Two-time MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion Jake Gagne led a select group of four riders taking part in a two-day preseason test at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, the three-mile racetrack located two hours north of Los Angeles that his Fresh N’ Lean Progressive Yamaha team frequents in preseason testing.
Gagne was joined at the test by his teammate Cameron Petersen, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz and MP13’s Kayla Yaakov. Gagne and Scholz spent the day on their Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbikes with Petersen focusing on the Yamaha YZF-R6 that he rode to second place in last year’s Daytona 200. Petersen will race the R6 in the Daytona 200, March 11, but will switch to his R1 for day two of the Buttonwillow test tomorrow. Yaakov, meanwhile, spent her Tuesday on the MP13 Yamaha YZF-R7.
Gagne’s best lap on the day, a 1:42.077, came on his 36th lap. Scholz ended up second fastest with a best of 1:44.428 and his day ended prematurely when his Yamaha caught fire in the team’s garage. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire and the team will have the South African back on track tomorrow morning.
Petersen’s best lap on his Supersport bike was a 146.389 with Yaakov lapping at 1:50.922 on the bike on which she will compete for the REV’IT! Twins Sport Championship.
