Two-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier won bragging rights by posting the fastest lap time Friday, the final day of a three-day test, at Thunderhill Raceway Park, in Willows, California.
Riding his Monster Energy/Yamalube Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike on Dunlop tires, Beaubier lapped the 3.0-mile road course in 1:44.8. Not only was that time the fastest of the test, it was the fastest Beaubier has ever gone at Thunderhill, he said.
Defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Toni Elias was second-best with a time of 1:45.1 on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, just ahead of Beaubier’s Superbike rookie teammate Garrett Gerloff, who improved each day until he ended up with a best time of 1:45.2.
Elias’ teammate, Roger Hayden, did his fastest lap time on Friday, a 1:46.0.
Valentin Debise improved from a 1:50.6 at the end of Day One to 1:47.9 at the end of Day Three on his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R600 Supersport machine.
Near the end of the test, Elias crashed and took out his teammate Hayden. According to MotoAmerica, Hayden was on an out lap, saw Elias approaching and made room for the Spaniard to pass him. Elias, however, lost the front and crashed, taking Hayden down with him and preventing Hayden from going for a time attack on his best combined package of the three days.
MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Road Racing Series
Thunderhill Raceway Park
Willows, California
December 8, 2017
Unofficial Lap Times (as provided by each rider’s team, all on Dunlop tires):
1. Cameron Beaubier (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:44.8
2. Toni Elias (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike, 1:45.1
3. Garrett Gerloff (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:45.2
4. Roger Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike, 1:46.0
5. Valentin Debise (Suz GSX-R600), Supersport, 1:47.9