HARLEY-DAVIDSON FACTORY RACER KYLE WYMAN WINS SUNDAY AND FINISHES SECOND SATURDAY AT MID-OHIO; RETAINS KING OF THE BAGGERS CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS LEAD
Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Racer Cory West Takes Over Super Hooligan Points Lead
MILWAUKEE (August 19, 2024) – Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing rider Kyle Wyman scored his sixth victory of the season and maintained his points lead in the MotoAmerica® Mission King Of The Baggers series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Aboard a race-prepared 2024 Road Glide® motorcycle, Wyman was the top qualifier and finished 2-1 in the double header race weekend. RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Rocco Landers placed third in both races to run his string of consecutive podium finishes to four.
“It was good get another win and keep the points lead,” said Wyman following the Sunday race, which was red flagged after four laps following an incident involving RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Hayden Gillim. “I thought we were going to have a battle with the Indian at the end today but I think we are due some luck so we’ll take it and carry our momentum to Circuit of The Americas.”
In the Mission Super Hooligan race series on Sunday, Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson rider Cory West took over the series points lead with a second-place finish in Race 1 and his third win of the season in Race 2 on a race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Pan America® 1250 Special motorcycle. Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson rider Jake Lewis scored his third win of the season in Race 1, beating West and KWR/Harley-Davidson rider Hayden Schultz to the finish for an all-Harley-Davidson podium.
On Saturday, Wyman led from the pole position and battled with Factory Indian rider Troy Herfoss for the lead in the early laps. Close behind was a fierce fight for third place between Harley-Davidson Factory Racing rider James Rispoli, and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammates Gillim and Landers. Wyman trailed Herfoss by 1.040 seconds at the finish. Landers claimed third place ahead of Gillim and Rispoli.
On Sunday the start was delayed by a brief rain shower and the race was shortened from 9 to 6 laps. Wyman led from the start, with Herfoss in close pursuit as the pair pulled away from Landers and Rispoli. On lap 4 Gillim lost control of his bike, which came to a stop on the racing surface causing the race to be stopped. The race was declared complete with Wyman 0.280 seconds ahead of Herfoss. Landers finished in third place and Rispoli was fourth.
“It was a great weekend for the H-D team all around,” said Rispoli. “Kyle did an amazing job keeping the points lead. We did a great job recovering from some lost time during the weekend. I felt comfortable in the race, and a podium was in the cards. Hayden’s incident and the red flag really scrapped that opportunity, but I hope he is OK. I can’t wait for COTA!”
After 14 of 18 rounds in the 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers series, Wyman has 282 points and a 14-point lead over Herfoss, with 268 points. Gillim is in third place with 189 points, followed by Factory Indian rider Tyler O’Hara with 182 points, Rispoli with 154 points, and Landers with 138 points.
After 8 of 10 rounds in the 2024 Mission Super Hooligan series, Team Saddlemen’s West leads with 147 points. S&S/Indian rider Tyler O’Hara is second with 143 points, followed by Lewis with 113 points and KWR/Harley-Davidson rider Cody Wyman with 105 points.
The Mission King Of The Baggers and the Mission Super Hooligan series return to action September 13-15 at Circuit of The Americas in Travis County, Texas.
The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing Road Glide® motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.
Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing is sponsored by Mission® Foods, Rockford Fosgate®, Brembo®, Öhlins®, Protolabs®, SYN3® lubricants, and Screamin’ Eagle® Performance Parts and Accessories.
MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Race Results – Mid-Ohio Race 1
- Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Kyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Rocco Landers (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- Hayden Gillim (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- James Rispoli (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Jake Lewis (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
- Larry Pegram (Ind) SDI/Roland Sands Racing/Indian Motorcycle
- Cory West (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
- Max Flinders (Ind) Mad Monkey Motorsports
- Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Race Results – Mid-Ohio Race 2
- Kyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Rocco Landers (H-D) RevZilla/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson
- James Rispoli (H-D) Harley-Davidson Factory Racing
- Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Jake Lewis (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
- Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
- Larry Pegram (Ind) SDI/Roland Sands Racing/Indian Motorcycle
- Cory West (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
- Max Flinders (Ind) Mad Monkey Motorsports
Mission Super Hooligan Race Results – Mid-Ohio Race 1 (Top 15)
- Jake Lewis (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
- Cory West (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
- Hayden Schultz (H-D) KWR/Harley-Davidson
- Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Cody Wyman (H-D) KWR/Harley-Davidson
- Dominic Doyle (YAM) Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing
- Stefano Mesa (ENE) Tytlers Cycle Racing
- Hawk Mazzotta (IND) Roland Sands Racing
- Kole King (TRI) King Performance
Mission Super Hooligan Race Results – Mid-Ohio Race 2 (Top 15)
- Cory West (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
- Tyler O’Hara (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Troy Herfoss (Ind) S&S/Indian Motorcycle
- Hayden Schultz (H-D) KWR/Harley-Davidson
- Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
- Jake Lewis (H-D) Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson
- Cody Wyman (H-D) KWR/Harley-Davidson
- Dominic Doyle (YAM) Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing
- Stefano Mesa (ENE) Tytlers Cycle Racing
- Hawk Mazzotta (IND) Roland Sands Racing
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Petersen Comes Back to Finish Eighth In Race 2 at Mid-Ohio
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Cameron Petersen and Jake Gagne score top 10 finishes on a tough weekend in Ohio
MARIETTA, Ga. – August 19, 2024 – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Cameron Petersen finished eighth as he returned to action for Sunday’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. It was a tough weekend for the team, with both riders feeling less than 100% with injuries. His teammate Jake Gagne also salvaged points, finishing 10th on the technical track.
Petersen had a big crash during Thursday’s Official Dunlop Test, adding an ankle injury to an already torn meniscus from training during the break. After being sidelined for Saturday’s opening race with another crash in the second qualifying session, he got the all-clear Sunday morning to race. Despite feeling less than 100%, the South African got a great start from the second row of the grid into fourth and was in fifth after the opening lap. Petersen was shuffled to seventh on Lap 5 and then continued to battle for position, ultimately finishing eighth to salvage some points on a tough weekend.
Gagne didn’t get the start he was hoping for in Race 2 and was seventh after the start. He was shuffled to eighth on the opening lap but continued to work on making his way forward on the technical track despite his lingering arm pump issues. Gagne passed his teammate on Lap 8 and maintained seventh for five laps, but ultimately would cross the line 10th to salvage some more points, leaving Ohio third in the point standings and tied with fellow Yamaha rider Bobby Fong.
The Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team returns to action next month for the penultimate round of the MotoAmerica season and a Superbike tripleheader at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, on September 13-15.
Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“It was not the results we were looking for. We’re moving on and will come back at COTA.”
Cameron Petersen – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #45
“It was a super rough weekend for the team and myself. Unfortunately, I had a big crash on Thursday that changed the outcome of the whole weekend, but a massive thank you to the team for the incredible work they did this weekend. We will get them at the next one.”
Jake Gagne – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #1
“It was another tough race today, continuing to deal with hand issues. The team and bike deserve stronger results, so we’ll get it sorted.”
2024 MotoAmerica Superbike Results
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars [sold, serviced, and distributed by Yamaha Golf-Car Company], Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, three corporate offices in Georgia, as well as facilities in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Florida. YMUS subsidiaries Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC), based in Georgia, and Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing U.S.A. (YJBM) based in Tennessee, each assemble and manufacture selected Yamaha brand products. YMUS owns Skeeter Boats [Texas] with its division G3 Boats [Missouri]. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. (YMSC) with subsidiary Siren Marine [Rhode Island] and divisions Bennett Marine [Florida], Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders [Wisconsin] and Yamaha Precision Propeller Inc. [Indiana].
Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA, dba Yamaha Financial Services, is an affiliate of Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA offering financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha Customers nationwide.
More, from a press release issued by Energica:
MINGLING AT MID-OHIO: SOLID PROGRESS BUILDING UP TO SEASON FINALE
The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course made a long awaited, perhaps surprising appearance with MotoAmerica, after a decade of absence from national motorcycle series competition. Only a handful of current MotoAmerica riders (or perhaps less) have ever raced on the narrow and technical, twisty 3.862mile Midwest racetrack, which has a long history of two- and four-wheeled racing dating back to 1962.
It is of no surprise then that there was a welcome reception for the fans and the locals, who flocked to the venue for a weekend of racing (and camping, as the course is famous for excellent camper facilities with great views and plentiful shade) with friends and family alike. Given their relatively short history in racing, neither Energica nor team Tytlers Cycle Racing had ever turned wheels at this circuit, so it was a bit of a step into the unknown.
Nevertheless, the team’s only rider for the Super Hooligan National Championship, Stefano Mesa, had a chance to get to grips with the track on Thursday, albeit on TCR’s Supersport machine, before jumping on the powerful Eva Ribelle RS KCC to begin the penultimate event of the season.
The results went as follows: Mesa was tenth in qualifying, eighth in Race One and then tenth again in Race Two. As much as these results mirror in many ways those achieved in Laguna Seca five weeks prior, the gap to the frontrunners is getting slimmer, albeit not enough to get in the mix – not this at least – for podium contention.
When a new track arrives with no prior testing, set-up and feeling have to be built as the weekend progresses, with very little room for experimentation. If we throw in the notorious unpredictability of Midwestern summer weather, chances are that track-time will be further reduced. Which it happened, of course, as due to torrential rain Qualifying 2 was really of no use, causing the Sunday warmup to be replaced by Race One as the latter had to be postponed due the impracticability of the track.
In what was a race for adaptation, the Eva Ribelle RS KCC proved to be more than capable of solid performance throughout, with top speed matching the frontrunners and Mesa able to improve by one second his fastest race time across the two encounters (which ended up being separated by merely two hours).
By quoting a classic of the movie industry: ‘It could be worse, it could be raining’. Luckily it didn’t happen today, so we did get to race.
Time to pack and get ready for the Circuit of The Americas. (September 13-15).
Click on the links to re-watch the two Super Hooligans races at Mid-Ohio on YouTube: Race 1 – Race 2
More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA, LLC:
VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI RACER TY SCOTT FIGHTS FOR THE WIN, EARNS SECOND AT MID-OHIO
Brea, CA, (August 19, 2024) — Suzuki Motor USA (Suzuki) and Team Hammer tackled the undulating corners of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the first time in a decade with the MotoAmerica tour bringing the nation’s top motorcycle racers back to the iconic track last raced at in 2014.
Race Highlights
- Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
- Supersport
- Tyler Scott returned to the podium with a strong second on Sunday.
- Teagg Hobbs charged to fifth in Saturday’s wild Race 1.
- Joel Ohman improved several positions from Saturday to Sunday.
- Superbike
- Richie Escalante impressed with his speed and grit in his return despite still fighting his way back to full health.
- Brandon Paasch again teased his podium potential with a strong qualifying performance despite his final results falling short of that promise.
- Supersport
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki racer Tyler Scott (70) closed out what had been a dramatic weekend of inclement weather and delays in a straight fight for victory in Sunday’s MotoAmerica Supersport contest. Sunday’s dry conditions came as a relief after a protracted Saturday of changeable conditions resulted in a hard-earned sixth. Finally able to again show his true potential on the next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750, Scott led several laps and battled for victory to the flag, ultimately finishing in second just 0.160 seconds off the win.
“We had a result we liked today and ended an up-and-down weekend the way we wanted,” Scott said. “My Suzuki was really strong, and over the last ten days – with testing and this weekend’s racing – we saw some fantastic improvements. The GSX-R750 felt amazing. We have made great progress. But this weekend, I crashed on Thursday, and it basically cost the team two sessions. We were playing catch-up, then got into a mixed conditions race on Saturday where the setup choices were not that clear. We did okay, then made big changes for today and the front end setup was what I wanted. I felt we were very competitive, and getting second at a new track for us is a great reward. I am excited about the next races because we are heading forward.”
While most riders were mired in Saturday’s chaos, Teagg Hobbs (79) used it as a ladder. With riders opting for contrasting tire strategies as the track’s surface changed from dry to wet to dry, Hobbs charged his way up from 15th to end the day inside the top five, finishing one position ahead of teammate Scott in fifth. However, Sunday was not quite as kind as Hobbs came home 14th in the rematch.
Hobbs said, “We went with the right tire choice and had a strong bike for those conditions. We needed the top-five result, and it was great to get it. Sunday did not go as well. We had a crash on the first lap of the warm-up, and it seems we have had bad luck all year. We’re working hard on getting a solid direction to put us back up front.”
The team’s third Supersport pilot, Joel Ohman (92), used the weekend as another opportunity to gain valuable race experience and confirmed his ability to convert that opportunity into results, improving several positions from Saturday to Sunday.
“It was an eventful weekend for us,” Ohman said. “In the end, I learned a lot. It was also good to have Richie Escalante back. Saturday was pretty challenging. A bike blew up in front of me, and I was covered in his oil, including my visor so I couldn’t see very well at the beginning of the race. Then I had rain tires on, but as the track dried, it made for a race where I felt I could lose either end of the bike as the track became completely dry. Sunday was also challenging, with a change to the bike that helped one area but hurt us in another. Still, we were able to pick up some positions, and improved on our starting position. We changed up our debrief, and now we have all three SuperSport riders debriefing together instead of individually. I felt I learned a lot from Teagg and Ty.”
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike rider Richie Escalante (54) made his long-awaited return to action after suffering a left wrist fracture, left ankle fracture, and compression fracture of the L1, L2, and L4 vertebrae in the MotoAmerica Superbike opener at Road Atlanta in April. Still fighting his way back to full health and fitness, Escalante was unfortunate to suffer an early race fall in his race return on Saturday. Undaunted, Escalante was back in the fight on Sunday, executing a last-lap pass aboard his GSX-R1000R to secure seventh position at the checkered flag.
“I am super happy to be racing again,” said Escalante. “The doctor cleared me last week. I am recovered from the injuries but not quite up to my normal fitness because I haven’t been able to run my normal training. I felt that a little this weekend. I was unable to be as aggressive as I need to be to fight for the podium. Still, I am happy to be back out there competing, I really missed the speed, my GSX-R, and working with the team. Thanks to the team, Suzuki, and our sponsors for being patient while I recuperated. It was awesome to be back. On Saturday, I made a mistake and crashed, which is easy to do when you haven’t been on the bike for a while. Today, I wanted to finish with a good result we would build on going forward. I felt we earned that. I’ll be ready to push harder for the next one. We improved our lap times all weekend at a new track for me, so we are going in the right direction.”
Brandon Paasch (96) endured a repeat of his previous round’s efforts at Laguna Seca. At Mid-Ohio, Paasch earned a second-row grid position but was unable to capitalize on his speed and grid slot due to an opening-lap crash suffered while jockeying for position near the front on Saturday; and then encountering an issue on Sunday. Paasch was ultimately credited with 18th after coming into the pits and returning to the race a couple laps down.
Paasch said, “It was a mixed weekend for me, with some good sessions followed up with tough races. We matched our best qualifying, but I crashed on the first lap trying to make a pass. I hit some mud on the track and high-sided to the moon. I banged up my ankle, which was numb Sunday and I had to wear an oversize boot because of the swelling. I couldn’t feel what my brake lever was doing and locked it up a couple of times. I pulled into the pits to make sure it wasn’t oil or a mechanical issue. Everything was clear, so I went back out and got some laps in.”
The 2024 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship will head to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, for its penultimate round on September 13-15.
For Suzuki road racing news, results, and team updates, visit suzukicycles.com/racing/road-racing. For more information and updates on Team Hammer, visit teamhammer.com.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2024 season marks Team Hammer’s 44th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won over 130 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 370 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 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 four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
More, from a press release issued by American Motorcyclist Association (AMA):
MotoAmerica Makes Successful Return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Fan-favorite track delivers big crowd and action-packed racing
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association congratulates MotoAmerica on a triumphant return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, after a 10-year absence from the iconic track. MotoAmerica, home of the AMA Superbike Championship, visited Mid-Ohio for its eighth round of the 2024 season.
“It has been a long time coming but worth the wait to welcome the AMA Superbike Championship back to the flowing curves of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “The weekend wasn’t without some challenges from Mother Nature, but the MotoAmerica team, supported by the Mid-Ohio track crew, were decisive and flexible, squeezing in as much racing action as possible.”
Race officials and track personnel battled volatile weather on both Saturday and Sunday but successfully completed the program. The hard work and quick planning allowed for a full slate of racing, rewarding fans with two championships and memorable moments on the newly paved road-race course.
In the premier Steel Commander Superbike class, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin had a perfect weekend, with a clean sweep of the class doubleheader. While his first race was a runaway, the second offered some of the most exciting racing action of the weekend, with a full race battle with Sean Dylan Kelly and Cameron Beaubier, both on BMWs.
Two support class championships were decided on Sunday. Mikayla Moore wrapped up the 2024 Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. title with her seventh win of the season, and Matthew Chapin locked down the 2024 Junior Cup Championship on his BARTCON Racing Kawasaki with the double-header sweep.
The titles also are notable because both young riders have been selected to represent North America at the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Intercontinental Games on Nov. 30-Dec. 1 in Jerez, Spain. Teams from all six of the FIM Continental Unions of Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Latin America and Oceania will compete for world bragging rights at the two-day event.
“Congratulations to Mikalya and Chapin for outstanding seasons,” said Dingman, who presented Moore with her AMA No. 1 plate. “Their performances this year have been impressive, and both Mikalya and Matt will represent us well on the international stage in Jerez.”
The Supersport class saw a split in wins, with Rahal Ducati’s PJ Jacobsen winning on Saturday and Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz finishing out front on Sunday with his seventh win of the year.
Saturday’s Supersport race likely will be remembered by Mid-Ohio fans for the rider who crossed the line in third behind Jacobsen and second-place finisher Scholtz: veteran AMA racer and Ohio native Larry Pegram. With the race starting in the wet, the 51-year old, riding a Suzuki for TopPro Racing, led the race on rain tires for several laps before fading slightly. It was his first AMA podium finish since 2014 in the AMA Superbike class at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
In the Mission Super Hooligan class, Saddlemen Racing/Harley Davidson’s Jake Lewis easily won the first race, with Lewis’s teammate Cory West winning by just 0.105 of a second over S&S/Indian Motorcycles Tyler O’Hara in the second contest.
In King Of The Baggers, the two riders at the top of the points standings, Harley-Davidson’s Kyle Wyman and Indian Motorcycle’s Troy Herfoss split wins.
MotoAmerica resumes its season on Sept. 13-15 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. For racing and ticket information, see MotoAmerica.com.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:
Podiums for Cam and JD as Mesa makes the top six on MotoAmerica’s Mid-Ohio return
MotoAmerica made its first appearance at the 2.4-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this past weekend and the Tytlers Cycle Racing team were in the mix once again.
On track in Superbike, Supersport and Super Hooligans the team’s riders Cameron Beaubier, JD Beach and Stefano Mesa were at the sharp end of their respective racing categories and from the opening practice sessions on Thursday they remained competitive throughout.
Happy to be back at Mid-Ohio, Cameron Beaubier was the man to beat from the off, the #6 topping several practice sessions before claiming Pole Position by 0.122s aboard his BMW M1000 RR.
Race one was cut short by three laps following a rain shower and a wet weather familiarisation session that was held prior to lights out. When the race did get going Cameron was once again at the front, running strongly but unable to match the pace of the leader. He took second at the flag. Sunday’s race ran the full distance of nineteen laps with Cameron once again in contention for the podium but once again unable to produce the pace he had in qualifying due to grip issues outside of his control. He sits fourth overall in the championship standings, sixty points adrift of the current leader, ahead of the penultimate round of the series at COTA and the season finale in New Jersey.
On the other side of the Superbike garage JD Beach had his best event of the season so far. He made the most of the opening laps in Saturday’s shortened sixteen lap encounter after qualifying seventh. Holding third in the early stages he was pushed back to fourth, before moving back into P3 with just a couple of laps to go following a Loris Baz crash. JD was understandably elated as he crossed the line to secure his second podium finish of the season. He finished an equally impressive sixth in Sunday’s race. He sits eighth overall in the points.
A sixth and seventh place finish in Supersport were the rewards for Stefano Mesa’s efforts across the weekend, the Kawasaki mounted rider running consistently. Ninth on the grid, Mesa, along with the entire field were unable to improve their times on Saturday morning and then, as in Superbike, the #37 took to the track in an extra wet weather familiarisation session.
Mesa was also on track aboard the Energica electric bike in the Super Hooligans category. Both races took place on Sunday after Saturday’s rainfall. Stefano achieved eighth and ninth place finishes in the weekend’s two encounters.
Cameron Beaubier: “It was nice to race at Mid-Ohio again. It’s a fun track and it was pretty cool to see how packed with fans the place was for the first year back. We had great pace all week, but the races were a different story with some struggles. All in all, two podiums are nice, and I want to say a big thanks to the team for all their hard work. It’s not over until it’s over and I am looking forward to lining up at COTA again.”
JD Beach: “It was nice to get back on the road race bike after the season break, we had. Going back to Mid-Ohio after ten years was really cool. Luckily, we had a tyre test on Thursday before the race weekend got started which gave us a day to work through some parts and pieces that we have been wanting to try but haven’t had a chance to during a race weekend. I feel like we made some improvements with the bike Thursday and Friday. Then I gave the team a bit of extra work when I threw the bike down Saturday morning in qualifying before Race 1. They worked their magic as always and had the bike fixed back up and ready to go for the race. The track conditions were a bit tricky with off and on rain during the day, but with the improvements the crew made to the bike I felt good from the start. We were able to have a little battle with my teammate Cam and got to follow him for a quite a few laps and learn some stuff. Taking another podium was a big reward I could give them team. Race two was a bit of a struggle from the start with rear grip. It was weird, from the start I couldn’t get the BMW horsepower to the ground, but we were able to snag a sixth. I still feel like that’s an improvement from our mid-season form. We have another couple of weeks off and then it’s time for COTA.”
Stefano Mesa: “It was good to be back at Mid-Ohio after so many years and to see all the fans that came out to this place. We had double duty again on the Supersport and Hooligan. Supersport race one got delayed after a red flag for weather. The race got pushed to the end of the day and by this point we had a drying track, and we had to make a tyre decision. The team ended up going with slicks. The first few laps were still a bit too wet but by the end of the race we found some good pace and had a good race. In race two we had a red flag come out which helped us since we didn’t get a good start. After the restart we got to work and made up a few spots to end P6. The Hooligan weekend was positive with a lot of data gained to keep improving the bike. The weather didn’t let us race on Saturday, so they moved both races to Sunday. Race one was good. We had a good start and had some good battles. The boys had to change the battery in less than two hours so we could make race two and they got it done in time! Race two was a bit better. We made a good start, and I was able to go with the front group for a few laps found my best lap of the weekend in the race. Thanks to the Tytlers and Energica boys for a good weekend on both bikes.”
