RIDERZLAW / AGUILAR RACING RETURNS TO THE TOP OF THE MOTOAMERICA PODIUM
It was a weekend of ups and downs for Riderzlaw / Aguilar Racing at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Friday’s practice saw Jason get off to a decent start. Jason ended the first practice session in 3rd place, and improved to 2nd place in the final practice session. Saturday morning Qualifying was going well, but when Jason came in for a suspension adjustment and headed out to get a couple of fast qualifying laps in, a red flag came out and the session ended early. Unfortunately, that left Jason in 3rd Place in qualifying for Supersport 600.
In Race 1, Jason got a good start and moved into 2nd place on Lap 1. Jason was stalking the leader, but on lap 8 of the 16 lap race, he hit the curb in the chicane causing a big highside crash. Jason got back on the bike, but lost about 45 seconds in the process. Jason put his head down and went to work trying to salvage as many points as possible. By lap 10, Jason was going faster than all the other Superstock 600 competitors. On lap 11, Jason set a new class lap record of 1:45.732. The following lap, he broke that record with a 1:45.679. Making up several positions, Jason finished in 6th place, earning 10 points. The crash resulted in Jason’s Championship points lead being reduced to only 8 points.
Jason was really sore Sunday after the crash in Race 1. However, Jason was determined to get some points back in Race 2. He got a good start, but so did his competitors, leaving him in 3rd place right behind his main rival in the Championship after the start. He could not afford to let his points lead shrink anymore, so he waited a few laps, made the pass on lap 5, and set his sights on the race leader. Jason also had to work his way around some of the Supersport riders to get to the leader. Jason got behind the leader and waited for an opportunity. With 4 laps to go, Jason grabbed the lead and held on for a hard-earned win. The win extended Jason’s Superstock 600 Championship Points lead to 17 points.
Jason Aguilar: “I didn’t see the curb in the chicane as I was focused on getting around a Supersport rider. When I hit the curb, it launched me into a huge highside. I ran after the bike, and all I could think about was getting back as many points as possible. I had so much adrenaline that I didn’t even feel the weight of the bike when I picked it up. The first lap back was kind of an inventory of bent parts and checking to make sure nothing was broken or leaking. Then I just started clicking off fast laps and setting my sights on any rider ahead of me. I was glad to get some valuable points back and not lose the Championship points lead. Having set the track record for my class after crashing, I knew I had the pace to battle for the win and get some points back in Race 2. I talked to my crew, and told them I was going to try to get behind the leader and then make a move for the lead with 4 laps to go, and that is exactly how it played out.
I have to give special thanks to Arai for the helmet that protected my head in a hard crash, Speed and Strength for the leathers that protected my body, and Alpinestars for the boots that protected my ankles and feet. Your products allowed me to be able to get back in race, as well as come back and win the next day.”
Thanks to all RiderzLaw/Aguilar Racing sponsors: Riderzlaw, Graves Motorsports, SolarMax Technology, Torco Advanced Lubricants, Yamaha Motor USA, Taylormade Racing, FTECU, Speed and Strength, Arai Helmets, Galfer, Motion Pro, Superlite Sprockets, SpeedAngle, Dunlop Tires, Thermal Technology Race, EF Signs, SBK Paint
More, from a press release issued by Genuine Broaster Chicken Honda:
Cue the Music!
Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA
If this season were made into a Disney movie with the typical plot line of, “forged in the crucible of adversity and tragedy a hero arises” we’d be ¾ through the film and our hero would still be getting knocked around. We’d be anxiously awaiting the transitional scene where the protagonist realizes his true abilities and begins to turn the tables on all evil doers. That critical moment when the music swells, your blood vessels dilate and you watch with pride as they assume their destiny. Explosions, crowds cheering, forest animals come clapping.. all that feel good stuff happening to let you know things are going to be okay. Well, that’s a lot like what happened this past weekend at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, minus the explosions. Before we can get to the scene of triumph, let’s set the story.
Pittsburgh International Race Complex is a new (to MotoAmerica) circuit that is situated in Wampum, PA. Set in the stunning country side of Western PA, this facility is actually quite mature but has never held a national level event such as MotoAmerica. Earlier in the season, the series conducted a two day test wherein the suggestions for improvement were provided to the facility in order to increase rider safety. The facility having made those improvements meant that Jake and the team were eager to get the weekend going.
The mood ahead of the first practice session was one of complete optimism. Scott Jensen, the team’s crew chief, was confident that the intermittent electrical issues have been resolved and whatever popped up this weekend could be dealt with. Jake was feeling good following the performance at Sonoma Raceway and knew that if given the chance, he could ride with the main group at this fast and flowing natural terrain circuit. It was immediately clear that all that optimism and confidence was well placed. From the start, Jake was on the gas on flying around the track. Coming over the crest of T1 was a sight to see. Jake was taking the wider line and catching Josh Hayes, closer and closer each lap. That entire session, Jake looked like the Jake of 2014 – 15. Experiencing no issues what-so-ever, Jake finished that session in P4 after topping out in 3rd at one point.
Everything was set for Free Practice Two, and once again, Jake was immediately quick. With an hour on the clock, Jake wasted no time. The lap times were coming down and again, Jake was inching closer and closer to the leaders. In the waning moments the entire field was going faster and faster including Jake. When the session was finally called Jake had managed P6 despite going faster than he had in the morning. Those combined efforts however, landed the Genuine Broaster Chicken / Honda squad firmly in Superpole. There was a sense of relief as the team worked on the motorcycle that evening. Everyone was looking forward to Saturday’s Superpole.
Now would be that moment in the movie where you’d expect the hero to have that transitional moment, but there’s a hook and it’s not quite that pivotal scene. As the team prepared for the lightning fast 15 minute qualifying session, everything seemed be perfect. The weather was ideal, a slight breeze blew across the paddock and the crowd was beginning to build on the hillsides. Jake heads out for the three laps that his Dunlop Pre-Qualifying tire will give him. He’s on a quick pace, again inside the top 5, and then he comes into the pit for the tire change. Knowing that time is a massive factor, there could be no room for any hiccups. However, there was a slight snag in changing the tire. Keeping a close eye on the clock, Scott kept his cool by stating, “There’s plenty of time… there’s plenty of time.” Tire goes on, Jake hops on the bike and heads out for about three and half minutes left in the session. Just enough for an out lap and a flyer as time expires. Jake was on a quick lap when two other riders would catch a tow and drag him back. He would cross the line in P8, obviously not where he or the 32Crew wanted to be. The bright side, however, is that for the first time, the team has a bike that other riders are wanting to use for a tow.
We are at that moment, that impactful moment we’ve been waiting for. Race One. The stage has been set. The riders have taken their marks. The anticipation was palpable. Jake would go out for his warm-up lap and signal that everything was feeling good. There was nothing to do now but watch and hope that everything is indeed, “good”. The starting line on the Pittsburgh track is actually on a downhill slope with a slight bend towards the first corner. When the revs come up, the brakes are being squeezed extra hard to hold all that horsepower at bay while fighting gravity that wants to pull the bikes forward. Lights out! Jake made an ok start, not great but good. He would get crowded through T1 and down the straight leading towards the chicane. Soon he would begin moving back up through the pack and by half distance Jake was in 7th place catching on the leading Superstock bikes. It would take a few laps for him to get up and around the 6th place bike of Danny Eslick, but once he did, he was quickly able to dispatch with Mathew Scholtz and Jake Lewis. Now, Jake Gagne had his Genuine Broaster Chicken / Honda in a solid 4th position with about 6 laps remaining. His times were faster than those riders ahead of him. With roughly three laps to go, Jake was on the rear wheel of Roger Hayden who was sitting in 3rd. The gap between the top four was minimal, with no rider clearly having an advantage over the other. As the laps clicked down, Jake was doing all he could to get past Roger. At the line, Jake would grab his highest position of the season, 4th, and with it a feeling of victory. His time was a little over 4 secs behind the winner but his massive wheelie down the front straight accounted for about 3 seconds of that gap. In what has been an incredibly difficult season, this fourth place felt like a win.
Unable to rest on the previous day’s results, the team arrived at the track early Sunday morning to ensure that the bike would be even better for Race Two. Would race two be the unbelievable climax to the movie that had been playing out all weekend? Would the hero go on to blaze a new path that leads to victory after victory? Or would it end in some cliff hanger that leads to a sequel? It would be a mixture of both. For the start of this race, Jake would notice that there might have been a slight hesitation in the clutch during the warm-up lap. But with no time to do anything about it, he would take his position and just do what he could to make the clutch last.
The lights went out, and again, Jake didn’t get the greatest of launches. Cue the music for a battle scene. Jake would find himself well in the main group and have to fight through the pack. He was making progress, not as much as he had the day before, but he was going forward and passing other riders. He had worked himself back towards the leaders and was in 6th when Hayden Gillim would suffer a horrifying crash into Turn One. This brought out the red flag and with it, a plot twist. As Jake entered the pit, he looked at Scott and said he had lost the quick shifter again and.. the clutch was slipping. This would mean that the clutch may not last another start. Without knowing how much time there would be during this red flag the 32Crew only spent a split second making the decision to change the clutch and repair the quick shifter. Before the words were out of Scott’s mouth, Evan Steal had already begun removing the clutch cover bolts and Danny Anderson was rewiring the shifter. With an unknown time limit, it was all hands on a burning deck! The engine temp was somewhere around, “Surface of the Sun” and without hesitation, the clutch was exposed and plates began flying out. The 5 minute call was made and there was a sense of impending doom. The track public address was commenting that the team may not have the time to get the clutch finished. This moment would turn out to be the transitional moment. The entire paddock was fixated on the team’s pit. Everyone was questioning whether or not they could do it. The 1 minute call went out and still the 32Crew hadn’t finished. The suspense was building. As time was expiring, the pit was at a feverish pace to get body work back on. Then at exactly T Minus 0.0 Jake was off and heading out for the warm-up lap. They had done it! The crew had pulled off a miracle and rewired a quickshifter and changed a clutch on a hot engine within the span of roughly 10 minutes.
As exciting as that was, there was still a race to run. Jake retakes his place and all he has to do is make it for a six lap sprint race. Lights out again, this time the start was not good. Jake would end up towards the back of the pack heading into Turn One. With only six laps would he have time to work through the pack again? The drama wasn’t over.. Jake would work through the pack again. His times were getting faster and faster but time was not on his side. Despite his best efforts, he would cross the line in 7th place. Not where the team believed he would be, but way better than the DNF had they not changed the clutch.
Looking back on the weekend, it couldn’t have been better. The result in race one is something that will certainly be highlight reel material for years to come. It was an incredible weekend and now the team is bolstered with confidence heading into the penultimate weekend at New Jersey.
Jake Gagne – Superbike
“Coming off of Sonoma, we wanted to keep that momentum going. We tested here a few months ago and I really like this track. The layout was fast and flowing and it suited this Honda CBR1000RR SP2. I was really looking forward to seeing how much the Genuine Broaster Chicken / Honda has improved at this track since Scotty and the guys have fixed the major issues we’ve dealt with for most of the season.
Right away I was feeling really good around this place. After the free practice sessions were over, we were all feeling pretty confident that we had what it takes to run with the factory guys. I got caught out a bit in Superpole and that was a bummer as it knocked me down to P8. I feel like I could’ve been on the second row, but that how it goes sometimes.
Race one was amazing! I just put my head down and made some passes and kept to my own race. It took a second to realize I was behind Rog and the leaders. It felt great to be right there fighting with those guys. I know we have the potential to do that every race and it felt really good to finally show that.
Race two was a bit of a bummer. I’m glad Hayden is ok. The problem was that I had lost my quickshifter again and the clutch was getting a little soft. My crew is amazing! They just jumped in and fixed the bike to give me the best chance following the red flag. I just got a bad start and had to fight through the pack all over again but this time I only had six laps to do it. I got P7 but I know we could’ve done better. The guys really busted their butts to get me the best possible bike so my hats off to them.
It felt great to get that fourth place for everyone involved with the team. Genuine Broaster Chicken, Honda, Parts Unlimited, Motorex, Akrapovic and everyone who helps us to go racing. On to New Jersey!”
Danny Walker – Team Principal
“This weekend, it feels like a win. P4 felt like a win! It was certainly one of the best races we’ve had in a long time and I’m very proud of Jake and the entire crew for their efforts. My hat is off to them.
At this point though, the setbacks are getting hard to stomach, I know the guys are working so hard and when something pops up, it’s like, “Ohh can we get a break?” Despite the setback in race two, there were so many positives this weekend. Those few little gremlins couldn’t put too much of a damper on what was an incredible weekend.
We’re heading to New Jersey now with some solid finishes and feeling like we can continue moving forward. Jake does really well at NJMP. He’s won two Championships there so we’re hoping that those gremlins stay away and allow us to show the true capabilities of our rider and this Genuine Broaster Chicken / Honda.”
Scott Jensen – Crew Chief
“The past few race weekends have been a bit frustrating from my end as I have felt like we have had a competitive bike for the last three or four events, but have not been able to show it due to a list of weird and unforeseen issues. We have all been working very diligently to put the bike at the front of the field and it appears we are making solid progress.
Race one felt like a huge weight had been lifted from the entire team. It wasn’t quite a podium but being able to run down the lead group and finish a very close fourth was a great result for us and we are very excited to finally show how competitive this new 2017 CBR1000RR SP2 really is!
Unfortunately, race two brought one more odd electrical issue and the clutch that kept Jake from performing to his ability. Compounded with the red flag, we finished an unfortunate 7th place.
I have to give a huge shout out to the guys Danny Anderson and Evan Steal as they yet again performed the impossible and managed to get an unplanned clutch swap and quick shifter repair done during the red flag in race two. Both repairs were done perfectly! You really can’t ask for better guys to work with!
Bring on NJMP!!”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Champions Riding School:
YCRS / Mazziotto Racing get their first win!
Millville, NJ, August 30, 2017 – From a bike in a crate to the top of the MotoAmerica SuperStock podium in two weeks.
This past weekend, YCRS/ Mazziotto racing finally got to try out a 2017 Yamaha R6 and to say it was a success is a mild understatement.
Just a few short weeks ago, the Yamaha Champions Riding School’s R6 sat in a crate at Markbilt Racebikes in Millville, NJ, awaiting bodywork from Armor Bodies. Armor molded and shipped the bodywork, all the hard parts made it to Markbuilt Racebikes from Woodcraft Technologies and Mark Rozema put his magic touch on it. It wasn’t meant to be a rush but when the old 2016 bike was sold (after two podiums earlier this year), there was no turning back!
In almost stock trim the bike was tested during a Summit Point Raceway CCS Team Endurance race that Anthony used as a test and tune day. After coming in often for feedback and changes, the team settled into a good base set up and Anthony then ran his fastest lap ever at Summit Point…and the second fastest lap of the CCS weekend. All on the 68th lap and still on the original tires.
For the bike’s debut race weekend, the team traveled to Pittsburgh International Race complex where a great inaugural event was put on by MotoAmerica. Chris Kruzel from Drippin Wet Graphics was kind enough to deliver the graphics and spend the evening applying them (aka not letting us mess them up!). His results speak for themselves.
Friday practice started shaky with the rear tire getting torn up within the first three laps of practice and the team not having the other compound in place due to fear of running out of its tire allotment. The team had to use the feedback Anthony gave in the first three laps and make the needed changes for the afternoon practice.
In the afternoon, the minor changes helped but it was all about the tire. The medium just didn’t work but the hard compound was the ticket. This will most likely change for next season but the new surface was too abrasive for anything but a hard compound tire. With Anthony coming in every few laps with feedback and his dad making the changes, he got faster and faster throughout the afternoon session. Finally, he finished the practice fastest in the SuperStock class with some ideas for more changes.
Overnight the changes were made, except one. Engine braking. Anthony said the bike was still slowing when he was finished braking and it was causing the back end to come around when he needed it to be in line so he could get the bike pointed in the right direction and accelerate. This “adjustment” is in the electronics and no one on this team had the expertise to make those adjustments. So we did what anyone would do…we guessed!
Saturday morning we made one more change after a few laps and put a fresh tire on for qualifying. The changes and the tire were the hot ticket. Anthony loved the bike and not only qualified in first position in his class, but fourth overall. The only riders that would start ahead of Anthony would be the three factory team riders who are in a higher class. This was a pretty big deal!
Saturday afternoon was race time and to be honest, it was less dramatic that the weeks and hours getting ready for the weekend! Anthony started in first and finished in first. He had a small battle early with fellow New Jersian and NJ MiniGP rival Brandon Paasch but pulled away after a few laps. In the end, the YCRS/ Mazziotto Racing Markbilt Yamaha R6 crossed the line 8.3 seconds ahead of second place. Our first SuperStock win! It was a very emotional podium ceremony that ended with a press conference and cameras. All very exciting. But we needed to do it again the next day, so back to work.
Sunday morning warmup came and we were fastest but Anthony said he really needed help with that engine braking as we knew the others were making changes to beat us: the second race would not be as easy as the first. Mike “CornDog” Cornwell is a dictionary of information but he is our Ohlins suspension guy, so he introduced us to Chris from Flashtune who is the data genius behind 75% of the bikes in the paddock; Chris was really helpful as he plugged in the laptop and made the requested engine-braking changes.
In the race, Anthony looked to repeat as he battled with Brandon for a little while before pulling away, but this time, Jason Aguilar (also a multi-time Yamaha Champions Riding School graduate) got by Brandon early and went with Anthony. Jason is on a faster, more developed bike, and when combined with a rider of Jason’s caliber, fending off the current points leader was going to be an uphill battle. Aguilar is not leading the championship points due to luck. With a hand-full of laps to go, Jason outpowered Anthony down the front straight and took the lead. Every lap, Jason would pull away in the straights and Anthony would spend the time in the technical sections catching back up but never got close enough to make a pass until the very last corner of the race where he had no chance of out-powering Jason to the finish line.
In the end, we missed the win and a perfect weekend by .4 seconds. Not too shabby for a half-a-shoe string team on a basically stock motorcycle with a rookie rider who only met his new bike a week ago! No excuses, the challenges just added a little extra pride to the accomplishments of the weekend. Jason, Michael Gilbert, and Nick McFadden are great riders who we look up to. Hopefully, being at our home track in New Jersey in two weeks can bridge those advantages and be kind enough to allow us back on the podium.
As always, thanks to our supporters. Yamaha Champions Riding School for the coaching, the bike, and the overall guidance of the program. AGV and Dainese for keeping the rider safe and comfortable. Markbilt Racebikes for making the bike race ready and flawless for the weekend. Woodcraft including Hindle Exhausts and Armor Bodies for providing the pieces that make this a legitimate race bike. Scott Powersports for the support. N2 Track Days for the best track time on the east coast. SBS Brake pads for allowing Anthony to race an entire weekend with absolutely zero brake fade or complaints of any kind. JT’s Barber Shop. Brothers BBQ. Yamaha Motor USA. Motion Pro. Yamaha Generators for quietly powering all of our pit spaces. NJ MiniGP for providing the foundation for Anthony as a young racer. Artie Meeker for taking his vacation days to help the team and be the glue. “The original” Anthony Mazziotto Sr. (grandpa) for driving us all over the place and cooking those awesome meals…and most of all Anthony Jr. (dad) for everything you do and especially for almost never missing any little detail.
This little team didn’t have the budget for the west-coast MotoAmerica races this year, but look for YCRS / Mazziotto Racing to continue the success at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 9 & 10 with MotoAmerica and then the following weekend at Barber Motorsports Park.
About YCRS
Yamaha Champions Riding School is the nation’s premier motorcycle training program. YCRS is the evolution of the Freddie Spencer High Performance Riding School and is led by former racer, author, and right hand man of Spencer; Nick Ienatsch. YCRS uses “Champions Habits” to teach all riders the skills and techniques used by the top riders in the world to go faster, stay safer, or both while concentrating on the way in which modern motorcycles are designed to be ridden. YCRS is dedicated to making all motorcycle riders safer and more in control of their riding, no matter what type of riding they do. For more information visit http://www.champschool.com