MotoAmerica/Paul Carruthers
VIRginia International Raceway Here We Come
Bring on the Championship of Virginia at VIRginia International Raceway this weekend, May 12-14.
Two things have become abundantly clear after just two rounds and four races in the Motul Superbike class: the level of Superbike racing in the U.S. has never been higher; and a rivalry has started that takes us back to the heated days of Gobert vs. Mladin, Mladin vs. Spies, Young vs. Hayes. The result: A 2017 MotoAmerica Series that promises to thrill – both on and off the racetrack.
The man at the top coming into round three at VIRginia International Raceway is Yoshimura Suzuki’s Toni Elias. The Spaniard has won three of the first four races, leads the Motul Superbike point standings by 26 points, and was also the protagonist in the off-track war of words with two-time defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier in the post-race press conference at Road Atlanta.
It all started on Saturday at Road Atlanta. Beaubier made what Elias deemed a rough pass in turn 12 before riding on to victory, his first of the season. Elias promised retaliation and it came the next day, in race two on Sunday in Georgia. Elias moved over on Beaubier in the braking zone for turn 12 and then rode on to victory, his third of the season. The bad feelings between the two began right before the podium ceremony and spilled over into the post-race press conference. The rest is history and now the battle resumes at VIR for round three of the series, the Championship of Virginia.
War of a weekend with a 1st and a 3rd. Big thanks to @yamahamotorusa and everyone in my corner. 🇺🇸👍🏻😜 A post shared by Cameron Beaubier (@cameronbeaubier) on Apr 30, 2017 at 5:07pm PDT
Now, the duo come to VIR as the only two to win a Motul Superbike race thus far this season with Elias winning three and Beaubier one. Although he hasn’t won a race yet, Elias’ Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Roger Hayden heads to Virginia tied for second with Beaubier with 69 points, 26 behind Elias. Hayden has been consistently fast and on the podium in three of the four races, with two second-place finishes.
Bobby Fong gave the Superbike men a tough time in the opening round in Texas, ending up on the podium in race one on his Bazzaz Superstock 1000-spec Quicksilver Latus Motors Kawasaki as the Superstock class runs together on-track with the Motul Superbike class. Fong is currently fifth in the Superbike Championship and is tied for the lead in the Bazzaz Superstock 1000 Championship with M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Jake Lewis, the winner of race two at Road Atlanta.
I just wanted to apologize for not giving my team-fans and myself another win this past weekend in ATL. Personally we always struggled at this track. Gave it all we had 110% just like always. Had a little bad luck with a racing incident In race two with another rider NO sweat. We're tied for first in the points but REALLY motivated to come back stronger at @virnow in a few weeks time. Excited about some new racing parts for my #zx10r coming our way! 💪🏼 @latusmotorsracing @quicksilverproducts @shoeihelmetsusa @daineseofficial @nextmotochampioncycling @roswellbicycles @racekawasaki @bikeonscott A post shared by Bobby Fong (@bobbyfong50) on May 1, 2017 at 4:15am PDT
Two Supersport races will also be held at VIR this weekend and thus far, those races have been spectacular. After two rounds and three races (Supersport only raced once at COTA), only eight points separate the top three in the championship. At the top of the heap is Frenchman Valentin Debise, the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki rider winning his first race of the season and second of his MotoAmerica career in race two at Road Atlanta. He is four points clear of defending Supersport Champion Garrett Gerloff. Third place is held by 2015 Supersport Champion JD Beach.
Some good racing at Atlanta last week with @jdbeach95 and @garrettgerloff. Ended with one more 2nd and a win 😈 A post shared by valentin debise (@valentin_debise) on May 4, 2017 at 1:20am PDT
Much like the Motul Superbike/Bazzazz Superstock 1000 class, Superstock 600 also runs on track with the Supersport class and thus far it has been dominated by M4 medAge Suzuki’s Nick McFadden. The Kentucky rider won the first two races of the season at Road Atlanta (Superstock 600 did not race in Texas) and comes to VIR with a perfect points tally of 50. That’s 14 points better than Team MG55’s Michael Gilbert and Aguilar Racing’s Jason Aguilar, with the two Californians tied for second in the championship after swapping second and third place finishes at Road Atlanta.
Did the double today!! Thanks to the team for a great bike this weekend!The first two wins of my pro career felt good 👍🏻! Onto the next A post shared by Nick McFadden (@nickmcfadden16) on Apr 30, 2017 at 3:55pm PDT
The KTM RC Cup also made its season debut at Road Atlanta and both races were also won by one racer – Benjamin Smith. The 16-year-old from Pennsylvania was perfect at Road Atlanta, beating his 17-year-old Quarterley Racing/On Track Development teammate Draik Beauchamp in both outings, though both races were close as the KTM Cup races always are. Third place in the title chase after the opening round is held by 14-year-old Alex Dumas, the Canadian posting third- and fourth-place finishes in the two races in Georgia. Tyler Wissel also scored his first career MotoAmerica podium with a third in race two.
