The State Of Yates: Georgia’s First Family Of Motorcycle Road Racing

Grandfather Luckey Yates (left) and father Aaron Yates (right) are integral members of Ashton Yates’ Jones Honda crew. Family means everything to them. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Georgia has always been a state well-known for its motorcycle road racers. From Tripp Nobles, to Mike Smith, to Chris “Opie” Caylor, to Scott Russell, to Geoff May, riders from the “Peach State” are deeply baked into the cobbler that is AMA road racing history.

But, if there is a “First Family of Motorcycle Road Racing” in the state of Georgia, it has to be the Yates family from Milledgeville, located a little over two hours from Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Led by patriarch Luckey Yates, who is a former motorcycle racer himself, the Yates family has been in the AMA and MotoAmerica paddock for pretty much as long as anyone can remember.

Ashton Yates’ father Aaron (19) won his first AMA professional road race, appropriately, on Father’s Day, June 19, 1994, at Loudon. *Photo by Henny Ray Abrams.*

Aaron Yates took his father Luckey’s love of motorcycle racing to a new level. I was fortunate enough to be there to witness Aaron’s very first AMA professional road racing win at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon. The man who came to be known as “Double A-Ron The Enforcer” because of his hard-charging style and take-no-prisoners attitude honored his father Luckey’s racing legacy by taking the victory in the Harley-Davidson 883 SuperTwins race over Shawn Higbee and Scott Zampach, appropriately, on Father’s Day, June 19, 1994.

Aaron Yates won 43 AMA road races and is 11th in all-time AMA wins. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Aaron has said he credits his family with playing a key role in his success.

That success includes the 750 Supersport Championship in 1996, the Supersport Championship in 2002, and two Superstock Championships, in 2005 and 2008.

Aaron won a total of 43 AMA road races in his career and is ranked 11th in all-time AMA victories. Of those 43 career race wins, 9 of them were in Superbike and as a member of Yoshimura Suzuki.

Ashton Yates, the third-generation motorcycle racer, is doing great work in continuing the family legacy. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

And now, Aaron’s son and Luckey’s grandson Ashton is racing in the Stock 1000 and Superbike classes aboard a Jones Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. Luckey, Aaron, Ashton, and even Ashton’s sister Skyla are all working together on the team.

Skyla Yates holds the umbrella for her brother Ashton, while grandpa Luckey keeps an ever-watchful eye. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Ashton started racing in MotoAmerica when the series first began in 2015. He has finished on the podium in four different race classes: KTM RC 390 Cup, Junior Cup, Stock 1000, and Superbike Cup. He became the first rider to stand on the podium in two different classes on the same day when he did so in Supersport and Junior Cup at his home track, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in 2018. Last year, Ashton won the MotoAmerica Superbike Cup as he continues to climb the MotoAmerica ladder just like his father Aaron did in AMA racing before him.

Watch Ashton Yates and his Jones Honda racing team compete in both the Stock 1000 Championship and the Superbike Championship this weekend at his home track Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. With two Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SPs at his disposal, Ashton will participate in two practice sessions, four qualifying sessions, and four races.

And, all the while, Yates patriarch Luckey will keep a watchful eye over Ashton, Skyla, Aaron, and the rest of the Yates family.

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