Gerloff Turns It Up To 11 With A Win At Barber In Supersport Race 2, While Beach Finishes Second; Hayes Podiums In Wet & Wild Superbike Race 2

Birmingham, AL – September 17, 2017 – After becoming a two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion on Saturday at Barber Motorsports Park, Garrett Gerloff got right back to his winning ways on Sunday, notching his 11th victory of the 2017 season. But, as has been the case for much of the year, Garrett’s Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha teammate was right in his wheel tracks and ready to pounce on any opportunity to make a pass for the lead.

And, so it went for the majority of the 19-lap race with Garrett and JD in tandem and running a spirited pace. As the laps wound down and backmarkers came into play, Garrett was able to make his way through the traffic more advantageously than JD, which allowed Garrett to pull a gap and take the checkers by a little more than four-and-a-half seconds over JD.

Garrett commented, “(JD and I) were both going fast. I felt like I had a really good bike underneath me, as I always do, and I was comfortable the whole race despite the heat and the fact that the track felt kind of greasy (due to the heat and humidity). I’m really happy to end the year with a win. I wish I could have done it yesterday, but I’m glad that I won today at one of my favorite tracks and near where I used to live.”

JD said, “It was a really good race, and everybody was riding really strong today. The gap to Garrett was close until the end when we got into some backmarkers, and he was able to make his way through the pack better than me. It’s been a great season, and I’ve enjoyed racing with Garrett all year. Thanks to MotoAmerica, the cornerworkers, and especially Yamaha and my team for a great season.”

A short while after the Supersport Race ended, and just after Sunday’s Superbike Race 2 went green, rain fell at Barber Motorsports Park, which caused a red flag to allow the teams to switch to rain tires, which led to another red flag when the rain came down even harder and created ponding on the race course. Following an almost two-hour delay, the race was restarted a second time under wet conditions. Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing’s four-time AMA Superbike Champion is a master in wet track conditions, and with gusto, he welcomed the opportunity to race. Sure enough, Hayes rocketed to the front early and led the race for several laps, ultimately finishing third for his eighth podium finish of the season.

“One of the things we always talk about is how lucky we are to have a track like Barber on our schedule,” said Hayes. “The conditions were tricky, but, I did feel that the track was race-able, and that turned out to be the case. When we were finally able to race, it turned out to be a really good show. Experience helped me in the beginning of the race because I’ve done a lot of laps on this track, and I know where the (slippery) seams are. So, I pulled a pretty good gap in the beginning of the race. After things settled down, the guys behind me were building confidence, and they were able to try some different lines, which worked to their advantage and helped them get closer. And then, when a couple of riders passed me, I focused on staying in the hunt. I’m glad to make the podium for Yamaha and my team.”

Hayes’ teammate Josh Herrin, a fill-in rider for the injured Cameron Beaubier at the final two rounds of the season, elected not to line up for the restart, leaving Hayes as the lone Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing rider to close out the 2017 campaign.

MotoAmerica Supersport Final Standings

1. Garrett Gerloff – Yamaha – 387

2. JD Beach – Yamaha – 345

3. Valentin Debise – Suzuki – 268

5. Jason Aguilar – Yamaha – 147

MotoAmerica Superbike Final Standings

1. Toni Elias – Suzuki – 410

2. Roger Hayden – Suzuki – 322

3. Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha – 255

4. Josh Hayes – Yamaha – 223

5. Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha – 216

For more Yamaha racing news, results, photos, and videos, visit http://www.YamahaMotorsports.com/Racing

Also, check out “YamahaMotorUSA” on your favorite social media site.

More, from a press release issued by Yamalube/Westby Racing:

Twin Peaks! Scholtz Makes MotoAmerica History On Sunday At Barber Motorsports Park With Two Victories In One Race

Birmingham, AL – Alabama rolled tide on Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park with a persistent rainstorm, and Yamalube/Westby Racing’s 2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion Mathew Scholtz not only took it in stride, but he and his #11 gold-and-black Yamaha YZF-R1 positively shined in the wet conditions and made MotoAmerica history.

Mathew became the first rider to finish first in his Superstock 1000 class and also win the Superbike race. Superbike is the premier racing class in the MotoAmerica Championship, and the Superstock 1000 class is universally regarded as one notch below Superbike, yet both classes line up on the starting grid in the same race, and there is a separate Superbike race winner and a Superstock 1000 winner. On Sunday at Barber, those two winners were in fact one rider: Mathew Scholtz.

Incidentally, it was also the first time in the history of AMA-sanctioned professional road racing that a South African rider won a Superbike race; yet another first-time accomplishment for the “Durban Dynamo.”

Shortly after Sunday’s Superbike Race 2 went green, the rain started to fall, and the event was red-flagged. After the restart, there was ponding on the race course from the rain, which caused Mathew to fall down in the treacherous conditions, and the race was red-flagged a second time. Following a lengthy delay, the race was restarted a second time under wet conditions, and Mathew, who started from the front row of the grid based on his Saturday Superpole qualifying result, was in the lead pack, and then, out in front, in fairly short order.

Except for a couple of hair-raising moments at the end of the final lap, Mathew’s race at the front went relatively smoothly all the way to the checkered flag.

After the podium celebration, Mathew commented, “On the final lap, I looked back and saw that Jake (Gagne) was maybe one second back, and I was just trying to hold tight lines. I had no idea that he had actually crashed, and I thought that he was right on me the entire time. I was focusing on getting a good drive that last lap and nearly tossed it away twice. I couldn’t be happier taking the overall win today. This means so much to the Yamalube/Westby Racing team, and I think they’re over the moon with what we accomplished.”

For more updates on Yamalube/Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit https://www.westbyracing.com

Also, visit “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media site.

More, from a press release issued by KTM North America:

2017 KTM RC CUP CHAMPIONSHIP GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE

Round 9 – KTM RC Cup Championship – September 16-17

Leeds, AL. –The final round of the 2017 KTM RC Cup Championship, held in conjunction with the 2017 AMA MotoAmerica/FIM North American Road Racing Championship, visited Barber Motorsports Park just east of Birmingham for the final, championship-deciding races. After an intense two-race battle over the weekend, the championship went down to the final laps of the final race in RC Cup style.

Coming to Alabama, the battle for the championship couldn’t have been any tighter with the top spot locked in a tie between Cory Ventura (CSVMoto) and Benjamin Smith (Quarterly Racing/On Track Development). Sitting one point behind them was four-in-a-row winner Alex Dumas from the JP43 Junior Team.

Race one went off with pole sitter Ventura pulling the early lead after a great start. Nearly immediately, however, a pack formed up front with him including Smith, Savage Racing’s Sean Ungvarsky, Toby Khamsouk, Pure Attitude Racing’s Trevor Standish, Draik Beauchamp and Gavin Anthony. Smith, who started from the third row on the grid, put a big charge in on the first lap, moving all the way into third by the beginning of lap two.

Soon, it was Ventura, Smith and Ungvarsky battling up front, swapping positions from first-to-third the entire race. Khamsouk, who ran fast all weekend, was pressuring Smith for third before crashing out on the second lap of the race. Jackson Blackmon, starting from the last row on the grid, quickly made his way through the field, actually catching the lead group by lap six, only to crash out after almost running into his Quarterly Racing teammate Beauchamp.

Meanwhile, the hottest rider coming into the event was mired in the pack after a bad start. Dumas had his work cut out for him as he pushed to the front. Soon, he was there with the other two points leaders battling for the win. Ungvarsky hung tight with the top three as well, looking to push for his first win. The top three traded first position multiple times before Dumas went down with only four laps to go. He would suffer a DNF on the race and see his hopes of a championship diminish.

On the last lap, Ungvarsky looked to have his win in the bag. Then Ventura caught his draft and edged him out at the photo finish for the lead.

With the win (his fourth of the season), Ventura took a nine-point lead heading into the final round on Sunday. Smith finished a close third, .190 seconds behind.

In what was arguably the best race of the entire season, race two started with another Ventura holeshot from the pole position—a great start for his championship run in the final laps of 2017.

To elevate the drama unfolding, the entire pack of RC Cup racers stayed tighter than ever for the better part of the race with championship contenders Smith and Ventura working their way to the front to trade for the top spot multiple times. Aces High Racing’s Dylan Deutschlander and Anthony Racing’s Gavin Anthony looked to be spoilers by fighting with the top two, with both actually taking the lead on occasion. Meanwhile, Dumas was buried deep in the field, but still in contact with the lead group.

Just as it looked as if Smith and Ventura would pull a way, Deutschlander and Anthony would reel them back in making for an exciting wildcard scenario for the race teams and fans anxiously waiting to see who made it to the line first.

As it has happened so many times this season, the final lap would decide it all when Smith and Ventura were shuffled back to fourth and fifth position with Anthony, Deutschlander and Ungvarsky setting themselves up for the win. Suddenly, Smith put a massive move in the middle of the last lap and tucked in behind Anthony.

Likewise, Ventura made a big push into the final corner, but lost the front end, collecting Khamsouk and Standish in a crash that put an end to the championship drama.

Smith, drafting perfectly behind Anthony, used the extra speed to shoot to the line in first, taking the race win, his fifth of the season and the 2017 KTM RC Cup Championship title.

Benjamin Smith:

“Five wins this season is awesome but this one was really special. It was a hard-fought battle, everybody up front was riding amazingly. I had to do everything I could on the last lap to try and get that win and I’m really glad I pulled it off and got the championship. I really hope Toby and Cory are alright as they all rode so well today. Overall, it was a fantastic season and I”ve learned so much over the course of the year. Huge shout out to KTM for putting this series on. I really can’t thank them enough for that and for sending us over to Spain will be a really, really great time.”

The top RC Cup points earners for the 2017 season received invites to the RC Cup World Finals in Jerez, Spain on October 19-22.

KTM RC Cup Race 1 Results

1. Cory Venture

2. Sean Ungvarsky

3. Benjamin Smith

4. Draik Beauchamp

5. Gavin Anthony

KTM RC Cup Race 2 Results

1. Benjamin Smith

2. Gavin Anthony

3. Sean Ungvarsky

4. Dylan Deutschlander

5. Draik Beauchamp

KTM RC Cup Championship Point Standings

1. Benjamin Smith (265)

2. Cory Ventura (249)

3. Alex Dumas (233)

4. Jackson Blackmon (192)

5. Draik Beauchamp (189)

More, from a press release issued by Quarterley Racing/On Track Development:

Quarterley Racing On Track Development Team Wins Championship with Benjamin Smith

Leeds, AL (9/17/2017) – for immediate release

What has become the most competitive series of the weekend took the last lap of the last race to decide the KTM RC Cup Series Championship. Benjamin Smith’s last lap pass from fourth to first not only won the race but secured his championship title riding for Quarterley Racing on Track Development team.

Benjamin Smith, Jackson Blackmon, and Draik Beauchamp fill the of the top five spots in the KTM RC Cup championship. Arguably the best races of three weekend the KTM RC Cup riders put on quite a show on both Saturday and Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park. Smith started second for both races after the second qualifying was cancelled due to track conditions. Blackmon, starting from the rear of the field for Saturday’s race due to a mechanical issue, raced to the lead pack of seven riders alongside Beauchamp setting some of the fastest lap times as track speeds of the day. Smith swapped positive several times with Corey Ventura and Sean Ungvarsky to finish third followed by Beauchamp in fourth. Unfortunately, Blackmon crashed and broke a bike in his hand and would sit on the sidelines cheering on his team for Sundays race.

What was a tie for first in championship points between Smith and Ventura was now a nine point lead for Ventura after his first plan finish. Smith states, “Nothing to do now but win.” Back in the paddock Smith sits down with Dale Quarterley and watches a replay of the race and discusses strategies for Sunday’s race. Beauchamp is walking around the paddock with a giant smile on his face starting, “This is fun! I don my best when I can just enjoy myself out on the track.” The racing was spectacular. Blackmon spent the evening sharing stories from the day, disappointed in his race day, but says, “I have learned so much this season.”

Between races the riders share stories about the season. Memories of sweeping the podium at VIR as all the took 1st,2nd, and 3rd, and teammate Jake Leahy rounded out the top 4. Smith teaks the runaway win at Sonoma as one of his favorites. Beauchamp says his focus is to enjoy himself, learn something new, and strive fit another podium finish before the season ends. Blackmon says even with guys unfortunate series of events over the last several weekends, “there is always a lesson to take away.”

Sunday’s race was heart stopping from beginning to end. Riders jockeyed for positron every lap of the race. Smith makes the last lap pass for the win. Beauchamp comes in fifth. Blackmon standing on the sidelines says, “I wasn”t even racing and my heart was pounding. That was an exciting race.”

Look for more news in the coming months from the team and their travels to Jerez, Spain for the RC Cup World Finals. The top five in championship points were invited to Spain. Championship standing for the Quarterley Racing On Track Development Team:

Benjamin Smith 1st

Jackson Blackmon 4th

Draik Beauchamp 5th

Nate Minster 10th

Jake Leahy

Dale Quarterley and Bob Robbins along with Ron Barrick, Mark Reynolds, and Paul Arciszewski celebrated the teams success in winners circle.

Quarterley Racing On Track Development with successful veteran pro rider Dale Quarterley, is an entry level pro racing program focused on bringing young riders up to speed as they set their sights on a future and the next step towards top level pro racing. The team offers Moto America full support on a team owned “Ready To Race” 390 Cup bike for a Wild Card entry or multiple events.

Contact is [email protected] or phone 610-217-9926.

Team sponsors include: Beta Tools—Inter-Tech Supplies—Motorex—Regina Chains—Scott Powersports—Street & Competition—Woodcraft Technologies

Draik Beauchamp personal sponsors: 129photos, Law offices of Ogle, Elrod, and Baril, Spider Graphix, Tint One, Pit Pass Radio, Sportbike Leather Service, SaferMoto.com, Red Fox Racing, Cycle Gear, Trever White at Harper VW, LS2 Helmets

Jackson Blackmon personal sponsors: Dainese/AGV, TrackDay Winners, Xt Racing, Fast Frank, Fast Bike Industries, Finishline Machine, Drippin Wet

Jake Leahey personal sponsors: Arai Helmets- Sidi Boots- Heroic Leathers- NJminiGP- Stump Racing Kids- United Asphalt- Wholesale Outlet- Hangdry- Solid Performance KTM- Evolve GT Trackdays- RideRich Apparel- Scordo Farms

Benjamin Smith personal sponsors: Arai Helmets- William Deal- Gmoto- Sidi-Impact Armor- Absolute Cycle Experience

Nate Minster personal sponsors: Advantage Corrugated and Packaging – Killebrew Root Beer -Morse Electric – USCCA (U.S concealed and carry association) – Larsons Cycle -Shoei Helmets -Trackside Suspension and Engineering – Midwest Training Center – Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers -Impact Safety Armor

More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer:

DEBISE AND MCFADDEN CLOSE OUT 2017 ON THE PODIUM IN ALABAMA

Team Hammer closed out a remarkable 2017 AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series campaign on Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park with two final trophy-winning performances in a season in which the team racked up seven race victories and 39 podium finishes.

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Valentine Debise concluded the MotoAmerica Supersport season with a solid third place after upping his pace overnight.

The Frenchman strung together eight straight podiums to finish out the season. He ranked third in the final championship tally with 268 points, with two wins and six runner-ups among his 14 podium finishes.

Debise said, “My speed was better today, but I wasn’t quite as consistent. I made some mistakes and lost the leading group. So I just managed my gap back to fourth and pushed to the end to get my 14th podium of the year.

“I want to say thank you to my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team. They were awesome all year long. It was really motivating to have those guys behind me and giving their all the entire way.”

M4 medAge Suzuki’s Nick McFadden upped his podium haul into the double digits on Sunday by finishing 2nd in the Superstock 600 finale (sixth in the combined Supersport/STK600 order).

Like Debise, McFadden ended up 3rd in his championship battle. He piled up 247 points with a pair of wins and four runner-ups among his 10 podium finishes.

“We had another good race,” McFadden said. “We didn’t get off the line the way we wanted to, and someone got between me and the leader. I worked to get by him for a few laps, but I could see that rider was pushing really hard, so I was waiting a couple more laps to make my move.

“He ended up crashing out before I could pass him. I then put my head down and tried to do my best to catch back up to the leader, but I wasn’t able to close down the gap enough. I managed the gap and brought it home in second place for a double podium this weekend. We wanted to get one more win under our belt to close out the season, but that proved just out of our reach today.”

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Jake Lewis secured his place as the 2017 Superstock 1000 championship runner-up on Sunday with a fifth-place effort (eighth in the combined Superbike/STK1000 order) aboard his GSX-R1000. Lewis endured in a race that was red-flagged and restarted twice, featuring dry, soaked, and changeable conditions before it finally concluded.

Lewis scored 321 points during the season, including three wins and three seconds among his 14 podiums.

M4 Rickdiculous Racing Suzuki’s Daytona Anderson DNF due to an electronics issue while he was battling inside the top 10 (top five among riders on Supersport-spec equipment). Despite this misfortune to go along with earlier injury and illness woes, Anderson finished the season ranked 10th in the MotoAmerica Supersport championship with 92 points.

Anderson earned four top fives in the season, the highlight being a runner-up ride in Utah.

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Cleland also locked up a championship top-10 with an eighth-place ride (14th overall) in the Superstock 600 finale. Cleland picked up 82 points in the season, finishing in the top 10 on nine occasions.

About Team Hammer

The 2017 season marks Team Hammer’s 37th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 68 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 192 times and have won five AMA Pro National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships. The team has also won 134 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.

More, from a press release issued by Yoshimura Suzuki:

HAYDEN VICTORY, ELIAS PODIUM CLOSES 2017 MOTOAMERICA SEASON

New 2017 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Phenomenal in Debut Season

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Roger Hayden led every lap of Saturday’s Race 1 en route to his third MotoAmerica Superbike victory of the season. Here he celebrates on the podium with team technician Darin Marshall. (Photo by Brian J. Nelson)

Chino, CA (Sept. 18, 2017) – Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Roger Hayden and Toni Elias wrapped up the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, with yet another successful weekend. Hayden scored victory in Saturday’s Race 1, earning him his third win of the season. Elias took second in Sunday’s wet Race 2 to cap off his remarkable championship-winning season.

Hayden’s victory gave the 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000 a stunning debut season. The newly-designed motorcycle simply dominated the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship winning 13 of the 20 rounds and finishing first and second in the championship.

Elias’ title, clinched at the previous round in New Jersey, also marked a record 14th MotoAmerica/AMA Superbike Championship for Suzuki.

The Barber weekend kicked off with Hayden speeding his way to a series-leading seventh Superpole. He then went out in Saturday’s race and led flag to flag to score his third win of the season and seventh MotoAmerica/AMA Superbike victory of his career.

“I really like racing here at Barber and my crew gave me a great motorcycle,” Hayden said. “It felt good to come out and win a race like that, leading every lap. It was a great way to close out the year and makes me really look forward to next season.”

In Sunday’s wet race, Hayden, who had already clinched second in the championship, elected not to race, citing the potential hazards of slippery seal coating in certain sections of the circuit.

Elias also had a strong final weekend. After a rare error in Saturday’s race, which saw him crash unhurt, he turned around and ran a solid come-from-behind race to finish second in the rain on Sunday.

“The conditions were challenging and I rode cautious at first,” Elias said. “But my team made some perfect adjustments to the bike for the wet and I gained confidence as the race continued and that allowed me to finish strong.

“This year was a dream season for me and I again want to thank Suzuki for giving us such a great weapon in the GSX-R1000 and everyone on the Yoshimura team who helped make it possible.”

Elias ended his championship campaign with 10 wins. Interestingly, in just two seasons of MotoAmerica Elias is already tied with his childhood hero Wayne Rainey for eighth on the all-time MotoAmerica/AMA Superbike wins list, with 16-career victories.

For additional details on the series visit www.MotoAmerica.com

You can keep up with the team’s progress by visiting yoshimura-racing.com and www.suzukicycles.com/Racing and via YouTube at www.suzukicycles.com/Racing

More, from a press release issued by Dunlop:

Gerloff, Aguilar and Smith Get It Done

Buffalo, New York: Garrett Gerloff wanted to end his championship quest of the 2017 Supersport title on Saturday at the Barber Motorsports Park, the last double-header weekend of MotoAmerica racing for the season. It almost didn’t happen.

An early off-track excursion put him all the way back to sixteenth place, and threatened his title. He did what he has done all season: put his head down, and charge forward. He made it to the podium with a pass on the penultimate lap to take third, and win his second consecutive Supersport Championship. It was Gerloff’s sixteenth podium of the season. On Sunday, he ended the season the way he wanted to—with a win, his eleventh of the season.

Although Toni Elias wrapped up the championship at New Jersey in the Barber round, Roger Hayden was blazing fast through qualifying, grabbing the pole and keeping his composure through two restarts to take a dominating and emotional win in front of his family, including father Earl who has been too ill to attend any other races this year.

In the post-race press conference, with Earl, wife Rose and sons Roger and Tommy in attendance, Dunlop’s Mike Buckley announced Nicky Hayden as the latest Dunlop Legend, revealing a poster that will benefit the Nicky Hayden Memorial Fund.

Saturday’s results left both the 600 Supersport and KTM RC Cup championships going down to the wire on Sunday. And in both the undecided titles, the race winners also won the championships. In Superstock 600, Jason Aguilar mastered the field to win and take his first MotoAmerica title as did Benjamin Smith, who won the KTM RC Cup race and championship.

Also on Sunday, in slippery and wet conditions, Matthew Scholtz—who locked up the Superstock 1000 title last week—made MotoAmerica history by becoming the first rider to win the Superbike race on a Superstock 1000

Dunlop, the Official Tire of MotoAmerica, congratulates all the 2017 champions, and all the riders who competed in the series.

About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires

Dunlop is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S.A. and the only manufacturer of motorcycle tires in North America. For more information, visit www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com.