We are set now, for the second race of MotoAmerica's doubleheader, here at Utah Motorsports Campus. Race one, was a scorcher! Race two, should be no less frenetic and exciting. On full fuel tanks yesterday, Toni Elias, even though he was your winner, didn't feel right about his motorcycle. What will race two bring us? We're soon to find out. Red lights, on. Red lights, out, and away we go! Toni Elias gets away well, but Cameron Beaubier is the bloke with the horsepower, and he shoots around the Suzuki to take the lead immediately into corner number one. Garrett Gerloff, just as he did in yesterday's contest, is third at the moment.
J.D.Beach, in the meantime, is holding off Josh Herrin. Beach in fifth place. Herrin in sixth place. Garrett Gerloff and Matt Scholz are ahead of this duo. We have six laps on the board already, of 23 scheduled. So, we are already at quarter distance. We watch from the onboard camera on Josh Herrin's Suzuki GSXR1000 and see how physical the track here in Utah is. We watch the lean angle of Josh Herrin's body as he turns into the corner, dancing on the edge of adhesion at all times, which is what makes motorcycle racers such athletes. Shift your weight, from left to right, depending on which turn you are going into. Almost on the rev limiter, in top gear, shift down a gear into the next corner, a left hand turn.
All in second gear through this part of the course. Herrin is trying hard to work past J.D. Beach and gain another place. Maybe he went back down to first gear, and then, he'll short shift up to second gear. Josh Herrin, in the meantime, makes a move on J.D. Beach. Lap eight, and Herrin passes Beach for position. What can he do as we are approaching the halfway mark here in Utah, of the second and final race of the weekend. We have three riders, and three different motorcycles in a fight for the eighth spot, right at the back end of the top ten placings.
It's Jake Gagne vs. Cameron Petersen vs. Jayson Uribe. We have a BMW racing a Yamaha racing a Honda. Oh dear! The Westby Racing motorcycle, the Yamaha of Matthew Scholz, over and out! He's gone down, and hit the air fence in one of the turns. That is what it's there for, to protect the riders, should they fall. But, there's big damage to the motorcycle and it's game over for Mat Scholz on this day. Scholz was fourth on the road, and now, Josh Herrin will inherit that place. Scholz is OK. He is limping a bit, and the visor has come away from the front of his helmet.
Red flag on the course. So, we will restart this motorcycle race. Re-rack 'em, and we're off and underway again. Revs rise. Red lights, on. Red lights, out! It's time for the restart! It's a ten lap shootout to determine the winner. Poor old Cameron Beaubier gets bogged down at the start, and guess who, Toni Elias, is in the lead, with clear track ahead. Elias can control things from the front. This happens in any form of racing. The good riders and drivers, they can clear away and haul the mail at the start, and then, they have clear sailing ahead while the other blokes in the field are scrapping away for position behind them. Beaubier strikes early, and while the iron is hot! But, so does Garrett Gerloff!
Gerloff decides, "OK. I've had enough of just sitting here!" and screams past into fourth place past his rivals. He's right up with Josh Hayes and Toni Elias now. Elias says, "no you don't", and Gerloff says, "think again. I've got you covered, buddy." But Toni Elias, he's a terrier and he'll nip at your heels. He goes right back by Gerloff into the next s curve. We move on to lap four of the restarted race. One lap away from the halfway mark, as Josh Herrin has passed Garrett Gerloff for third spot, look. Beaubier will have his hands full with Josh Herrin through corners seven and eight, which, here at Utah Motorsports Campus are called Agony and Ecstasy.
Oh dear! A rider gets spat out by his bike, and gets launched right over the handlebars! Ouch! That was weird. That's not right, that. Who is the rider who has gone down? Jeremy Coffey on the #42 Speed Monkey BMW S1000RR got the worst of that deal, right in front of Max Flinders aboard the Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha YZF R1. That whole fracas was at the exit of corner number seven. Halfway home now, and the scrap between Elias and Beaubier is as hot and heavy as ever. Beaubier is going to have a go at Elias! What's going to happen? We can see that Toni Elias stops the bike, standing the Suzuki on it's nose right at the middle of the apex. This gives Beaubier his chance to pounce.
Beaubier makes the corner ahead of Elias. It'll be a drag race! Elias has the position on Beaubier into the corner, but, no dice! Beaubier beats him to the next right hand turn! This is thrilling racing, ladies and gentlemen! This is what motorcycle road racing at it's best is all about! Lap six and Toni Elias is back into the race lead! Amazing stuff! Garrett Gerloff has moved onto the podium as he makes a pass on Josh Herrin as well. Beaubier sends it on the inside, riding his Superbike as if it were a flat track dirt bike, set up for sliding on a dirt oval. Elias swaps the lead with Beaubier again! Oh my gosh, this is fantastic! It's the final lap of the second race here in Utah.
It's mano e mano between Toni Elias and Cameron Beaubier to the checkers in this one, folks. Beaubier is trying to square up Elias for the run to the flag. Toni Elias is controlling the speed into the turn. Cameron Beaubier pops out to the outside, and he's up the inside but runs wide! This isn't going to work for Beaubier. He's running out of time! Elias has the position on the inside. Toni Elias ducks under the bubble, the fairing, for aerodynamic advantage, and he flies towards the checkered flag, taking the win here, in race two at Utah Motorsports Campus! Wow! What a finish!
#24 Toni Elias Suzuki GSXR1000
Another win for Toni Elias in the EBC Brakes Superbike division. Elias and Beaubier talk after the finish of the race, congratulating each other, or, Cameron is wondering, "Toni, how on earth did you have the power and the speed to beat me?" Good, clean, hard racing, in race two at Utah. The next event for MotoAmerica is in mid July at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, on the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey, California. Join us, there, for more action, and until then, so long, for now.
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Monday, June 17, 2019
MotoAmerica Highlights: Utah Motorsports Campus Race 1
Utah Motorsports Campus in Tooele, Utah, is the scene for the next round of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. It's time for race one. Spoiler alert! As many as seven riders were in the lead of this motorcycle race. Let's check out the highlights of race one, and then, we shall move on to race two. Of course there are indeed two races every weekend in MotoAmerica competition.
It is time for race one for MotoAmerica in Utah. Red lights, on. Red lights, out! Away we go! A couple of riders at the back of the grid, jumped the start or so it appears. The marshals will have to examine that. But, as per usual, her comes Cameron Beaubier going for the lead of this motorcycle race right out of the blocks. Matt Scholz is doing his best to get past Garrett Gerloff as well. Gerloff on the outside, and here comes Josh Herrin, look. Herrin is charging already! Folks, don't worry. You will be able to see this race in it's entirety. Watch what happens. This is some great action we have already!
Herrin is flying right now, and Gerloff has the afterburners on on his motorcycle as well! 23 laps on the board for this race, and we are already three laps in. J.D. Beach is also coming up, fast. Oh my! Just as we are trying to sort out riders down the order, Herrin is making a move for second on his team mate, Garrett Gerloff, taking Gerloff by surprise, look. In replay, we can see he does the slingshot between turns five and six and he has the move covered. Lap six now, and we have three Yamaha's in the top four places.
We look in replay, and Gerloff took J.D. Beach entirely by surprise. We're past halfway in the race now, and Cameron Beaubier has just dominated race one here in Utah. We look at the championship points standings and Cameron Beaubier for Yamaha as well as his closest pursuer, Suzuki's Toni Elias, they are tied for the championship lead at the moment, 167 points apiece. Garrett Gerloff is 50 markers behind in third spot on 117 points, and Josh Herrin is only a single point behind Gerloff, 51 points in-arrears. Josh Herrine wants by Cameron Beaubier.
He is telling Cameron, "look, mate, I'm not going to let you run away with this race, or with your points lead." Herrin has the right gearing and the right attack angle out of The Attitudes, a twisting section of S curves here at Utah Motorsports Campus. In the meantime, Garrett Gerloff has also made a pass, look, on Toni Elias. Elias says, "no you don't, sunshine", and takes the fight right back to Garrett Gerloff headed for turn one! Elias is on the move! He lunges inside Cameron Beaubier as well! How bad do you want it? What will you do to get it? Poor old Cameron Beaubier has lost two places.
He might still get a podium out of this race, and we still have another to run as well. The action is not over yet. Matt Scholz has also passed Garrett Gerloff. The Westby Racing Yamaha is now fourth in this motorcycle race. J.D. Beach takes advantage of a slip up by Garrett Gerloff and says, "thanks for opening the door, Garrett. I'll step right through, sir." Matthew Scholz has now taken his Westby Racing bike, #11 to third spot and gotten around Cameron Beaubier. Beaubier is just not having the race he'd like, here in race one in Utah. Oh dear! We have a rider down, hard! Dust all over the shop here, look. J.D. Beach has crashed! Ugh! He was just in sight of the podium! We watch the Attack Performance Yamaha rider in replay.
He runs wide over the curbs, tried to turn, but the bike was gone at that point and he low sides right off the road. Hold on a second. Ladies and gentlemen, we have more drama on the circuit. Josh Herrin has a mechanical issue with that bike. Has the engine gone bang? Is there something amiss in the electronics system? What's the matter? Maybe he had a braking issue and just couldn't stop the bike properly. Meanwhile, we are indeed on the last lap of race one in Utah and Toni Elias is going to take the victory. Elias is the 2017 EBC Brakes Superbike champion, and he wins this race at Utah! His fourth race win of the year so far. Matthew Scholtz and Garrett Gerloff round out the podium.
Jake Lewis scores a top five spot. Josh Herrin comes back to finish in sixth spot. It should be noted that there was a mega battle for seventh place all the way to the finish line, between Jake Gagne, David Anthony, and Jason Uyribe! They all almost crossed the line together!
#24 Toni Elias Suzuki GSXR1000
Race two highlights are coming up. Stay tuned for that.
It is time for race one for MotoAmerica in Utah. Red lights, on. Red lights, out! Away we go! A couple of riders at the back of the grid, jumped the start or so it appears. The marshals will have to examine that. But, as per usual, her comes Cameron Beaubier going for the lead of this motorcycle race right out of the blocks. Matt Scholz is doing his best to get past Garrett Gerloff as well. Gerloff on the outside, and here comes Josh Herrin, look. Herrin is charging already! Folks, don't worry. You will be able to see this race in it's entirety. Watch what happens. This is some great action we have already!
Herrin is flying right now, and Gerloff has the afterburners on on his motorcycle as well! 23 laps on the board for this race, and we are already three laps in. J.D. Beach is also coming up, fast. Oh my! Just as we are trying to sort out riders down the order, Herrin is making a move for second on his team mate, Garrett Gerloff, taking Gerloff by surprise, look. In replay, we can see he does the slingshot between turns five and six and he has the move covered. Lap six now, and we have three Yamaha's in the top four places.
We look in replay, and Gerloff took J.D. Beach entirely by surprise. We're past halfway in the race now, and Cameron Beaubier has just dominated race one here in Utah. We look at the championship points standings and Cameron Beaubier for Yamaha as well as his closest pursuer, Suzuki's Toni Elias, they are tied for the championship lead at the moment, 167 points apiece. Garrett Gerloff is 50 markers behind in third spot on 117 points, and Josh Herrin is only a single point behind Gerloff, 51 points in-arrears. Josh Herrine wants by Cameron Beaubier.
He is telling Cameron, "look, mate, I'm not going to let you run away with this race, or with your points lead." Herrin has the right gearing and the right attack angle out of The Attitudes, a twisting section of S curves here at Utah Motorsports Campus. In the meantime, Garrett Gerloff has also made a pass, look, on Toni Elias. Elias says, "no you don't, sunshine", and takes the fight right back to Garrett Gerloff headed for turn one! Elias is on the move! He lunges inside Cameron Beaubier as well! How bad do you want it? What will you do to get it? Poor old Cameron Beaubier has lost two places.
He might still get a podium out of this race, and we still have another to run as well. The action is not over yet. Matt Scholz has also passed Garrett Gerloff. The Westby Racing Yamaha is now fourth in this motorcycle race. J.D. Beach takes advantage of a slip up by Garrett Gerloff and says, "thanks for opening the door, Garrett. I'll step right through, sir." Matthew Scholz has now taken his Westby Racing bike, #11 to third spot and gotten around Cameron Beaubier. Beaubier is just not having the race he'd like, here in race one in Utah. Oh dear! We have a rider down, hard! Dust all over the shop here, look. J.D. Beach has crashed! Ugh! He was just in sight of the podium! We watch the Attack Performance Yamaha rider in replay.
He runs wide over the curbs, tried to turn, but the bike was gone at that point and he low sides right off the road. Hold on a second. Ladies and gentlemen, we have more drama on the circuit. Josh Herrin has a mechanical issue with that bike. Has the engine gone bang? Is there something amiss in the electronics system? What's the matter? Maybe he had a braking issue and just couldn't stop the bike properly. Meanwhile, we are indeed on the last lap of race one in Utah and Toni Elias is going to take the victory. Elias is the 2017 EBC Brakes Superbike champion, and he wins this race at Utah! His fourth race win of the year so far. Matthew Scholtz and Garrett Gerloff round out the podium.
Jake Lewis scores a top five spot. Josh Herrin comes back to finish in sixth spot. It should be noted that there was a mega battle for seventh place all the way to the finish line, between Jake Gagne, David Anthony, and Jason Uyribe! They all almost crossed the line together!
#24 Toni Elias Suzuki GSXR1000
Race two highlights are coming up. Stay tuned for that.
Friday, June 7, 2019
MotoAmerica race highlights for the rest of the season
Yours truly will highlight most of the racing in MotoAmerica for 2019. Stay tuned for more from the rest of the season including Superbike, as well as Supersport and Stock 1000 races.
Thursday, June 6, 2019
Motorweek Retro Review | 1993 Honda CBR600F2
Motorweek's Retro Review, takes a look at the 1993 Honda CBR600F2.
Monday, June 3, 2019
More motorcycle racing ideas
Still contemplating writing about old, archived motorcycle races on this blog, when the time permits, especially since yours truly has had zero time to delve into the more current races from World Superbikr and MotoGP. Really considering delving into old 500cc Grand Prix and Isle of Man TT material, and you will likely hear more about that. Stay tuned.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
MotoAmerica, Road America: Day 2
A little different routine this weekend, as we are coming to you, live from Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the latest races in the MotoAmerica EBC Brakes Superbike Championship. Today, Saturday, is race one, and race two, will follow, live, tomorrow. So, no need, really, for highlighted coverage. Yours truly, has found time (amid covering other races), to go live for these two events, at the famous, fabulous, 4 mile ribbon of asphalt, Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. This is, one of the best road racing tracks in the country, for riders on two wheels, or, drivers on four wheels.
Yours truly was hoping to blog race one, but, it was not broadcast on TV. Let's try race two. First, a recap of Saturday.
Race 1 recap
In race one, Toni Elias and Josh Herrij got away well, and Herrin wiggled up the hill, being passed by Garrett Gerloff. Cameron Beaubier went sideays, and Beaubier tried chasing him down, but it was not enough. Toni Elias is your winner. It is time, to go at it, in race number two of the weekend. Glad to have you with us on this Sunday evening. We are at Road America, for the Dunlop Road America Championship. After this race, we will come up to the halfway mark of the season. Strange weather was the story on Saturday. Toni Elias got the hole shot, but Josh Herrin, hew was scrapping, hard. Kyle Wyman crashed, and should be OK for today's race.
The Yamaha's ran after the Suzuki's, but Toni Elias ended up passing Josh Herrin on the Yamaha, even though Herrin could make up time. The times were not what people expected, because of the weather. Our old pals J.D. Beach and Garrett Gerloff, both were in contention, but they weren't in the lead picture. Herrin and Elias were pointing fingers at each other after race one.
#24 Toni Elias ESP. Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR1000
Garrett Gerloff, he wants a win in EBC Superbike. He has won in the lower divisions, and has been a champion. But, he wants a win. Gerloff did very well on a 600cc bike, but the Superbike, that motorcycle is a completely different kettle of fish. His team mate, Josh Hayes, has really been a big help. At Road America, the front straightaway, goes uphill. Road America has an uphill straight that crests and sends the front wheel into the air. Wheelie control is a major help for the bike. Keep the throttle open, and make sure the chassis of the bike, is rigid. Avoid using the rear brake. Races have been lost and won at Road America by as little of a thousandth of a second.
The bikes are on the grid. J.D. Beach, after yesterday's race, there is something in the electronics called Engine Protection Strategy. At 196 miles an hour, some oil moved into the engine, and a sensor was tripped, to shut the engine off. The system has been shut down, so the engine will keep running. Beach was able to recycle the thing. Wow. J.D. Beach, with his dilemma with Engine Protection Strategy, he knew the steps to reset the motor. In Super Pole, qualifying was wet. Toni Elias chases Josh Herrin, and he eventually passes Herrin with Josh Hayes third in qualifying.
Four miles. Eight right hand corners, six left hand corners. This track has had no changes really, for many years. Its a classic circuit. Turns five and eight are good passing spots. Turn nine, the Carousel is another great passing point. Canada Corner is also famous. Turn 14, the last turn, is another great passing spot. We'll be ready to start the race, soon. The bikes are on the grid. David Anthony has five broken ribs from a Motocross training accident, and can't ride the bike. He'll need to heal in two weeks before the next race in Utah. More about that at the end of this blog entry.
Josh Herrin wants to win, and has one chance with Yoshimura Suzuki. Kyle Wyman crashed out of race one, and he has a new missing winglet from the spare bike. The Ducati V4R can go over the hill at full chat with no restriction. Those winglets are stock on the motorcycle and that's how the organizers want the team to run the bike. Race two, is go! Toni Elias and Josh Herrin fly to turn one for the first time in this 13 lap race. Kyle Wyman is behind J.D. Beach and he'll get a double draft off Beach and Cameron Beaubier. Yamaha went with a harder compound Dunlop tire. Toni Elias is on the Extra Soft front tire.
Josh Herrin is trying to make up ground. What can he do? Herrin and Yoshimura Suzuki also changed shocks on the motorcycle. He went really well through turn three on Saturday. Toni Elias is off like a rocket, but can Josh Herrin or Josh Hayes go for it? J.D. Beach is trying to go with the lead group. Herrin tries to draft pass Elias and can't do it. Toni's bike begins to wiggle. He rides the motorcycle in a very loose way. The Yoshimura Suzuki's yo yo between how they run, based on setups. Different parts of the track suit each rider individually.
These two blokes are not fighting. They are running in lock step at the moment. Cameron Beaubier wants by Garrett Gerloff ASAP. 2:12.4 for Elias, 2:12.2 for Herrin, and here comes Cameron Beaubier, trying to close up. J.D. Beach is dropping behind the leaders. Through the Carousel on lap three, into the chicane they go. Herrin's bike might be a tad better than Toni Elias' bike. Elias squares the corner, and Herrin carries more speed right into the turn. Beaubier is making inroads. In 2018, Herrin set the race lap record in race one at 2:18.195. They scream down the back straight. Elias and Herrin have similar setups except the linkage that connects the shock and the swing arm.
Elias' bike loses some stability at high speed, but he can handle it. Beaubier is steaming right up behind the Suzuki's, look. But then, the Suzuki's gap the Yamaha on the straight. The lap times for all three of these chaps are all in the 2:12 bracket, but Beaubier, look, passes both Suzuki's! Wow. He wants this. Garrett Gerloff wisely tucks in. Beaubier chasing Herrin, and Beaubier has a tad more pace than Elias at this moment. Herrin accelerates out of Canada Corner and through the uphill esses. Herrin has a drive down the front straight. Herrin's bike was a missile on Saturday. He was flying!
Cameron Beaubier's crew chief Rick Hobbs says that the electronics were tuned down a tad on Beaubier's motorcycle. Elias and Herrin are the two protagonists here. The bikes run single file. Gerloff has gone to third place. He goes past Toni Elias for second. Wow. Beaubier wants a double slipstream, but will he make it? Elias does not pass Gerloff. Dear me. We're just halfway through this motorcycle race. Elias does not want Herrin to get away. The sun is shining, at Road America. This is going to get very competitive. These races ebb and flow. Wild at first, then relaxed in the middle, and throw caution to the wind before the motorcycle race ends.
Toni Elias, as a smaller rider, he can't grip the foot pegs as well as if he had a taller stature. In replay, we see Josh Herrin trying to reel in Elias. He's set up to hit the corner. Elias is really running well, but not speeding away. Up the wheelie hill again, and side by side stuff here, look. Elias hits the throttle early, but Herrin is running his own race. He's not too worried about how Elias is riding. Gerloff, he's lost some time, and poor old Cameron Beaubier, these darn Suzuki's are the bane of his existence at the moment, driving him bonkers.
Hayes is a multiple American Superbike champion, but still does not have the measure of the Suzuki boys. Just four laps to go as these guys are running in the 2:12 bracket. It's nearly over, race two, here at Road America. Beaubier brakes deep into turn five. Rick Hobbs, his crew chief, knows that if Beaubier's foot slips off the peg, he's in attack mode. Maximum attack, as rally drivers call it. Beaubier is the shark, Elias is the minnow. But Herrin, he could be the bigger shark, wanting to swallow both these chaps in one gulp.
A bobble there, for Beaubier. Herrin was able to go by when Elias had to sit up. Is Elias in tire trouble? Herrin is leading this race. Other riders in the top ten, Cameron Petersen, Matt Scholz, J.D. Beach, Jake Gagne, Kyle Wyman, and more. Elias' bike is still wiggling like a bowl of Jello. He has the electronic traction control, all the riders do. Poor old Beaubier is riding a bucking bronco into turn five. A lap and a half remains. Herrin wants this victory. Elias is working as hard as possible. White flag lap this time.
Elias has to act, now. Herrin is going to try, but no. Herrin has to fly here. Onto the back straight for the final time, look. Elias goes defensive, and the Yamaha is reeling both Suzuki's in. Herrin makes the pass, in no man's land before Canada Corner! Uphill one more time in the esses. Elias fell! He ditched the bike! Herrin wins! Beaubier second! Gerloff in third! No right handlebar for Elias! He has lost this race after his fall! So, Herrin has won.
#2 Josh Herrin Suzuki GSXR1000
Garrett Gerloff gives credit to his team, but knew it was game over when he lost the draft. He did get points and had two podium finishes this weekend. Cameron Beaubier says he gave it all and everything he had, and dove into turn five deeper than ever. He was pushing as hard as possible, tried to get past Toni Elias, and ended up in second spot, and he's glad Toni Elias is OK after his crash. Josh Herrin, meanwhile, is disappointed for Toni Elias, his team mate. Herrin pulled alongside, Elias rolled off the throttle, and Herrin had to back it down. Then, he made it work towards trhe end of the race.
Herrin wants a good setup on his bike, because it is a true racing bike. The next race, is in two weeks at Utah Motorsports Campus in Tooele, Utah. Yours truly hopes to cover it, but has some four wheeled racing to watch, first. Toni Elias says he was working well with Josh Herrin, his team mate, and admits he played his final card before falling off the motorcycle, and yet, he is content with the fact that Josh Herrin, his team mate, won. He knew, too, that Cameron Beaubier had an advantage in Canada Corner.
That's racing, as they say. He was at the limit, and Cameron Beaubier came out of nowhere. So, Josh Herrin was right there. Kyle wyman, Jake Gagne, and Jake Lewis, they had their own battle. Toni Elias leads the championship by 14 markers over Cameron Beaubier. Cameron Beaubier only nine points away from Toni Elias. We look ahead to Utah, and stay tuned for that coverage, when yours truly has the time to write about it. So long, folks. We'll see you in Utah, and until then, take care.
Yours truly was hoping to blog race one, but, it was not broadcast on TV. Let's try race two. First, a recap of Saturday.
Race 1 recap
In race one, Toni Elias and Josh Herrij got away well, and Herrin wiggled up the hill, being passed by Garrett Gerloff. Cameron Beaubier went sideays, and Beaubier tried chasing him down, but it was not enough. Toni Elias is your winner. It is time, to go at it, in race number two of the weekend. Glad to have you with us on this Sunday evening. We are at Road America, for the Dunlop Road America Championship. After this race, we will come up to the halfway mark of the season. Strange weather was the story on Saturday. Toni Elias got the hole shot, but Josh Herrin, hew was scrapping, hard. Kyle Wyman crashed, and should be OK for today's race.
The Yamaha's ran after the Suzuki's, but Toni Elias ended up passing Josh Herrin on the Yamaha, even though Herrin could make up time. The times were not what people expected, because of the weather. Our old pals J.D. Beach and Garrett Gerloff, both were in contention, but they weren't in the lead picture. Herrin and Elias were pointing fingers at each other after race one.
#24 Toni Elias ESP. Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR1000
Garrett Gerloff, he wants a win in EBC Superbike. He has won in the lower divisions, and has been a champion. But, he wants a win. Gerloff did very well on a 600cc bike, but the Superbike, that motorcycle is a completely different kettle of fish. His team mate, Josh Hayes, has really been a big help. At Road America, the front straightaway, goes uphill. Road America has an uphill straight that crests and sends the front wheel into the air. Wheelie control is a major help for the bike. Keep the throttle open, and make sure the chassis of the bike, is rigid. Avoid using the rear brake. Races have been lost and won at Road America by as little of a thousandth of a second.
The bikes are on the grid. J.D. Beach, after yesterday's race, there is something in the electronics called Engine Protection Strategy. At 196 miles an hour, some oil moved into the engine, and a sensor was tripped, to shut the engine off. The system has been shut down, so the engine will keep running. Beach was able to recycle the thing. Wow. J.D. Beach, with his dilemma with Engine Protection Strategy, he knew the steps to reset the motor. In Super Pole, qualifying was wet. Toni Elias chases Josh Herrin, and he eventually passes Herrin with Josh Hayes third in qualifying.
Four miles. Eight right hand corners, six left hand corners. This track has had no changes really, for many years. Its a classic circuit. Turns five and eight are good passing spots. Turn nine, the Carousel is another great passing point. Canada Corner is also famous. Turn 14, the last turn, is another great passing spot. We'll be ready to start the race, soon. The bikes are on the grid. David Anthony has five broken ribs from a Motocross training accident, and can't ride the bike. He'll need to heal in two weeks before the next race in Utah. More about that at the end of this blog entry.
Josh Herrin wants to win, and has one chance with Yoshimura Suzuki. Kyle Wyman crashed out of race one, and he has a new missing winglet from the spare bike. The Ducati V4R can go over the hill at full chat with no restriction. Those winglets are stock on the motorcycle and that's how the organizers want the team to run the bike. Race two, is go! Toni Elias and Josh Herrin fly to turn one for the first time in this 13 lap race. Kyle Wyman is behind J.D. Beach and he'll get a double draft off Beach and Cameron Beaubier. Yamaha went with a harder compound Dunlop tire. Toni Elias is on the Extra Soft front tire.
Josh Herrin is trying to make up ground. What can he do? Herrin and Yoshimura Suzuki also changed shocks on the motorcycle. He went really well through turn three on Saturday. Toni Elias is off like a rocket, but can Josh Herrin or Josh Hayes go for it? J.D. Beach is trying to go with the lead group. Herrin tries to draft pass Elias and can't do it. Toni's bike begins to wiggle. He rides the motorcycle in a very loose way. The Yoshimura Suzuki's yo yo between how they run, based on setups. Different parts of the track suit each rider individually.
These two blokes are not fighting. They are running in lock step at the moment. Cameron Beaubier wants by Garrett Gerloff ASAP. 2:12.4 for Elias, 2:12.2 for Herrin, and here comes Cameron Beaubier, trying to close up. J.D. Beach is dropping behind the leaders. Through the Carousel on lap three, into the chicane they go. Herrin's bike might be a tad better than Toni Elias' bike. Elias squares the corner, and Herrin carries more speed right into the turn. Beaubier is making inroads. In 2018, Herrin set the race lap record in race one at 2:18.195. They scream down the back straight. Elias and Herrin have similar setups except the linkage that connects the shock and the swing arm.
Elias' bike loses some stability at high speed, but he can handle it. Beaubier is steaming right up behind the Suzuki's, look. But then, the Suzuki's gap the Yamaha on the straight. The lap times for all three of these chaps are all in the 2:12 bracket, but Beaubier, look, passes both Suzuki's! Wow. He wants this. Garrett Gerloff wisely tucks in. Beaubier chasing Herrin, and Beaubier has a tad more pace than Elias at this moment. Herrin accelerates out of Canada Corner and through the uphill esses. Herrin has a drive down the front straight. Herrin's bike was a missile on Saturday. He was flying!
Cameron Beaubier's crew chief Rick Hobbs says that the electronics were tuned down a tad on Beaubier's motorcycle. Elias and Herrin are the two protagonists here. The bikes run single file. Gerloff has gone to third place. He goes past Toni Elias for second. Wow. Beaubier wants a double slipstream, but will he make it? Elias does not pass Gerloff. Dear me. We're just halfway through this motorcycle race. Elias does not want Herrin to get away. The sun is shining, at Road America. This is going to get very competitive. These races ebb and flow. Wild at first, then relaxed in the middle, and throw caution to the wind before the motorcycle race ends.
Toni Elias, as a smaller rider, he can't grip the foot pegs as well as if he had a taller stature. In replay, we see Josh Herrin trying to reel in Elias. He's set up to hit the corner. Elias is really running well, but not speeding away. Up the wheelie hill again, and side by side stuff here, look. Elias hits the throttle early, but Herrin is running his own race. He's not too worried about how Elias is riding. Gerloff, he's lost some time, and poor old Cameron Beaubier, these darn Suzuki's are the bane of his existence at the moment, driving him bonkers.
Hayes is a multiple American Superbike champion, but still does not have the measure of the Suzuki boys. Just four laps to go as these guys are running in the 2:12 bracket. It's nearly over, race two, here at Road America. Beaubier brakes deep into turn five. Rick Hobbs, his crew chief, knows that if Beaubier's foot slips off the peg, he's in attack mode. Maximum attack, as rally drivers call it. Beaubier is the shark, Elias is the minnow. But Herrin, he could be the bigger shark, wanting to swallow both these chaps in one gulp.
A bobble there, for Beaubier. Herrin was able to go by when Elias had to sit up. Is Elias in tire trouble? Herrin is leading this race. Other riders in the top ten, Cameron Petersen, Matt Scholz, J.D. Beach, Jake Gagne, Kyle Wyman, and more. Elias' bike is still wiggling like a bowl of Jello. He has the electronic traction control, all the riders do. Poor old Beaubier is riding a bucking bronco into turn five. A lap and a half remains. Herrin wants this victory. Elias is working as hard as possible. White flag lap this time.
Elias has to act, now. Herrin is going to try, but no. Herrin has to fly here. Onto the back straight for the final time, look. Elias goes defensive, and the Yamaha is reeling both Suzuki's in. Herrin makes the pass, in no man's land before Canada Corner! Uphill one more time in the esses. Elias fell! He ditched the bike! Herrin wins! Beaubier second! Gerloff in third! No right handlebar for Elias! He has lost this race after his fall! So, Herrin has won.
#2 Josh Herrin Suzuki GSXR1000
Garrett Gerloff gives credit to his team, but knew it was game over when he lost the draft. He did get points and had two podium finishes this weekend. Cameron Beaubier says he gave it all and everything he had, and dove into turn five deeper than ever. He was pushing as hard as possible, tried to get past Toni Elias, and ended up in second spot, and he's glad Toni Elias is OK after his crash. Josh Herrin, meanwhile, is disappointed for Toni Elias, his team mate. Herrin pulled alongside, Elias rolled off the throttle, and Herrin had to back it down. Then, he made it work towards trhe end of the race.
Herrin wants a good setup on his bike, because it is a true racing bike. The next race, is in two weeks at Utah Motorsports Campus in Tooele, Utah. Yours truly hopes to cover it, but has some four wheeled racing to watch, first. Toni Elias says he was working well with Josh Herrin, his team mate, and admits he played his final card before falling off the motorcycle, and yet, he is content with the fact that Josh Herrin, his team mate, won. He knew, too, that Cameron Beaubier had an advantage in Canada Corner.
That's racing, as they say. He was at the limit, and Cameron Beaubier came out of nowhere. So, Josh Herrin was right there. Kyle wyman, Jake Gagne, and Jake Lewis, they had their own battle. Toni Elias leads the championship by 14 markers over Cameron Beaubier. Cameron Beaubier only nine points away from Toni Elias. We look ahead to Utah, and stay tuned for that coverage, when yours truly has the time to write about it. So long, folks. We'll see you in Utah, and until then, take care.
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