Another Stroud On His Way to Race in the USA
Quarterley Racing On Track Development is proud to host Jacob Stroud, eldest son of well-known international racer Andrew Stroud, for the remaining rounds of the 2019 MotoAmerica series beginning at Sonoma. Jacob will be riding with teammates Dallas Daniels, Jamie Astudillo, Teagg Hobbs and Ben Gloddy in the LIQUI MOLY Junior Cup series aboard a Dale Quarterley-prepared Kawasaki Ninja 400. Jacob is looking forward to matching his skills against the top riders in MotoAmerica and getting a chance to race halfway around the world in the interest of gaining some International experience. A wild card ride has been in discussion for quite some time and has now come to reality as a four race deal for the young rider with the help of Kiwi Classic Moto of New Zealand who ware kind enough to host Jamie in several events in New Zealand back in January of this year.
As the son of nine-time New Zealand Superbike Champion Andrew Stroud, Jacob has spent his entire life going to motorcycle races. Andrew also raced in the U.S., winning the American Motorcyclist Association Battle of the Twins races on the iconic Britten V1000 four years in a row starting in 1994. In 1995, Andrew won the inaugural World British European American Racing Series, adding to his racing resume that includes 41 World Superbike races, 20 FIM 500 GP races, four Suzuka 8 Hour races, one Isle of Man race and three 24 Hour World Endurance races. So it might have been surprising if at least one of Andrew’s children did not end up racing.
The eldest of ten children (you read that correctly), Jacob got his first motorcycle when he was four and got his first road bike, a Suzuki RG50, when he was eleven, which he raced on go kart tracks.
“I always thought I’d want to be a racer, but when I got my first road bike, it was a reconfirmation of what I wanted to do. It was exactly what I thought it would be. I was in love with racing before I even started riding. My first race weekend they had to hold up the bike on the grid because I couldn’t touch the ground. ”
Jacob won his first championship in the F3 Superlight class, which is open to 650cc twins and 450cc triples. He then took a year off from racing after injuring his knee. Jacob won the Superlight title again the following year.
Over the 2018/2019 racing season, Jacob competed in the Carl Cox Motorsport Cup, a series that has been running for seven years and pits up to 40 racers against each other on completely unmodified Kawasaki Ninja 400s. “You can’t touch them; they’re completely standard.” Jacob got the pole at every event except one and went on to win every race. “I really learned my racecraft through that championship. Without the Carl Cox championship I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today. It’s the only 400cc championship we have in New Zealand.”
Jacob also won the 300cc Supersport Championship this year on a KTM RC390. “It’s a really competitive class. There are some top guys who are Superbike champions who race in it just because it’s so much fun. I was also able to win the Superlight title again, and winning two titles in one year hasn’t been done in something like 40 years. I don’t think my dad has even done that.”
Earlier this year Quarterley Racing On Track Development team co-owner Bob Robbins accompanied rider Jamie Astudillo and her family to the New Zealand Classic Motorcycle Road Racing Festival along with several other events. Jacob’s father Andrew had ridden on a bike owned by Bob so the introduction to Jacob came easily. “I live just down the road from the Festival. I was riding in pretty good form and Bob pitched the idea of me coming Kto the U.S. to race.” It didn’t take long for Jacob to accept the invitation.
Quarterley Racing On Track Development sponsors for 2019 include Inter-Tech Supplies, Fast By Ferracci, Inc, Yoshimura Research & Development of America, Inc., Wiseco Powersports, Motul USA., Regina Chain, BrakeTech USA, Inc., Ferodo Racing, Matt & Jesse, Scott Powersports, Inc., Defiance Lifestyle, Woodcraft Technologies, Dynojet Research Inc., Beta Tools of Italy – USA, RoadracingWorld.com, Drippinwet.com, MOTO-D Racing, Fast Bike Industries, VAN DYK Recycling Solutions, Earl’s Racing Team and Kiwi Classic Moto