De Alessio Piana / Corsedimoto.com
In MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 in Virginia, Jake Gagne dominated and Loris Baz took the Ducati to the podium.
From one dominator to another. This year, MotoAmerica lost its “king” Cameron Beaubier, started in Moto2, but found in Jake Gagne a sort of clone. Having freed himself from the cumbersome presence of the multiple AMA/MotoAmerica champion, the Californian continues to reap successes with ruthless continuity. With records, moreover. In addition to the triumphant Race 2 at Road Atlanta, Jake Gagne took a convincing victory in the first round at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, beating his closest rivals (so to speak…).
UNATTAINABLE WIN
If we look at the ranking, we might think that Jake Gagne meets no adversary on his way. With the R1 dressed in the colors of Fresh N' Lean, the former Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup champion legitimizes these successes at a breakneck pace. In other words, “à la Beaubier”: Pole record, track record on the first flying lap, and solo flight to victory. The competition only has the crumbs and must take advantage of any misstep, as was the case during the first race of the season at Braselton with the engine of his R1 going up in smoke.
SCHOLTZ CONFIRMS
While the 2017-2018 World Superbike meteor with Ten Kate Honda is irrepressible,
Matthew Scholtz (Westby Racing Yamaha) can only console themselves with a good second place. Thanks to a consistent performance resulting from a victory and two second places, as well as the aforementioned zero scored by Gagne at Road Atlanta, the South African retains the championship lead, with prospects of repeating at least one podium tomorrow in Race 2.
WHAT A FIGHT FOR THE PODIUM!
Speaking of the fight for the top 3, while Jake Gagne et Matthew Scholtz took the lead, the fight for third place was spectacular for 20 laps. Josh Herrin,
Loris Baz et Cameron Petersen competed without restraint, the experience of the 2013 AMA Superbike Champion making the difference in the last lap to ensure another 100% Yamaha podium. For the Ducatista Loris Baz, still a rookie abroad, there are still some regrets for a third place that escaped at the last minute, showing some aggressive overtaking in the first corner, but also a few too many mistakes. Including the interpretation of the last turn, at the risk of losing even fourth position, only retained at the photo finish for a handful of thousandths on the combative Cameron Petersen.
DISASTER FOR FONG
The last driver mentioned finds himself partially saving the balance sheet of Team Hammer/M4 ECSTAR Suzuki because of the mishap experienced by
Bobby Fong. Firmly installed in third position with a margin of 4″7 over the trio of his pursuers, he slowed down noticeably on the eighth lap due to a temporary problem, inexplicably resolved immediately. Too late not to do better than twelfth position, Héctor Barberá even struggling to lead the old BMW of Scheibe Racing to sixth place in the general classification.
The video of the race thanks to Corsedimoto.com:
MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike 2021
Virginia International Raceway, Race 1 Standings:
1- Jake Gagne – Fresh N' Lean Attack Performance Yamaha – Yamaha YZF R1 – 20 lap in 28'22.548
2- Mathew Scholtz – Westby Racing LLC – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 11.849
3- Josh Herrin – Fresh N' Lean Attack Performance Yamaha – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 15.478
4- Loris Baz – Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati Panigale V4 R – + 16.272
5- Cameron Petersen – M4 ECSTAR Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – +16.278
6- Hector Barbera – Scheibe Racing – BMW S 1000 RR – + 23.184
7- Kyle Wyman – Panera Bread Ducati – Ducati Panigale V4 R – + 28.561
8- Jayson Uribe – FLY Racing ADR Motorsports – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – +52.113
9- Jake Lewis – Altus Motorsports – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – +52.400
10- Travis Wyman – Travis Wyman Racing – BMW S 1000 RR – + 54.474
11- Corey Alexander – HONOS HVMC Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10RR – +57.685
12- Bobby Fong – M4 ECSTAR Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 58.307
13- Geoff May – Geoff May Racing/VisionWheel.com – Honda CBR 1000RR-R- + 1'04.869
14- Max Flinders – Thrashed Bike Racing LLC – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 1’05.232
15- Michael Gilberts – Michael Gilberts Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 1’08.913
16- Andrew Lee – Franklin Armory/Disrupt/RG Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 1’16.894
17- Wyatt Farris – M4 ECSTAR Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 1 lap
18- Jeremy Coffey – Speed Monkey Racing – BMW S 1000 RR – 1 lap
19- Joseph Giannotto – Limitless Racing – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 1 lap
20- Hunter Dunham – Hunter Dunham Racing – Yamaha YZF R1 – 1 lap
21- Danilo Lewis – Tecfil Racing Team – BMW S 1000 RR – 1 lap
22- Jeffrey Purk – Legacy Dental PC – Yamaha YZF R1 – 1 turn
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Photo credit and rankings: MotoAmerica.com
