JD Beach To Race In Spanish Superprestigio Dirt Track
MotoAmerica Star To Take On The World In Flat Track
Paul Carruthers
The Superprestigio Dirt Track may have lost its two headline stars this week when MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez and former Grand National Champion Brad Baker opted out of the Spanish race, but yesterday they gained 2015 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion JD Beach.
“I’m really, really excited,” Beach said in a press release issued by American Flat Track. “It’s been almost a decade since I last raced there, and I’m looking forward to going back and seeing some of the people and places I remember from 2008. I think I’ll be riding a Yamaha 450; Brad (Baker) is helping me line things up now. He also sent me a set of his 17-inch wheels to practice on, so that helps, too.”
In addition to Beach, Briar Bauman will also be headed across the Atlantic to race in Barcelona on December 16.
Stoked to head to Barcelona for the @superprestigio_dtx and represent 🇺🇸 Huge thank you to @jmees1 for getting everything lined up, can’t wait to see what it’s about. #superprestigio 📷 Tom Stein A post shared by Briar Bauman (@briarbauman14) on Nov 24, 2017 at 2:27pm PST
Marquez, who’s won two of the four Superprestigio events (with Baker winning the other two), took himself out of contention for a third win recently due to the physical and mental wear-and-tear of the MotoGP championship. “I need some rest,” Marquez said recently, “and it’s time for other Spanish riders to win the Superprestigio.”
The other news is that, like Marquez, Baker will not compete due to a previous injury and subsequent off-season rehab.
“I’m definitely disappointed,” Baker said. “This would have been my fifth time competing over there, so it stings, and I will definitely miss it. I’ve made some very good friends over there, been able to practice there a lot, and the event itself is a blast.” “As soon as I knew I couldn’t make it,” Baker added. “I suggested J.D. and Briar to the promoter. The smaller (17-inch) wheels and road racing rain tires take a little getting used to. But knowing those two, and how talented and versatile they are, I’m sure they’ll represent American dirt track well.”