MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that U.S. Service Members Tyler Vargas-Andrews and Jake Simmons will serve as the Grand Marshals of the sixth round of the 2024 MotoAmerica Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, July 12-14.
Vargas-Andrews and Simmons are both former military who suffered life-changing injuries and both are motorcycle racing fans.
“We are honored to have these two servicemen as our Grand Marshals for our WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca round,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “MotoAmerica has tremendous respect for the men and women who serve in our country’s military. Having Tyler and Jake with us for our event makes us proud. We know they will both have a great experience, and we look forward to spending time with them at the racetrack.”
Tyler Vargas-Andrews: Originally from Northern California, Vargas-Andrews enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2017 as an infantry rifleman and was promoted to Corporal on his first deployment. He remained in a line platoon as squad leader until 2020 when he applied and attended V2/1’s Scout Sniper Screener, which he passed and was selected for. He remained a P.I.G. (Professionally Instructed Gunman) and was billeted as a team radio operator and was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant in February of 2021. On August 26, 2021, Vargas-Andrews was critically injured in Kabul, Afghanistan, when a bomber detonated a suicide vest nearby, killing 13 U.S. service members.
Jake Simmons: For as long as he can remember, Simmons wanted to serve his country. Growing up in a military family in Fort Carson, Colorado, Simmons joined the Utah National Guard in 2019 to help pay for his schooling. After enlisting, he won the Cycle Award and Iron Soldier Award in basic training. He was also awarded top PT and Battalion Hero Award at Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Simmons was one week away from his Warrant Officer Flight School Board and going into active duty when he was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle, suffering paralyzing injuries. Simmons has gone on to finish his bachelor’s degree while rehabilitating and was also awarded an Able Flight Scholarship to earn his private pilot’s license, which he earned this week after passing his check ride.
Vargas-Andrews and Simmons are business partners in Flatline Hardgoods, a company that handmakes custom-made knives by disabled veterans supporting military non-profits. For more information on Flatline Hardgoods, visit https://flatlinehardgoods.godaddysites.com
