Scholtz Ends Two-Day Pittsburgh Test On Top

Two-Day Dunlop Test In The Books

WAMPUM, PA – When all was said and done and after eight sessions and two days on the Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania, surprisingly it wasn’t one of the Fab Four on top of the Motul Superbike timesheets. Instead, it was Yamalube/Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz leading the way, the South African setting a best lap of 1:38.588 in the final session to complete the Dunlop test as the fastest of the Superbike men.

The Pittsburgh International Race Complex will play host to round eight of the 2017 MotoAmerica Series, August 25-27, with this week’s two-day test giving MotoAmerica teams and riders their first crack at the 2.7800-mile racetrack.

Scholtz was quick throughout the test and he was the quickest at the very end, besting Beaubier by .393 of a second with the defending two-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion setting his best time in today’s seventh session prior to sitting out the final session.

“It was a really positive test for us,” Scholtz said. “We tried a bit of everything from different TC (traction control) settings to trying the new softer front tire. Everything seemed to move forward so overall we are really happy. We even had a good race pace going. Obviously, we chucked on a brand new set right at the end there just to do a really quick time, but everything is looking positive for us. We are really looking forward to the race here.”

Scholtz was also a fan of the new racetrack on the outskirts of Pittsburgh.

“I love it,” he said. “It’s a really fun track – some faster corners, it’s undulating. A lot of guys have been complaining about the safety aspects of it, but we go to circuits that are as dangerous if not worse. I’m very happy here. It’s a brilliant circuit and it seems to suit me with the flowing corners and the hard braking zones.”

Third fastest overall was Excelus Solutions/Lucas Oils/KWR’s Kyle Wyman, the team owner/rider was also consistently fast throughout the test, ending up with his best time coming in the eighth and final session.

Beaubier’s Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory teammate Josh Hayes ended the test as the fourth-fastest rider, the four-time Superbike Champion lapping .728 of a second off Scholtz’ best.

Bobby Fong made big improvements to end the test fifth after struggling yesterday. Fong rode his Quicksilver Latus Motors Kawasaki to a 1:39.541 in the final session.

In total, 15 Superbike/Superstock 1000 riders turned laps today, including Yoshimura Suzuki’s Roger Hayden who sat out of most of yesterday’s session after hearing of his brother’s accident. Hayden ended up seventh overall with his best time coming in the final session.

Inclement weather forced the final Supersport/Superstock 600 session to be canceled, leaving Garrett Gerloff to lead the way based on his best lap from today’s fifth session – a 1:40.928. That lap was just .016 of a second faster than Frenchman Valentin Debise, the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki rider turning his best in today’s seventh session.

Gerloff’s Monster Energy/Yamalube/Y.E.S./ Graves Yamaha teammate JD Beach was third fastest, .473 of a second off Gerloff.

The fastest of the Superstock 600 testers ended up being Aguilar Racing’s Jason Aguilar, the Californian lapping at a best of 1:44.042.

Day Two Times

Superbike

1.Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 1:38.588:40.928

2.Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha) 1:38.951

3.Kyle Wyman (Yamaha) 1:39.229

4.Josh Hayes (Yamaha) 1:39.316

5.Bobby Fong (Kawasaki) 1:39.541

6.Jake Lewis (Suzuki) 1:39.563

7.Roger Hayden (Suzuki) 1:39.697

8.Toni Elias (Suzuki) 1:39.715

9.Jake Gagne (Honda) 1:39.754

10.Hayden Gillim (Suzuki) 1:39.884

Supersport/Superstock 600

1.Garrett Gerloff (Yamaha) 1:40.928

2.Valentin Debise (Suzuki) 1:40.944

3.JD Beach (Yamaha) 1:41.401

4.Jason Aguilar (Yamaha) 1:44.402

5.Daytona Anderson (Yamaha) 1:44.280

6.Nick McFadden (Suzuki) 1:44.344

7.Michael Gilbert (Yamaha) 1:44.998

8.Braeden Ortt (Yamaha) 1:45.025

9.Brandon Cleland (Suzuki) 1:45.983

10.Andrew Lee (Yamaha) 1:46.845

MotoAmerica received a special proclamation from the Mayor of the Borough of Big Beaver – George S. Quay III – on the second and final day of the test

The proclamation states…

The MotoAmerica Championship of Pittsburgh provides an opportunity for the best road racing talent in America to showcase their abilities in a globally recognized, highly competitive race for victory; and whereas the Borough of Big Beaver is proud to be one of the select number of host cities chosen to be a part of the MotoAmerica Championship; and whereas the debut of the Pittsburgh International Race Complex on the 2017 MotoAmerica schedule brings a new challenge to its competitors, a change of scenery, and an exciting, highly anticipated nationally televised event; and whereas race fans from Big Beaver and throughout the region are eager to show their support of MotoAmerica, helping to make this event and the sport of superbike racing a tradition in the coming years.

More, from a press release issued by Aguilar Racing:

 Aguilar Racing Tops the MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Tests at Pittsburgh International Race Complex

Pittsburgh International Race Complex played host to MotoAmerica riders for the Dunlop Tire Test on May 17 and 18. The track is new to MotoAmerica, and the test provided the first opportunity for most riders to learn the track and work on their race setups for the races scheduled for Round 8 of the series on August 25-27, 2017.

Aguilar Racing’s Jason Aguilar led 6 of the 7 practice sessions in the Superstock 600 class. At the end, Jason had recorded the fastest lap time of all the Superstock 600 riders with a 1:43.832. Jason had 9 laps that were under the next fastest competitor’s time.

“I really like the layout of the track. It’s pretty challenging, with a lot of elevation changes and a lot of esses, but it is a fun track. My 2017 Yamaha YZF-R6 was working great on the first day of testing when I set my fastest time. I really appreciate MotoAmerica and Dunlop giving us this opportunity to learn the track and test the tires. The track is abrasive and hard on tires, but we found the hardest compound tire gave us our best lap times and the best durability. I feel that we can have a good race pace here, and I look forward to racing here in August.” stated Team Owner/Manager/Rider Jason Aguilar.

While Jason led all the Superstock 600 sessions on the final day, the team experienced some electrical gremlins that prevented them from improving on the first day’s lap times. The team will be working to resolve the problems before the next race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin June 2-4.

Thanks to all Aguilar Racing sponsors:

Graves Motorsports

SolarMax Technology

Torco Advanced Lubricants

Yamaha Motor USA

Taylormade Racing

FTECU

Speed and Strength

Arai Helmets

Galfer

Motion Pro

Riderzlaw

Superlite Sprockets

SpeedAngle

Dunlop Tires

Thermal Technology Race

EF Signs

SBK Paint

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

Mathew Scholtz “Whomped ’Em” In Wampum With The Fastest Overall Laptime At Dunlop/MotoAmerica Test At PittRace

Wampum, PA – May 19, 2017 – It’s almost 9,000 miles by airplane from Durban, South Africa, to Pittsburgh International Race Complex (PittRace), but for Yamalube/Westby Racing’s “Durban Dynamo” Mathew Scholtz, it sure felt like home.

At the Official Dunlop/MotoAmerica Test held on Wednesday and Thursday at PittRace, Mathew was the fastest overall rider–in any class–on the track. Over the span of two days and eight combined Superbike/Superstock 1000 test sessions, Mathew was consistently at or near the top of the charts and, when all was said and done, his lightning-fast laptime of 1:38.588, recorded during the eighth and final 50-minute session, was faster than anyone else.

And, what is especially remarkable is that Mathew was riding his #11 Superstock 1000-spec Yamalube/Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 among the factory Superbikes that included two-time and defending MotoAmerica Champion Cameron Beaubier, four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes, 2010 Moto2 World Champion Toni Elias, and 2007 AMA Supersport Champion Roger Hayden, among other notables.

“As it’s been all season long thus far, PittRace was another brand-new track for me, but this time, it was a brand-new track for everyone else, too! So, we finally had a ‘level playing field’ and I wasn’t at a disadvantage. I didn’t have to play ‘catch-up’ in learning a track that everyone else already knows, so that was a big plus for us. It was a test, though, first and foremost, and not a race, but the team and I are very pleased with our results. We were able to work on our setup, fine-tune the electronics, and also try out some different Dunlop tires. I really like the track a lot, and it seems to suit my riding style, as well as the characteristics of my Yamalube/Westby Racing R1. I can’t wait to come back to PittRace in August!”

Mathew and the Yamalube/Westby Racing team will be back in action on June 2-4 for the Dunlop Championship At Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI.

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 me

dia site.

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Yamaha Road Racing Teams Complete Successful Test At Pittsburgh International Raceway

Wampum, PA – May 19, 2017 –Yamaha’s Factory Superbike and Factory-Supported Supersport teams, earlier this week, participated in the two-day Official Dunlop/MotoAmerica test at Pittsburgh International Race Complex (PittRace).

Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory teammates Cameron Beaubier and Josh Hayes, along with Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha teammates Garrett Gerloff and JD Beach, participated in two days of sequential 50-minute test sessions on the 2.78-mile, 19-turn PittRace road course. Prior to this week, none of Yamaha’s “Fast Four” had ever stepped foot on PittRace property, let alone ridden a motorcycle there.

Both teams and their riders worked on familiarizing themselves with the new-for-MotoAmerica circuit, and they also tested Dunlop tires and fine-tuned the setups on their Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbikes and YZF-R6 Supersport machines.

Cameron was the fastest Superbike rider overall at the test, Kyle Wyman was the second-fastest Superbike rider aboard his Excelsus Solutions/Lucas Oil/KWR/Yamaha R1, and Josh Hayes was the third-fastest Superbike rider. Surprisingly, the fastest overall rider, in any class, at the test was Yamalube/Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz aboard his Yamaha R1 Superstock 1000-spec machine.

Cameron commented, “The track layout is interesting. It’s got some elevation changes, and it’s fast and flowing. My team and I got to test a bunch of different suspension settings, work with the electronics…and Dunlop had us try out a few different tires, too. We should be in good shape when we come back here later this summer.”

“It was a good test for us,” Josh commented. “We spent a lot of time working on the bike, trying some different tires, and continuing to tweak the electronics on my R1. My laptimes were decent, and we got to know the track pretty well, so I feel like we’ve got a good starting point for when we come back for the race weekend. There are a lot of great motorcycle road racing fans in this part of the country, and I’m looking forward to seeing them all when we return to Pittsburgh in August.”

Defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Garrett emerged from the test with the fastest overall Supersport laptime aboard his #1 Monster Energy/Yamalube/Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha R6, while JD posted the third-fastest time. Jason Aguilar was the fastest Superstock 600 rider overall aboard his Aguilar Racing/Yamaha R6.

After the test concluded, Garrett said, “It’s a fun track, and I’m a little surprised that I went fastest of all the Supersport guys because I was mostly concentrating on getting comfortable with the layout while also trying some different settings on my R6 and running through some different race tires. I’m sure the laptimes will be even faster when we return to this track in August. But, for now, I’m happy with how this test went for me and my team.”

JD commented, “It’s great to come to a track that’s not too far from where I live in Kentucky, and I’m looking forward to returning in August for the race weekend. Big thanks to Dunlop and MotoAmerica for arranging this test so we could check out the track before we race here.”

Yamaha’s Factory Superbike and Factory-Supported Supersport Teams will be back in action on June 2-4 for the Dunlop Championship At Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI.

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.