MotoAmerica kicked off its third season running America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, the 2017 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series, by hosting a livery reveal party Monday night at the Container Bar, a nightclub in Austin, Texas.
The reveal was held on the eve of the official MotoAmerica test at Circuit of The Americas, which will be held March 28-29 at the same venue that will host the 2017 season-opening races April 20-23. The test is open to the public free of charge.
The livery reveal, which attracted an estimated 200 people, was hosted by veteran race announcer Jonathan Green and Hannah Lopa, Miss New York USA 2017 and beIN SPORTS’ new MotoAmerica pit lane reporter.
Teams and riders who participated in the reveal ceremony included (in the order they were introduced): Yamalube/Westby Racing Mathew Scholtz, TOBC racing Yamaha’s Danny Eslick and Anthony Kosinski, M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Valentin Debise and Jake Lewis, M4 medAge Suzuki’s Nick McFadden, M4 The 22 Project Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch, Fly Street Motul ADR Motorsports’ David Anthony and Cameron Petersen, Wheels in Motion Western Service Meen Motorsports’ Josh Herrin and Bryce Prince, Kyle Wyman Racing/Lucas Oil’s Kyle Wyman, Broaster Genuine Chicken Honda’s Jake Gagne, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Toni Elias and Roger Hayden, Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Services/Yamalube/Graves Yamaha’s Garrett Gerloff, and Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha’s Cameron Beaubier.
A total of 43 riders are expected to participate in the two-day MotoAmerica test at COTA, including Sylvain Barrier, the 28-year-old Frenchman and two-time (2012-2013) FIM Superstock 1000 Champion. Barrier will ride a Hayes Brakes/Steve Scheibe Racing BMW S1000RR in the Superbike class.
More, from a press release issued by Yoshimura Suzuki:
YOSHIMURA SUZUKI UNVEILS 2017 SUPERBIKE LIVERY IN AUSTIN
Suzuki GSX-R1000 Colors Closely Align with those of Suzuki MotoGP
Chino, CA (March 28, 2017) – Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing unveiled the new racing livery of the 2017 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike and race team the day before the upcoming pre-season test at the Circuit of The Americas. On Monday evening, March 27, the team was part of the MotoAmerica 2017 unveiling at the Container Bar in downtown Austin.
On hand were Roger Hayden and Toni Elias, as well as members of the Yoshimura Suzuki race team. It was a great opportunity for enthusiasts to see up close, the newly-redesigned 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000. The newest generation of the iconic machine is certain to add to the rich legacy of the GSX-R line of sporting motorcycles.
Yoshimura Suzuki was thrilled to be able to make this public presentation of its new Superbike.
“We were excited to have the opportunity to present to the public for the first time our new 2017 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbikes,” said Don Sakakura, Senior Vice President of Yoshimura R&D of America. “This color scheme is new and striking, but in keeping with the long tradition of Suzuki road racing machines. As excited as we are about the new livery, we’re even more thrilled with the new generation of GSX-R1000.
“With the new GSX-R1000, Suzuki has delivered us a high-technology, high-performance motorcycle platform to start with. It gives the best of both worlds – with the characteristics of the engine, the suspension, and the balance of the chassis – it’s going to give our riders maximum confidence. Ultimately we believe that this will produce great results.”
Overwhelmingly positive early reports of the new GSX-R1000 have sportbike enthusiasts eager to swing a leg over the improved machine.
“Suzuki engineers packed major innovations into the new GSX-R1000,” explained Kerry Graeber, Suzuki Motor of America’s Vice President MC/ATV Sales and Marketing. “The result is a motorcycle worthy of our racing DNA. The Suzuki GSX-R line has been the most dominant sportbike of its era and we believe this new motorcycle will keep Suzuki on the cutting edge of technology. We have high expectations for this motorcycle – both on the race track as well as the showroom floor.”
This season marks the 41st year of MotoAmerica’s Superbike Championship. Yoshimura Suzuki is proud to have been part of the history of this championship from its inception. The Suzuki GSX-R line is the leader in nearly every category throughout the decades-long tradition of America’s premier road racing series.
The edgy and clean GSX-R styling incorporates fairing and bodywork details aimed at reducing turbulence and drag. The new livery should allow fans and TV viewers to instantly distinguish the bikes as Suzuki.
The 2017 MotoAmerica season kicks off at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas on April 20-23, 2017.
You can keep up with the team’s progress by visiting www.yoshimura-racing.com and www.yoshimura-racing.com and via YouTube at www.yoshimura-racing.com.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Yamaha Unveils 2017 Race Bikes And Riders At MotoAmerica Livery Reveal Party
Cypress, CA – March 28, 2017 – Monday night, on the eve of the MotoAmerica Preseason Test powered by Dunlop Motorcycle Tires at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX, Yamaha’s bLU cRU teams and riders participated in the MotoAmerica Livery Reveal Party at Container Bar in Austin.
The #1 Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing YZF-R1 Superbike and its rider, two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier, along with the brand-new-for-2017 #1 Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6 and defending MotoAmerica Supersport rider Garrett Gerloff, appeared on stage for the crescendo of the evening. Cameron and Garrett pulled the covers off their 2017 machines, to the sound and flash of the media’s and fans’ cameras capturing the moment.
“It was a cool way to kick off the season,” commented Cameron. “I’m so proud to have that #1 on my R1 Superbike for the second year in a row, and it was a fun night with the fans.”
Texan Garrett agreed. “I don’t live far from Austin, and to be able to start the season close to home, while getting to show off my brand-new #1 R6, was icing on the cake.
Cameron and Garrett, as well as their teammates Josh Hayes and JD Beach, will be looking to lay down some fast laps at COTA on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Yamaha’s bLU cRU teams and riders will return to COTA on April 20-23 for the opening round of the 2017 MotoAmerica road racing season, held in conjunction with the Grand Prix of The Americas MotoGP weekend.