Yoshimura Suzuki’s Roger Hayden and Toni Elias on the Podium in New Jersey
Strong Finish for the Team in Rainy Conditions
Millville, NJ — News Jersey Motorsports Park was drenched under the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon, yet in spite of soaking conditions Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Roger Hayden and Toni Elias both earned rostrum finishes in Sunday’s MotoAmerica Superbike race two.
Hayden ran a steady race two on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike and finished runner up, earning his best result of the season. Elias made a come-from-behind charge running fifth in the early going, before rallying to finish third. It was a strong turnaround after Saturday’s rain race in New Jersey that saw Hayden finishing fourth and Elias crashing while trying to move up from third.
The 2018 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship was clinched by Cameron Beaubier after winning Sunday’s race. Both Elias and Hayden congratulated Beaubier for his and his team’s excellent season. Going into the final round Elias remains second in the standings, while Hayden’s solid weekend moved him up to seventh.
“For me it was a great weekend,” said Hayden, who also qualified second in Superpole.”I took fourth yesterday, but didn’t really feel that comfortable on the bike. The team made some changes overnight and today my bike was a lot better. The track was slicker and more treacherous today, but we managed to finish second. I’m pretty excited because I haven’t been on the podium in awhile and it’s great, especially for my guys.
“I’m looking forward to Barber. It’s my last race and tons of people from home are coming so I can’t wait.”
For Elias, his last hope of trying to chase down Beaubier in this year’s championship came to an end, but the 2017 MotoAmerica Champion is optimistic about winning back the No. 1 plate next season.
“I want to congratulate Cameron for a great season,” Elias said. “We had some great battles this year and he and his team really stepped up their level. I gave it my best to try to keep the championship alive yesterday. I was trying to gain another position to earn back more points on Cameron when I pushed too hard and crashed.Today we came back to the podium and it was great to be up there with Roger.
“Now we will try to finish strong in the final race at Barber and then prepare to come back stronger than ever next season. I have a great team behind me and we will all be very motivated to try to win back this championship next year.”
The 2018 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship wraps up with the final event in two weeks at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 21-23.
More, from a press release issued by Yamalube/Westby Racing:
New Jersey Rains On Mathew Scholtz’s Birthday Party In MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2
Millville, NJ – Sunday was Mathew Scholtz’s 26th birthday, and he was excited to spend it at one his favorite places—in the saddle of his #11 Yamalube/Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike. He started from the pole in the afternoon’s rain-shortened 18-lap feature event, with track conditions that usually favor Mathew’s smooth riding style.
After having a slight bauble off the line, Mathew settled in and put himself in second-place behind eventual race winner Cameron Beaubier. And then, suddenly, the storybook scenario had a cruel twist of fate as Mathew crashed out of the race, unhurt but unable to get his bike back in the race. Unfortunately, there would be no race win, or even a race finish, for the “Durban Dynamo” on his birthday.
“Well, that didn’t go the way we’d hoped,” Mathew commented.” “We had a good setup for the race, and I was feeling comfortable after having a little slip at the start. I settled in, and started working on closing the gap to Cam (Beaubier in first place). But, when you’re racing in the rain, it only takes a small mistake to ruin your day. I’m sorry to our team that I crashed out because we had a strong bike today, and I was in a good position for a solid result. It was definitely not the birthday present I wanted.”
The final round of the 2018 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will take place at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 21 through 23.
MotoAmerica Superbike Standings
1. Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha – 370
2. Toni Elias – Suzuki – 289
3. Josh Herrin – 253
4. Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha – 210
For more updates about Yamalube/Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit http://www.WestbyRacing.com
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More, from a press release issued by Ghetto Customs Racing:
Lessons Learned, Character Revealed
After a simple yet disastrous mistake in Pittsburgh Chris Parrish and the Ghetto Customs team arrived in New Jersey feeling positive as they still retained the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship points lead and were at a track that Chris was familiar with. Even though the forecast called for weekend rain it was easy to brush that worry off on Thursday as the team set up in blistering heat.
Friday brought some clouds but no precipitation and P1 went off without much drama. Several stops for suspension adjustments were all that was needed for Chris to finish in 2nd. Q1 went much the same, several more adjustments allowed him to drop another 1.4 seconds and finish the session in 2nd once again. Unfortunately a red flag for lightning ended Chris’s final qualifying lap before it even began as he had just pulled away from pit wall when it waved. That flag foreshadowed the weather that was to come.
Saturday’s Q2 was completely wet with only one Twins Cup rider even attempting to make a lap and then returning to hot pit quickly thereafter. The grid was set with Chris in the middle of the front row.
By race time the track was saturated and the team knew that a wet race was going to change everything. After two sighting laps Chris knew he had a serious issue; zero traction. While on the grid the team discussed and agreed that everyone was dealing with the same issue and to just be patient. Unfortunately whatever plan the team had evaporated in the first corner as Chris went down in a 3 bike crash. Fortunately all 3 riders (including the two championship contenders) were able to remount and continue but Chris now had a much more serious problem, no shifter… No lever, no problem! Utilizing his Team Yo! EX250 endurance experience where he handshifts the bike regularly Chris put in 12 of the most heroic laps many racers have ever witnessed. He was able to run a pace within 7 seconds of the leaders and managed to bring it home in 7th place which salvaged nine precious points and kept him in the championship lead. This sets up a one race shootout in two weeks at Barber where the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship will be decided in what is essentially a head to head, winner-take-all match up.
Chris states “Everything is repairable and we will be better prepared next time for the rain. We didn’t have softer springs on hand to make the needed adjustments and went out on a bike setup for a dry track. We’re club racers on a professional level, we’re gonna make mistakes. Whichever way this season ends we will be better prepared in 2019. Thanks everyone!”
Chris wants to thank MotoAmerica, Dunlop, Shoei, M4, Hotbodies, Wingman’s Garage, RBoM Racing, Copoulos Built Motors, VO2 Leathers, Pit Bull Products, TYGA-Performance, Baseline Motorsports, Red Fox Racing, TWF Racing and Rebel Gears for giving him the opportunity to race his Suzuki SV650 in the MotoAmerica Series.