Random notes, comments, statistics, musings, and bits of trivia from MotoAmerica Superbikes at Texas:
Forged In The Moto2 Crucible
People can say what they want about the time that Josh Herrin, Cameron Beaubier, and Sean Dylan Kelly spent racing in the FIM Moto2 World Championship but it’s notable that, in two out of the three Steel Commander Superbike races at Circuit of The Americas, those three Moto2 veterans ended up on the podium together. In fact, in a quasi-biblical sense, Herrin begat Beaubier who begat Kelly in Moto2. Each rider followed the other into the Moto2 crucible, and they all emerged the better for it. The third and weekend-concluding Superbike race at COTA was an instant classic with all three riders absolutely going all-out to the checkered flag.
Pan America West
Here’s proof that good things not only come to those who wait, but good things also happen in threes. Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson‘s Cory West has been a professional road racer since 2001, and he’s raced pretty much every kind of motorcycle imaginable. So leave it to the Arkansan to win his first AMA-sanctioned road racing championship in the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship and aboard a Harley-Davidson Pan America. West already has a trophy wife in Patricia Fernandez-West. Now, he’s got a Championship trophy, and soon, very soon, he will have a trophy baby. In fact, Patricia is due right around the time that we’ll be racing at New Jersey Motorsports Park. West wrapped up the Super Hooligan title, but he also races in the Mission King Of The Baggers Championship. Will he skip Jersey? Not with Patricia as team manager of Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson. Dr. Carl Price, have you ever delivered a baby? At a racetrack?
Del Valle Velocities
Circuit of The Americas is a technical track with some almost inconceivably sharp corners that turn back on themselves. But, it’s also got straightaways that produce some of the highest speeds attainable in MotoAmerica competition. Five race classes competed at COTA, and below are the riders who achieved the highest trap speeds in their respective classes. Tytlers Cycle Racing‘s JD Beach topped them all aboard his BMW M 1000 RR Superbike:
Steel Commander Superbike:
JD Beach: 191.2 miles per hour (Race 2, Lap 11 of 12)
Supersport:
Tyler Scott: 165.8 miles per hour (Race 1, Lap 11 of 11)
Mission King Of The Baggers:
Kyle Wyman: 164.6 miles per hour (Race 1, Lap 6 of 6)
Mission Super Hooligan National Championship:
Alessandro Di Mario: 158.8 miles per hour (Race 1, Lap 6 of 6)
BellissiMoto Twins Cup:
Dominic Doyle: 144.5 miles per hour (Race 2, Lap 1 of 8)
The Snake Strikes Again In Supersport
Kentuckian Jake Lewis‘s prowess on Supersport motorcycles has now transcended three different iterations of middleweight machinery. In 2012, he won three races and podiumed 11 times on his way to clinching the AMA Pro SuperSport East title. Then, in 2014, he was runner-up in the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Championship on the strength of his four podium finishes that included two race victories. On Saturday at COTA, Lewis won Supersport race one aboard his Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R750, which was his fourth podium result of the season. Not only is Lewis ranked third in the Supersport standings, but he also finished third in the 2024 Mission Super Hooligan Championship.
Making Quick Work Of COTA
Portions of the 3.41-mile, 20-turn Circuit of The Americas were repaved in an effort to remove some of the bumps that are a result of the unstable soil that is a common characteristic in that part of the Lone Star State. Well, the work that was done was a resounding success, and the proof was in all the lap records that fell over the weekend. Some of the records were broken and re-broken more than once as more and more rubber was laid down on the surface with each successive lap and session throughout the three-day MotoAmerica Superbikes at Texas event.
Here’s the rundown of which race classes and which riders in those race classes broke track records:
Superbike:
Lap Record: 2:06.559 – Cameron Beaubier, Qualifying 2
Race Lap Record: 2:07.891 – Cameron Beaubier, Race 2
Mission King Of The Baggers:
Lap Record: 2:13.709 – Troy Herfoss, Qualifying 2
Race Lap Record: 2:14.231 – Kyle Wyman, Race 2
Mission Super Hooligan National Championship:
Lap Record & Race Lap Record: 2:15.535 – Tyler O’Hara, Race 2
BellissiMoto Twins Cup:
Lap Record: 2:17.147 – Alessandro Di Mario, Qualifying 2
Race Lap Record: 2:17.997 – Alessandro Di Mario, Race 1
Herrin & 46
If you’re into numerology like me, then you might get a kick out of this little bit of irony. Following the three Steel Commander Superbike races at COTA, Josh Herrin has a 46-point lead going into the final round of the 2024 Championship. Well, we all know which world-famous rider is known for the number 46, but did you also know that one of Herrin’s first competition numbers was also 46, in honor of that other Mr. 46?
Super Di Mario
I can’t stop talking about 15-year-old Alessandro Di Mario. The Kentucky-based rider, by way of Italy where he was born, came into the final round of the 2024 BellissiMoto Twins Cup Championship 19 points down, but with a puncher’s chance to win the title. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but the tousle-haired lad, whose quiet demeanor belies his fierce competitiveness, emerged from the weekend at COTA with two absolutely dominant race wins that helped propel him to his first MotoAmerica title and AMA number-one plate.
The moment was clearly not too big for Di Mario. He seized it with gusto and sent notice that he is one of MotoAmerica’s best and brightest young riders. Oh, and just for kicks, Di Mario also raced a non-homologated Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Streetfighter V2 in the final two races of the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship where he crossed the finish line eighth in race one and then second in race two. His results were nullified by rule, but that doesn’t change his accomplishment. Keep an eye on this young rider. He is going places.
From Di Mario To DiBrino
Speaking of the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship, it was good to see Andy DiBrino back on track again after he was injured in a crash during Super Hooligan race one at Daytona International Speedway way last March. DiBrino was back aboard his Competition Werkes/Gray Area/KTM 890 DUKE R in the weekend’s two races at COTA.
Rocco Is Still Rolling
While things didn’t go the way he hoped they would at COTA for Rocco Landers, who had the 2024 BellissiMoto Twins Cup Championship slip right through his fingers, the 19-year-old three-time MotoAmerica Champion did win race one of the Mission King Of The Baggers Championship aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Road Glide, which was his first win in this, his tookie season in MotoAmerica’s Big Twin rivalry. And, with that win, Landers became the first rider in MotoAmerica history to win races in four different race classes. Also, with 53 all-time AMA race victories, Landers is ranked third among active riders with only Cameron Beaubier (85) and Jake Gagne (56) ahead of him.
To purchase tickets for MotoAmerica events, click HERE
For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, click HERE
