a second. Vance & Hines /Mission/Harley-Davidson’s James Rispoli rounded out the top three to fill the provisional front row.
Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. – Newbie Moore Fastest
Mikayla Moore is new to the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program but she certainly didn’t look like a rookie as she dominated Q1 on Friday afternoon.
Moore lapped at a best of 2:56.629 to end the session a full four seconds faster than last year’s series champion Kayleigh Buyck at Road America. Crystal Martinez, another returnee from the 2022 season, ended the session third fastest.
Superbike Q1 Results
1. Cameron Beaubier (BMW) 2:09.629
2. PJ Jacobsen (BMW) 2:10.296
3. Josh Herrin (Ducati) 2:11.656
4. Richie Escalante (Suzuki) 2:11.839
5. Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 2:12.226
6. Corey Alexander (BMW) 2:12.928
7. David Anthony (Yamaha) 2:13.264
8. Hayden Gillim (Suzuki) 2:13.733
9. Toni Elias (Suzuki) 2:13.923
10. Benjamin Smith (Yamaha) 2:15.494
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati’s Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés On Pace During Day 1 at Road America MotoAmerica
Sunnyvale, Calif., June 2, 2023 — Under endless sunshine at the newly paved Road America in Wisconsin, the Warhorse HSBK Ducati NYC duo of Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés performed well ahead of this weekend’s round 3 of action in the 2023 MotoAmerica Championship.
In the Superbike class, Herrin piloted his Ducati Panigale V4 R to the third quickest time behind leader BMW’s Cameron Beaubier. Herrin, took a pair of sixths at Barber Motorsports Park two weeks ago, posted a 2:11.656 during the five laps he rode during Friday’s qualifying 1, improving his 2:11.802 during practice.
After leading the opening practice at the 4-mile circuit aboard his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V2, the MotoAmerica Supersport points leader Forés settled for second with a best lap of 2:19.351, 0.619 of a second behind the leader, Kawasaki’s Stefano Mesa. After 12 laps, Forés was also quicker than his Friday practice time of 2:19.343.
Superbike Qualifying 1 Results – Top 5
P1 – Cameron Beaubier (BMW) 2:09.629
P2 – PJ Jacobsen (BMW) 2:10.296
P3 – Josh Herrin (Ducati) 2:11.656
P4 – Richie Escalante (Suzuki) 2:11.839
P5 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 2:12.226
Supersport Qualifying 1 Results – Top 5
P1 – Stefano Mesa (Kawasaki) 2:18.732
P2 – Xavi Forés (Ducati) 2:19.351
P3 – Teagg Hobbs (Suzuki) 2:19.370
P4 – Michael Gilbert (Suzuki) 2:19.669
P5 – Joshua Hayes ( Yamaha) 2:19.748
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – #2)
“We had a good day during the opening qualifying session, ending up in position three. Overall, I felt really comfortable, especially due to that smooth new asphalt at Road America. We didn’t show our speed today, but it’ll come.” Herrin said. “As for the fans, there’s more here than I ever remember from the last 18 years of racing here. This excites the team and me, and I’m really looking forward to the opening race tomorrow, looking to place this Panigale V4 R where it belongs—on the podium!”
Xavi Forés (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – #12)
It was my very first time on this track, but I felt strong all around, especially on the straightaways. I was leading the qualifying session for a while, but I didn’t want to burn through my qualifying tires, wanting to save some of them for tomorrow’s Q2. Regardless, my race pace is quite strong here, and hopefully tomorrow, we can fight for the win. I’m looking forward to bringing Ducati and its Panigale V2 another victory here in the States.”
The racing action for round three of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will kick off with race one tomorrow, Saturday, June 3, at 3:10 p.m. CDT. The Supersport Long Race is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. CDT.
