The following is from Yamaha…
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne returned to the top step of the podium in dominant fashion, claiming his 42nd premier class victory in MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2 at Barber Motorsports Park. Bobby Fong concluded the season’s opening weekend with a top-five finish, as the rain arrived as forecasted on Sunday and drenched the 2.380-mile track in Leeds, Alabama.
Despite the tricky conditions, Gagne shined. The three-time Superbike Champion slotted into second after the start and was briefly shuffled to third before taking over the lead on the opening lap. From there, he stretched out a comfortable gap to remain unchallenged, ultimately crossing the line with a 6.758-second margin of victory. With his third-place finish in Race 1, Gagne holds the runner-up spot in the championship, four points from the frontrunner after the opening round.
In Race 2, Fong didn’t get the start he was hoping for and was fifth. With not much time on his new bike in the wet, the Californian took a few laps to find his rhythm. He made the move for third on Lap 4 and began closing in on the rider ahead, looking poised to contend for another podium finish. Unfortunately, with around six laps to go, visibility issues forced Fong to back off, and he ultimately finished fifth. It was a strong debut weekend with the team, earning a second- and fifth-place finish to sit third in the championship.
The Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team now looks ahead to Round 2 of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, on May 2–4.
Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“Overall, it was a good weekend for the team. It should’ve been a 1-2 finish in the wet, but unfortunately Bobby’s helmet fogged up, which is a bummer. Jake’s finish was pretty awesome. He was happy to get back on top of the box. It’s been a while now, with his hand issues last season. We definitely have a great wet set-up, and this R1 has proven to be superior in those conditions. Both riders were really happy with the bike, and next time, we’ll get the 1-2 finish.”
Jake Gagne – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #32
“To start the year with a third and a first is pretty awesome. The conditions were crazy. Before the race, we were watching Supersport, and the track was flooding, with puddles everywhere. I think all of us guys were just wanting to be smart and make it through. I got off to a good start, and once I got the lead, I really put my head down, pulled a gap, and just maintained it from there. It’s important to get the lead because when you’re catching all that spray, you can’t tell where the puddles are, and it’s easy to hydroplane. I’m really happy with the weekend. It’s a good start to the year.”
Bobby Fong – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #50
“I’m a little bummed. Unfortunately, I had a little helmet issue out there, but I’m taking away the positives with the bike. That’s probably the best rain bike I’ve ever had. We had the podium in sight, and we felt comfortable. It took me a few laps to get going, but once we did, we felt comfortable. In the end, we still got some points with the top five. It’s just unfortunate that I missed out on the podium, but I’m happy with the team. I’m happy with the bike and looking forward to the next race. I’ve got some confidence heading going into a rain race now, and that’s a big positive for me.”
The following is from Rahal Ducati Moto…
Rahal Ducati Moto opened the 2025 MotoAmerica Supersport season with a pair of podium finishes and a promising foundation for the year ahead. Despite heavy rain and multiple weather delays on Sunday, the team stayed focused and walked away from Barber Motorsports Park with valuable points.
PJ Jacobsen led the charge aboard his XPEL-backed Panigale V2, finishing second in both races of the weekend. Sunday’s Race 2 was contested under wet and unpredictable conditions, but Jacobsen fought hard to bring home another podium result. With two runner-up finishes, he exits the opening round just one point behind championship leader Mathew Scholtz.
Kayla Yaakov handled Sunday’s challenging conditions with maturity and precision, securing a seventh-place finish in Race 2 aboard the No. 19 XPEL Ducati. While the rain made grip and visibility unpredictable, Yaakov maintained consistent pace and brought home a solid result to round out her return to competition.
Corey Alexander’s Day ended early after a high-side crash in Race 2 brought his weekend to a close with a DNF. The No. 23 Roller Die + Forming Ducati was launched into the air in the incident, but Alexander walked away without serious injury. Earlier that morning, he posted the fastest time in the rain-soaked morning warm-up, underlining the pace and potential in wet conditions.
Rounds 3 and 4 of the MotoAmerica competition will take place at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, May 2-4.
PJ JACOBSEN
No. 15 XPEL DUCATI PANIGALE V2
STARTED: 2nd
FINISHED: 2nd
CHAMPIONSHIP: 2nd // 40 Points
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “The amount of water on the track during Race 2 was absolutely insane. The conditions were pretty dangerous, but we brought it home in second place. I believe I could have won the race, but I was in my head and played it safe. [Mathew] Scholtz got third, and I was expecting him to be out of the race after his crash, but he managed to get back on the bike. We still grabbed a good 20 points. I’m happy with that, and we will move on to Road Atlanta and see if we can get a double-win there.”
KAYLA YAAKOV
No. 19 XPEL DUCATI PANIGALE V2
STARTED: 5th
FINISHED: 7th
CHAMPIONSHIP: 5th // 20 Pts.
WHAT SHE’S SAYING: “Today wasn’t the day I would’ve wanted. I had a really good feeling with the bike yesterday going into the dry race, but everyone knew that the conditions were going to be wet today. We didn’t get too many laps in during the warm-up today due to some mechanical issues, which put us on the back foot going into the race. In Race 2, I didn’t have much confidence from the start, but it happens in racing, and we win and lose together. Overall, it was a positive weekend. We are tied for fifth in championship points, and I kept it on two wheels, which is the most important part. Hopefully, we can dial in our wet weather setup and continue to get some good results.
COREY ALEXANDER
No. 23 ROLLER DIE DUCATI PANIGALE V2
STARTED: 6th
FINISHED: DNF
CHAMPIONSHIP: 10th // 10 Pts.
NOTES: Was riding as high as second before suffering an incident in Lap 7
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “I was excited to see the rain this morning, but I know how Barber [Motorsports Park] can be, especially when it rains as much as the forecast called for. Warmup was great this morning, and I felt really strong going into the race, but as it progressed, it got to a point where we shouldn’t have been out on track. It was treacherous for everyone, and the amount of water on the track caught us out. I believe we had the bike and the pace to win that race, if not fight for the win. We’re onto Atlanta now, and I’m excited to get back to a place we have had good results in the past. Thank you to the whole team. I’m looking forward to a great rest of the season.”
BEN SPIES
TEAM PRINCIPAL
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “All in all, it wasn’t a bad way to start the season. We would’ve liked a little bit more to get a win today, but with the conditions the way they were, everyone was in survival mode. Unfortunately, Corey had a pretty big crash, but he was riding well. PJ was riding great too, and he was smart with regards to the championship. Kayla did a great job. She didn’t have a ton of confidence going into the race, but the conditions were very difficult. Now, we are going to head to Atlanta and go for the wins.”
The following is from Suzuki…
Fresh off an impressive all-around showing at the Daytona season opener, Suzuki Motor USA (Suzuki) race teams were well prepared to come out swinging as the 2025 MotoAmerica Superbike and Supersport title fights officially got underway at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. A mix of sunny and wet conditions resulted in high drama, complete with alternating highs and lows, but didn’t prevent Suzuki from adding to its early-season victory tally.
Race Highlights:
* Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
o Superbike
* Sean Dylan Kelly qualified on the front row and claimed a pair of top fives in his Team Hammer return.
* Richie Escalante bounced back from a Saturday crash to fight his way up to sixth in the rain.
o Supersport
* Tyler Scott backed up his Saturday fourth with a gritty Sunday ride to salvage what points he could.
* Max VanDenBrouck scored a top-five finish in his Team M4 ECSTAR Suzuki debut weekend.
o Twins Cup
* Bad Boy Racing’s victorious Avery Dreyer took full advantage of his opportunity to ride the Team Hammer built Suzuki GSX-8R.
* RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines
o Twins Cup
* Matthew Chapin added a podium finish to his Daytona double win.
Sean Dylan Kelly (#40) showed instant pace on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R, claiming a pair of top-five finishes in both dry and wet Superbike conditions
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly proved an immediate factor at the front of the MotoAmerica Superbike field in his return to Team Hammer. Having dominated the Supersport class earlier in his career with the squad, SDK proved himself a force in his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R debut, qualifying third fastest and then securing a pair of charging fourth-place finishes in both the dry and the wet.
Kelly said, “It was a pretty wild weekend with two P4s. Of course I want more, but I’ll have to be content with this for now. In the dry race, I was really happy with the pace in the first half… I just got a bad start. The bike is new to me, but I will not let that happen again. I liked the times we were doing compared to the leaders. At the end, the rear tire was used up. For the wet race, I had a hard time with traction, but I was able to hang with the top five despite a lot of moments. I think our start really bodes well for things to come.”
Richie Escalante (#54) overcame a crash on Saturday and surged to sixth in Sunday’s wet Superbike race.
SDK’s former Supersport rival and current Superbike teammate, Richie Escalante, was similarly quick. After qualifying fifth fastest on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R, the Mexican born racer jostled for a podium position early in Saturday’s contest before suffering a crash while running in fourth. He made his amends in Sunday’s rainy affair, splashing his way up from an early 10th to take the checkered flag in sixth.
Escalante said, “The weekend had a lot of positives, with a couple of mistakes. And unlike last year, I am healthy leaving the track to get ready for Round 2. The pace in the dry felt really good. We had an issue, and I ended up crashing in the first race, but the bike felt the best it has to date, so that is promising for the season. In the wet, the setting was good, but I needed to build confidence through the race. By the end, I felt really good. The team did a great job for me and I am excited.”
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport ace Tyler Scott was his usual fleet self in the dry, qualifying fifth and racing to fourth aboard the next-generation GSX-R750 on Saturday. He was every bit as competitive in the wet on Sunday, running third late in the race before being thrown over the bars with just two laps remaining. Despite suffering the hard fall and the resultant damage to his machine, Scott remounted and flat-tracked his way to ninth even while lacking a front fairing, dashboard, and left footpeg.
“The weekend started off a little rough for us,” Scott said. “We were trying to get the bike to turn how I wanted it to, and we kept making progress. We got a good result Saturday, and then it rained on Sunday. It was going well in the wet race, and I was in a podium spot before I lost the rear in the Museum Corner. I was able to get back on and finish ninth so we got some points.”
Scott’s new teammate, Max Van, did well to make incremental improvements aboard the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 throughout the weekend. After registering a steady ride to 11th on Saturday, any thoughts that the young pilot would be in over his head in Sunday’s extremely slick race were proven wrong, as he raced his way to a maiden Supersport top five.
Max Van said, “I’m happy to get my first-ever top five in Supersport. The weekend makes me feel like I belong in the top five, and I will push to do it again for Atlanta. This is something of a struggle track for me, but the pace in the dry was good. Then I went quick in the wet warm-up, so I was feeling confident for the race. The team was great the first time out and having fast teammates pushed me as well.”
Bad Boy Racing’s Avery Dreher swung his leg over a Team Hammer-built-and-prepared Suzuki GSX-8R Twins Cup racebike this weekend and promptly used it as a vehicle for some memorable heroics. Stuck in fifth in the early going of Saturday’s race, Dreher found his groove and slithered his way into second. Once there, he gobbled up the big gap separating him to first to score a last-lap victory. Unfortunately, Dreher’s hope of a Sunday podium ended the same way it did for so many others – with a crash in the treacherous wet conditions that eventually saw the race red-flagged and called complete.
After winning Saturday’s race, Dreher said, “I was able to put it on the front row, which is decent, even though I wasn’t happy with my times. But we figured out a couple more things with the bike and got it pretty dialed in. I honestly didn’t think I had the rear tire left at the end – I was spinning around everywhere and didn’t want to push it too hard. But I have to say a big thank you to the whole Team Hammer crew for giving me this awesome opportunity, and thanks to the whole Bad Boy Racing team for helping me get up on this top step. I’m pretty stoked with this.”
It was a similar story to RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki’s Matthew Chapin, who opened the weekend with the Twins Cup points lead on the strength of his Daytona double. The reigning Junior Cup champ carried that advantage through Saturday with a measured ride to third aboard his Suzuki GSX-8R. However, Chapin too was a victim of Sunday’s conditions, crashing twice despite his best efforts. Despite the setback, he remains ranked second.
Of his Saturday podium, Chapin said, “It was a really good race. I didn’t have the pace to go with the guys at the front, so I knew to keep it within my abilities. I just have to give a huge thanks to the whole RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki team. I couldn’t do it without everyone behind me, and I want to keep this championship fight rolling.”
The 2025 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship resumes on May 2-4 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
The following is from Ducati…
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati) relied on his skill and experience to secure a podium finish in race two of the opening round of the 2025 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.
In torrential conditions that saw many top-seeded riders crash out, Herrin kept his cool and his Ducati Panigale V4 R pointed in the right direction, earning his first full wet weather podium on the V4 R in third place behind winner Jake Gagne and Cameron Beaubier.
The podium made up for what Herrin described as a challenging race, in which he secured fifth place behind the winner, Beaubier, in completely dry conditions.
Thus, Herrin leaves his first race as the number one plate holder for Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati, securing a credible fourth place overall in the championship standings. It’s still very early in the season as Herrin strives to become the first Ducati rider in AMA/MotoAmerica Superbike history to defend the championship title in 2025.
Josh Herrin – Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati #1
“We knew coming to Barber that the dry conditions were going to be hard, so in the rain, we tried something completely different,” Herrin said after race two. “If we didn’t, we’d have been fifth or sixth place, so it was worth it to roll the dice.
“Race one on Saturday was a difficult one for us. The rain came on Sunday morning, and I was super nervous, but we tried something in the warm-up that just clicked.
“Everything felt like in the past when I’d won races in the wet. Going into the race I was high on the confidence scale, but Jake (Gagne) pulled away early and I was with Cam (Beaubier). We had some issues with some lapped riders, and I was trying as hard as possible to make up the gap. I even did the fastest lap of the race on the last lap.
“But the main thing is the bike, and I made it home in one piece and I had fun. It’s been a long time since I’d had fun in the wet—we just needed to find the right set-up for my riding style on the Panigale V4 R. All in all, it was a good weekend and we’re ready for my home track of Road Atlanta in just under a month’s time.”
Round two of the 2025 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship is scheduled for May 2-4 at one of America’s favorite racetracks, Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
The following is from Robem Engineering…
In the first three MotoAmerica Twins Cup races of 2025, Robem Engineering rider Alessandro Di Mario missed out on his first win this year by a combined margin of 0.164 seconds. Though a tire wear issue caused him to endure one of those fractions-of-a-second runner-up finishes on Saturday at Barber Motorsports Park, Di Mario was the unquestionable top rider in the Twins Cup in wet conditions Sunday. The defending Twins Cup champion scored a commanding victory, as well as claimed his second-consecutive Twins Cup pole position on Saturday by more than 1.7 seconds.
And due to another frontrunning rider finishing lower than Di Mario in Race 1 and not finishing Race 2, Di Mario left the April 4-6 event with a 19-point lead in the class standings.
Di Mario’s stellar one-lap pace was evident from the first on-track session of the weekend. In Friday morning Practice 1, Di Mario’s best lap time was 2.550 seconds faster than the rest of the field. That trend continued Friday afternoon in Qualifying 1, where Di Mario was on provisional pole position by a margin of 1.765 seconds. Conditions in Saturday morning’s Qualifying 2 did not allow Di Mario to improve on his best lap time from Qualifying 1, but he still clinched his second pole position of the 2025 season.
In Saturday afternoon’s Race 1, Di Mario got a good start and quickly built a sizable lead over the rest of the field. Unfortunately, he began to struggle with pace in the latter stages of the race and was overtaken on the last lap. He missed out on the victory by 0.058 seconds, but held on to notch his third runner-up result of the year.
It was in Sunday’s Race 2 that Di Mario moved up one step on the podium. The very wet track conditions – that only got worse as the race went on – necessitated a short track familiarization session for the whole Twins Cup field. When the delayed race got underway, Di Mario immediately seized the race lead. As the rest of the field struggled on the rain-soaked track, Di Mario built a sizable lead and was declared the winner when the race was red flagged and called final with four laps remaining.
The Robem Engineering team will be back in action for the next Twins Cup round, which takes place June 27-29 at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Wash.
Alessandro Di Mario / No. 1
“I was very bummed out about losing in Race 1 on the last lap because of really bad tire wear, but I was able to come back and win my first race in the wet today. I’m looking forward to the next races, and I’m happy to leave with the championship lead.”
The following is from Lucca Allen…
Lucca Allen’s first weekend competing stateside is in the books, the talented British teenager overcoming the discomfort from a recurring shoulder injury, inclement weather in addition to limited testing and the fact he had never raced on Dunlop tires to score points in only second race in the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Working closely with his new team – CW Moto – Allen took it all in his stride, improving in every session before ensuring his place on the grid for the opening races of the season at Barber Motorsports Park.
A Saturday race retirement, due to an old injury, only motivated Lucca further and with rain falling overnight what can only be described as a heroic Sunday followed.
Taking full advantage of the wet weather, Lucca made another incredible start in Race Two, passing several riders into turn one, before steadily improving lap by lap to move into contention for the points.
Lapping considerably faster than those behind he was soon running inside the top fifteen, crossing the line to finish fourteenth after a challenging race in more ways than one. By doing so Lucca becomes the first full time British rider to score MotoAmerica Supersport points and becomes the youngest full time European rider to achieve points on their debut weekend in the series.
The #311 will now return to the UK where he will undergo extensive physio in preparation for round two of the 2025 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship which takes place at Road Atlanta in a couple of weeks.
Lucca Allen: “FP1 was all about getting used to the bike and the track and for me to try riding on Dunlop tires for the first time. It was a big learning curve as we went directly into the first qualifying session on Friday afternoon which was something also new for me and something I will need to get my head around as the season goes on. I improved my lap times a lot from Free Practice and then on Saturday morning in Q2 I made another big step. Unfortunately, during second qualifying my shoulder started to play up and I had to go to medical to get it checked. I tried to ride in race one, but it was just too much strain on my shoulder, and I retired the bike rather than risk a crash. I had damaged the shoulder in a previous crash in the UK and so I was a bit frustrated that it flared up again. There’s a lot of work to do rehabilitation wise when I get home but the team and I have already made a plan to ensure I am fully fit for Atlanta. Race two on Sunday was wet after a torrential downpour through the night. We did everything we could trackside with the medical team and with Ethan (the team’s physio) and I was able to ride. I started P25 on the grid and made it into the points, crossing the line P14 in what was my first time riding the bike in the rain and riding on Dunlop tires in the rain. To score points in my first ever MotoAmerica race feels so good, even more so given the circumstances and I owe Chris and Sara at CW Moto a huge thank you. The work they put in was incredible. They really are second to none and I am so proud that I get to race my first season in the USA with them. I want to also thank my sponsors, my family and my manager for making this season possible Let’s go again at Round 2 in Atlanta in a couple of weeks.”
The following is from Karns Performance/TST Industries…
The Karns Performance/TST Industries Twins Cup Team delivered impressive results at Barber Motorsports Park this past weekend, with standout performances from riders Issac Woodworth, Levi Badie, and Elisa Gendron Belen. The team showcased determination, skill, and perseverance throughout the weekend’s changing weather conditions, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with in the competitive MotoAmerica Twins Cup series.
After an unfortunate crash on Saturday involving another rider taking the #71 out of podium contention, Levi Badie made an exceptional showing on Sunday despite the downpour of rain, finishing in third in the race, marking an outstanding podium result for the talented Belgian rider. Badie’s performance was a testament to his consistent skill and his ability to push through the competition, adding to the team’s momentum as the season progresses.
“I am very happy going forward to the next weekend with a good feeling and some good points we will use towards the championship.”
Meanwhile, Elisa Gendron Belen, the only full-season female rider in the Twins Cup class, achieved a significant milestone by finishing in P13 in race 2, securing points for the first time this season. Her achievement is not only a personal victory but a moment of pride for the team, as she continues to break barriers and hone her skills.
“I think this weekend was a big confidence booster for myself and the team, despite some ups and downs my teammates showed they can run at the front, and I proved to myself that I can perform well in this class on a new bike.”
Issac Woodworth also showed promise, continuing to develop his racing prowess in the series. Despite not having previous data on the Twins bike at Barber, the #27 made steady improvements and found pace throughout the sessions. Isaac ran near the front and his solid effort and positive contributions showed what he and the team are capable of as sights are set to the West coast.
According to Issac, “Barber was a weekend of learning and growth for the team. I want to say thanks to Jason and the whole team for putting the work in to run at the front.”
“We’re extremely proud of the results our riders achieved at Barber,” said Jason Karns, Team Owner. “Levi’s podium finish, Elisa’s first points of the season, and Issac’s ability to ride at the front on Sunday all highlight the strength of our team. We’re excited for the rest of the season and the potential our riders have to continue delivering great results.”
The Karns Performance/TST Industries Twins Cup Team is already looking forward to the next round of racing, continuing to build on their strong performance and pushing for more podium finishes and points as the season progresses.
The following is from Altus Motorsports…
Supersport Riders Collins, Lewis, Nassaney, and Williams Tackle Deep Field in Opening Round; Dahmer Earns Career-Best in Twins Cup
The 2025 MotoAmerica Championship officially kicked off for the Supersport class and rolled into its second round for the Twins Cup at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. The Altus Motorsports team, featuring a mix of proven contenders and promising rookies, fought through mixed conditions and deep fields to come away with solid results.
Supersport – Season Opener Highlights Growth and Consistency
With minimal testing and new parts arriving for the all-new Yamaha R9 just days before the race, the first MotoAmerica Supersport round was a steep learning curve. In his debut aboard the R9, Jake Lewis delivered two strong finishes in a field stacked with factory and independent talent. Lewis took 8th in Race 1 on Saturday and 6th in the rain-soaked Race 2 — a promising start as the team continues to develop the platform.
Jake Lewis:
“Not a bad weekend for our debut with the R9. We had no testing with the new parts and pieces, so this first race weekend was a big test for us. I’m bummed about the rain race — my shield fogged up, costing us a better result. Looking forward to Atlanta and the rest of the season!”
Jaret Nassaney, also riding an R9, faced a difficult Saturday, finishing 16th in Race 1, but showed resilience on Sunday, pushing through the wet to grab 10th in Race 2.
Jaret Nassaney:
“A little bit of growing pains this weekend just trying to find a setting on the bike I was comfortable with! We continue to move in the right direction, so Atlanta will be better.”
Owen Williams, riding a Suzuki GSX-R750, delivered consistent performances, bringing home 14th in Race 1 and improving to 11th in the wet on Sunday.
Owen Williams:
“Barber was a perfect start to the 2025 Supersport season, and I want to thank everyone on the team for helping navigate the storm on Sunday. Can’t wait to bring home more points for Altus at Road Atlanta!”
Torin Collins, also on a Suzuki, impressed with a 12th-place finish in Race 1, but was one of many caught out in the slick conditions during Race 2, resulting in a crash and DNF.
Torin Collins:
“Yeah, it was great to be back with the Altus crew again — some new faces and some old ones as well. The team worked really well all weekend, and we were able to find a good direction with the setup that we’ll continue working towards.”
Twins Cup – Promise and Tough Breaks for Dahmer in Round 2
After a solid showing in Daytona, Seth Dahmer entered Round 2 at Barber looking to build on his early-season momentum. Qualifying 8th aboard his Suzuki GSX-8R, Dahmer was running inside the top 10 in both races — as high as 5th on Saturday in the dry — before crashes derailed his efforts.
Despite a fall in Race 1 and another crash during a rain-soaked Race 2, Dahmer was awarded 11th place after the results were rolled back to the last completed lap due to a red flag.
Seth Dahmer:
“It was a tough weekend with crashes in both races, but I’m staying focused on learning and pushing forward. Every time I go out, we’re getting a little closer to the front and closing the gap to the top guys in the class.”
Onward to Road Atlanta
Barber offered both lessons and bright spots for Altus Motorsports. With development ongoing and a solid data set now in hand, the team is eager to keep progressing.
“This weekend showed the grit of our team,” said George Nassaney, Team Owner. “We’ve got a strong foundation and are looking forward to unlocking more potential in the rounds ahead.”
The following is from Aprilia…
Aprilia RS 660 rider Di Mario claims pole, victory and points lead in MotoAmerica Twins Cup at Barber Motorsports Park.
Three Aprilia RS 660 riders finish in the top five in Sunday’s wet Race 2.
After coming oh-so-close to capturing his first win of the 2025 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship in the class’s first three races, Aprilia RS 660 rider and defending Twins Cup champion Alessandro Di Mario finally clinched it Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park. Though a tire issue caused him to miss out on a win by fractions of a second in Saturday’s race at the April 4-6 event, Di Mario shined as other riders were struggling with the soggy conditions Sunday, and he left Barber with a 19-point lead in the class standings.
Di Mario was in dominant form in Friday morning practice. His best lap time of 1:30.011 was more than 2.5 seconds faster than the rest of the field. Speeddemon Racing’s Logan Cunnison was the third-fastest rider in the session, missing out on going 1-2 with Di Mario by a mere 0.029 seconds. The other Aprilia rider who finished the session in the top 10 was Brown Town Racing’s Chase Brown, who was fifth-fastest.
The first of two qualifying sessions took place Friday afternoon, and Di Mario and Cunnison ended that session at the top of the time sheets. Di Mario improved his best lap time by almost one second, and Cunnison closed his gap to Di Mario’s one-lap pace to about 1.7 seconds. Ghetto Customs’ Chris Parrish finished Qualifying 1 as the seventh-fastest rider, and Brown was tenth-fastest. Qualifying 2 took place Saturday morning but track conditions did not allow most of the frontrunning riders to improve on their Qualifying 1 lap times. Di Mario, therefore, scored his second pole position of the 2025 Twins Cup season. Cunnison ended up qualifying second, Parrish seventh and Brown 10th.
In Saturday afternoon’s Race 1, Di Mario’s late-race struggles with pace allowed him to get edged out for the victory but he and four other Aprilia riders finished in the Top 10. Di Mario led the first 13 laps of the 14-lap contest, but he began losing pace with about four laps to go and was beaten to checkered flag by 0.058 seconds. Cunnison was in a race-long battle for the last step on the podium and was bested to the finish line by 0.048 of a second by another rider. Other Aprilia riders who finished in the top 10 included Brown in fifth, Weyh Racing’s Andrew Weyh in eighth and Duffy Racing’s Tyler Duffy in 10th.
Sunday’s Race 2 featured a delayed start due to wet conditions. After a brief track familiarization session for the riders, Di Mario got the holeshot when racing got underway and led every lap until a red flag ended the already-shortened race four laps early. Cunnison was running as high as second place before suffering two crashes that resulted in him finishing 17th. Two other Aprilia riders finished in the top five, including Weyh in fourth and Moto-Ace Racing’s Zachary Foster in fifth. Brown finished in eighth place, and Team JBR’s Josef Bittner was 10th.
Due to the points leader at the beginning of the weekend not finishing Race 2, Di Mario took over the championship lead thanks to the combined 45 points he amassed from both races.
The next Twins Cup races are slated to take place June 27-29 at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington.
Of the 34 athletes who entered to compete in Twins Cup at the Barber round, 13 were aboard Aprilia RS 660’s.
Alessandro Di Mario – Robem Engineering Aprilia #1: “I was very bummed out about losing in Race 1 on the last lap because of really bad tire wear, but I was able to come back and win my first race in the wet today. I’m looking forward to the next races, and I’m happy to leave with the championship lead.”
