The following is from Honda…
During this weekend’s rainy last round of 2024 MotoAmerica season at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Real Steel Motorsports rider Hayden Gillim wrapped up his second consecutive 2024 Stock 1000 Championship, with wins on Saturday and Sunday. Racing a CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP with significant backing from Tennessee dealership Southern Powersports, Gillim dominated the series, winning seven of 10 races.
A 29-year-old native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Gillim is a racing veteran, having won his first Amateur Dirt Track Grand Championship at age 6. He’s a cousin of the famous racing Hayden brothers (who he is named after), and typically runs number 69 as an homage to the late Nicky Hayden, who rode Hondas to the 1999 AMA 600 Supersport Championship, the 2002 AMA Superbike Championship and the 2006 MotoGP World Championship.
This season, however, Gillim ran number 1 in Stock 1000, having earned last year’s crown with a different brand. He topped both races at the Alabama opener, but the next two rounds in Minnesota and Washington saw him win the opening races but crash out of the lead in the second races, making for a tight points battle. He was victorious in race 1 at Laguna Seca and finished on the podium in race 2 (with fellow Red Rider Ashton Yates getting the win), then closed out the season the way he started it—with a sweep at this weekend’s finale.
“We raced against Geoff May last year and saw what he was able to do on the Honda,” said Gillim, who has now won four professional AMA road racing titles. “Then when Honda’s contingency numbers came out, that was a big factor in us switching, as well as the support we got from Southern Powersports. I raced Hondas when I was younger, first getting on a 600, and [team co-owner] Jerry Nickell has a big Honda collection and was excited about it. The guys gave us a really good bike, and the team did a good job setting it up. It was a great year. We were making 25 horsepower more than last year’s bike, and every track we went to, I was going a second or two faster than my previous best lap times. After I put it on the ground a couple of times in the middle part of the season, I started managing things better and not overriding the bike, and we were able to finish the season out strong.”
This was the first AMA road racing crown for the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP platform, and Honda’s first since Jake Zemke took the 2008 Formula Xtreme crown aboard a CBR600RR.
“On behalf of everyone at American Honda, a huge congratulations and thank-you to Hayden, Real Steel Motorsports and Southern Powersports,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Advertising at American Honda. “We knew that the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is a competitive machine, and we hoped that upping our contingency program for 2024 would give some top riders the nudge to show its potential. That said, we couldn’t have expected the dominance it has shown in Stock 1000, with Honda riders taking 80 percent of the wins. It’s great to see Honda back on top in an AMA professional racing series, and hopefully it’s a sign of more to come.”
The following is from Tytlers Cycle Racing…
The final round of the 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship ended this past weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park with the Tytlers Cycle Racing squad on double duty once again with Cameron Beaubier and JD Beach ready to do battle aboard their BMW M1000RR machines, Stefano Mesa armed with his Kawasaki in the Supersport category.
Cameron Beaubier entered the weekend still with a mathematical chance of the title. He qualified in the middle of the front row to ensure he’d be in the podium fight come lights out. JD qualified ninth.
The opening race saw the leading riders edge away from the chasing pack with the #6 of Cameron Beaubier in contention in the initial stages. He ultimately would finish fourth. The result meant the title was now out of reach, Beaubier claiming second overall in the final points classification whatever happened on Sunday.
Race two saw five riders, including Beaubier fighting for the win. Cam claimed his second fourth position of the weekend taking the flag less than a second from the win.
JD Beach failed to finish race one. He bounced back to finish the final race of the year in fifteenth position, meaning P8 overall in the final standings.
Tytlers Cycle Racing recorded twelve podium finishes in 2204, with six of those podiums being victories!
Stefano Mesa rounded out his supersport campaign with another double points finish after starting from second on the grid – his best qualifying result of the season. He finished fourteenth and sixth in the two races ending the year eighth overall.
Cameron Beaubier: “It was nice being back on track at New Jersey, but the results weren’t what we were looking for. With limited dry time I struggled pretty bad with the bike in race one. The team dialled the bike in for race two and it was better than Saturday, but we went with the harder rear tyre option compared to the others and it didn’t pay off. There were some big bumps along the road this year, but we had some great moments too. I want to say a big thank you to the whole Tytlers team, especially on my side Dave, Ferdi, Lee, Peter, and John for all the hard work this year and Michael for making this happen.”
JD Beach: “The race weekend in New Jersey came and went. It had some good moments and some pretty low ones. The track conditions were changing every time we got out there and it was hard to get any momentum going. My couple of crashes didn’t help that either. The final race weekend didn’t go as well as we had hoped but I am thankful for the chance the Tytlers team gave me this year. We got a couple podiums and had some good races. I will move on from here and just look forward.”
Stefano Mesa: “The weekend at New Jersey was full of mixed conditions. For a change we only had one class to race which was the SuperSport and we were fast right away. The crew did its homework, and first practice went very well with us getting down to some good laps. Both qualifying sessions went well. In Q2 we had a drying line, and the team took the decision to send me out on slick tyres. We were able to put ourselves on the first row to start the races. Race one was supposed to go very well knowing the lap times we had posted in qualifying but unfortunately from the first lap the rear of the bike was just completely loose. I struggled all race to find grip and find the time going two seconds slower that my best time of the weekend. We ended up P14. After the race we figured out we got a bad rear tyre and the only thing we changed for the next day and race two was tyre compound. Warm up was good and I ended up P3 posting competitive lap times. For race two we knew we could battle with those boys, so that’s what we did, battled for the final spot on the podium all race but I just started to lose front feel with a few laps to go. I had a great race with some good battles to end P6 after a good fight. Big thanks to my Tytlers boys Dereck, Rex, Steven, Leif, and Jon for working so hard all year long and providing the best motorcycle to go fast on. Also huge thanks to Michael and the whole family for making another successful year happen.”
The following is from Yamaha…
Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz claimed the 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship a race early at the season finale at the New Jersey Motorsports Park. The South African executed a smart ride in Race 1 to seal the deal on the title with 11 points and then finished the season with a runner-up finish in Race 2, further adding to his impressive tally during his debut season aboard the Strack Racing R6.
The newly rebranded team, Strack Racing, made its debut with Scholtz at the season opener at Road Atlanta. Although it was a rollercoaster start, they had a strong showing in their early beginnings with a podium finish. The team built on that first round and came out swinging at Round 2, with Scholtz earning a double victory at Barber Motorsports Park. From there, the championship campaign continued to build strength, ultimately securing eight wins and a total of 15 podiums. The 2024 Supersport Championship is Scholtz’s second MotoAmerica title and second in the series with the Yamaha brand, the first of which was won aboard the Westby Racing R1 in the Superstock 1000 class in 2017.
Peter Strack – Strack Racing Team Principal
“I thought I understood what team meant, but this year really taught me what that meant. I’ve done a lot in business and other things where a team means everything to your success. Everybody here pulled their weight, so it was a big deal. We fought hard. When we came in, we were the underdogs. We started off with some adversity, and we overcame that. Every single round, we pushed the limit in everything that we were doing and never took our foot off the gas. We were strategic and very calculated in what we did, and it paid off.”
Mathew Scholtz – Strack Racing #11
“Going into the Supersport class, it was a little bit of an unknown for me, but it was a beautiful season. There were a lot of highs and some lows as well. The season began a little slower than we liked, but from Round 2 at Barber, we took the double there and knew we should be fighting for the championship. The Strack Racing crew gave me a perfect bike all season long, and we did what we needed to do. I’m just really happy to bring the championship home.”
The following is from Suzuki…
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike star Richie Escalante once again showed himself up to the task of going bar-to-bar with the nation’s elite roadracers, scoring a pair of impressive finishes despite qualifying on Row 4 on a weekend that featured mixed conditions but largely dry races. On Saturday, the Mexican carved his way up through the field aboard his Suzuki GSX-R1000R to ultimately win out a multi-rider dice for fifth. He was even stronger on Sunday despite again finishing fifth, closing in dramatically on the fight for victory late before taking the checkered flag just 0.886 seconds behind the winner.
Despite missing the bulk of the season after suffering an injury in the opener, Escalante ended his abbreviated campaign with a podium finish among his three top 5 results. He said, “We had a pretty good weekend, one that was tough with the weather conditions. My pace and rhythm were good on the bike, and we finished with a gap quite close to the front on Sunday. I need to work on my starts and first laps more, so I don’t have to make up positions later in the race. I am glad this year is over given my injuries and missing time, but I want to thank Suzuki, the team, the crew, and all the sponsors.”
Escalante’s premier-class teammate, Brandon Paasch, was motivated to impress in front of his home-state fans. And impress he did, claiming his first career MotoAmerica front row grid position by clocking the third best time aboard his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R. Unfortunately, Paasch crashed out while embroiled in the chase for fifth late in Saturday’s race. However, he bounced back on Sunday, claiming seventh in the year’s final contest.
Paasch, who ended the season ranked ninth in the points on the strength of two top 5 finishes, said, “It was a lot of positives for us and some disappointment as well. This was my first-ever front row qualifying, and I was fifth in the morning warm-up on Sunday. And in Sunday’s race, the total time was the closest I have finished to the winner yet. But the races didn’t go that well for us. I had a 118-mile per hour crash on Saturday and lost a lot of ground early in the race on Sunday.”
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport standout Tyler Scott wrapped up a strong campaign aboard the team’s next-generation GSX-R750 with a pair of fourth-place rides. Scott was consistently in the mix up front as he had been all season long, locking down a fifth-place championship standing that included a victory among four podium finishes.
Scott said, “It was mixed conditions all weekend but dry races, so that made it interesting. Overall, it wasn’t a bad weekend, but we were looking for more because we always want to win. On Saturday, we got fourth with a small bike problem keeping us from the podium. It looked like we might get it on Sunday, but a rider t-boned me towards the end of the race. I lost some ground and wasn’t able to make it up the rest of the way.”
Scott’s Supersport teammate, Teagg Hobbs, continued to fight his way out of a second half slump. Hobbs raced his way up from 15th on the grid to finish inside the top 10 twice – 10th on Saturday and ninth on Sunday, to end the season ranked ninth in the final MotoAmerica Supersport standings.
Hobbs said, “It’s no secret we have struggled this season, and we made changes with the bike and got back on track this weekend. It took a while to get the setup dialed in, but by Sunday, things were really improved. I started 15th and moved up to seventh, and my lap times were third or fourth fastest in the race. The bike responded to my rider inputs the way I was expecting. It was a disappointing year for me, but it was good to get a positive race in.”
The squad’s third Supersport pilot, Joel Ohman, spent his 2024 season dedicated to gaining as much experience and speed as possible, a mission he concluded in New Jersey.
Ohman said, “It feels good to end the year on a high note. We started out really rough with the rain. I didn’t feel confident pushing it the way I wanted and was having a hard time. The first race, we had some of the same issues as before but after working with the team and my riding coach, we found a solution with the bike and I went 2.5 seconds faster than we had gone all weekend. The second race, I was able to battle and move up so I was happy about that.”
The following is from Yamaha…
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) received the MotoAmerica Superbike Manufacturer’s Championship at the final round of the 2024 season held at the New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) in Millville, New Jersey. Spearheading the campaign was the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team, who took home four wins and a total of 13 podium finishes during a rollercoaster ride of a season with injuries and adversity. It was a tough final race of the year that saw fill-in rider Xavi Forés finish 12th and Cameron Petersen come back to 18th. Also making a valuable contribution to the manufacturer’s title in the premier class was Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong, who ended the year third in the championship standings, earning two wins and a total of eight podium finishes.
Forés continued to work on getting acquainted with the bike in challenging conditions as he filled in for the three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne at the last two rounds. In the final race of the season, the Spaniard got a good start from the second row to fourth. He was inside the top five for the first five laps and continued to battle but ultimately crossed the line 12th.
For the second race at NJMP, Petersen got another flying start and grabbed the holeshot this time. Although he was shuffled to third going into the first turn on Lap 2, he was running a strong pace up front in the lead group. Unfortunately, on the following lap, he ran off track due to a technical issue and pulled into the pits. Petersen rejoined the race and put in some strong laps to gain valuable information and finish 18th. Despite the adversity, it was a strong season for the South African, who earned three wins and a total of eight podiums, contributing to the manufacturer’s title and securing sixth in the championship.
Despite not feeling 100% with arm and hand issues, Gagne made a valiant defense of his title, scoring a win at the opening round and making five trips to the podium. Although he sat out the last two rounds while he focused on returning to full fitness, he finished the season a commendable seventh in the point standings.
Tom Halverson – Yamaha Racing Assistant Department Manager for YMUS
“Congrats to Bobby Fong, ADR (Aussie Dave Racing), and Wrench Motorcycles for earning third in the Superbike Championship. It was an incredible accomplishment in a very stacked 2024 Superbike field. We appreciate every Yamaha rider in the paddock, and it was their accomplishments that brought Yamaha the Manufacturer’s Trophy once again.
“Our Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team started strong, and Jake and Cam were in the championship hunt for most of the season. Injuries and a few technical issues ended our run, but we look forward to Jake’s return and fighting for wins and the championship once again.”
Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“We had some wins, and we were leading the championship. Unfortunately, Jake had to sit out the rest of the season. It’s pretty difficult to take a rider, plop him into unfamiliar territory, and to ride at the top of his game. So we knew it was going to be a challenge throwing Xavi into the deep end. With Cameron, he came back from his injury and was making some headway but had a couple of bad crashes. This weekend he was strong. It was just unfortunate that there was an issue in the second race, and he had to pull in, but his pace was good. In the end, I think we found a pretty decent setup for him, and he could go with the guys in the beginning.
“I think we learned a lot this year, and where we are in relation to our competitors and where we are lacking, especially with the hard tires. We have a pretty good idea of where we want to go heading into the new year with the new bike. We’ll put together a good development package, get Jake healthy, and come back strong.”
Xavi Forés – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #34
“I enjoyed my time here on the team. I knew them from Daytona, and I was always so keen to try the Superbike. Unfortunately, the results were not as good as I expected them to be, but we faced some challenges that we didn’t expect to have. We worked really hard. The team was working so well on bringing us the best package possible but, unfortunately, we were dealing with a lack of grip on the rear. Yesterday and today, in the first laps, I tried to stay on the back of the lead group, and I led some laps yesterday, but I was not able to stay at the front. I want to say thank you to the team for their trust in me for these couple of races. Hopefully, I gave them good information for the future, and hopefully, I can do more races with them. Thanks to Yamaha for all of their help. I have enjoyed it.”
Cameron Petersen – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #45
“Yeah, it was a tough day. It was just a bummer to end the season like that, but if you take a step back and look at the season as a whole, it was really great. I got the most wins of my career in one season. I think there was a point there at Laguna where I had the most wins and podiums out of everybody and was in the hunt for the championship. Then it was just some bad luck with some injuries and bike stuff that put us behind. Unfortunately at the last three races of the year, we only had the hard tires available. I really wanted to give the team a result to smile about during the off-season, but we’ll go back to work and come back swinging next year.”
The following is from Ducati…
He’s been threatening to stand on the top step of the podium for so long. Still, Loris Baz finally made it happen today by winning race two of the final round of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
A day after Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati teammate Josh Herrin clinched the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with victory in race one, the green flag flew under threatening skies, and Baz took the lead at turn one on lap two, diving underneath Herrin and Cameron Petersen and beginning a metronomic pace at the head of the field.
Shielded by Herrin for the first half of the race, Baz would eventually have to defend the lead on his own as Sean Dylan Kelly and Bobby Fong closed in during the last laps, the Frenchman putting the hammer down on the final lap to charge to his first race victory in 11 years and first win on American soil.
Herrin was at the front early on but faded to sixth at the end of the race. However, his season as champion was assured yesterday after he took Ducati’s first AMA MotoAmerica Superbike title win in 30 years on Saturday.
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#76)
“I have no words,” Baz said. “I’m so proud of what we did as a team this season but especially since the last round at Austin. I want to thank team manager Bobby Shek, Ducati North America, and Warhorse HSBK Racing because they gave me a chance to return to America after my 2021 season.
“This weekend, it was different within the team. Maybe it was less pressure due to Josh taking the title, but we worked really well at this track. I knew I was close to winning a race this year, but I’m so happy to have finally done it. I really want to come back next year with this team. I love everyone in this team.”
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#2)
“What a crazy year and weekend it’s been,” Herrin said. “Thirty years since Ducati got a championship in America is crazy to think about. I was four years old the last time they won a Superbike title in America. To be a part of this, to experience it, and to have Eraldo Ferracci well and kicking—it’s left me speechless.
“I’m sure it will sink in over the next few days because the weekend is full of emotion. I’m so happy Loris got the win today. That needed to happen for the team, and it was just a super special moment. Thank you to everyone involved in this project for making the year as great as it was.”
The following is from Ducati…
Josh Herrin wrote a significant piece of Ducati racing history today by clinching the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship title at New Jersey Motorsports Park. And, what’s more, he did it from the top set of the podium.
Herrin’s win in race one came after an intense 18-lap battle with Bobby Fong and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati teammate Loris Baz, Herrin working his way to the front in the final laps to record a 0.403s victory over Fong. Baz made it a double celebration for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team by taking the final podium position in third.
The result ensures Herrin has an unassailable 58-point lead heading into race two on Sunday, September 29, over Cameron Beaubier.
Herrin’s title is his fourth AMA national championship with the 2013 Superbike, 2016 Stock 1000, and 2022 Supersport victories, and his second title for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team. He now has the record for the longest time between his first and most recent Superbike title wins (11 years) thanks to his six race wins and 13 podiums in 2024, with nine of those podiums coming consecutively.
Herrin’s place in Ducati racing lore is now secure, having taken the company’s first AMA Supersport title in 2022 and its first Superbike crown in 30 years after the great Troy Corser triumphed in the 1994 AMA Superbike Championship on a Fast by Ferracci Ducati 888.
Loris Baz also should not be discounted from race one. The flying Frenchman took a tremendous pole position and led much of the race until Herrin and Fong passed at three-quarters race distance. Still, Baz held on for a celebratory third place, making it a double podium delight for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#2)
“The support I’ve got from everyone in this team, from Ducati North America, Ducati Corse, the DeNaples, Bobby Shek, how much effort they put in, and how tight we are as a unit, is really special,” Herrin said. “I’m not taking anything away from the teams I’ve been on in the past, but this group is really amazing.
“Without Ducati North America’s and Ducati Corse’s support, none of this would be possible. My crew chief, Simone, is amazing. We have great respect for each other. He’s been a huge part of my success over the last three years. Thank you to everyone who had anything to do with this project, and you can bet we’ll be back next year ready to go for another title.”
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#76)
“A massive congratulations to Josh, that’s the day’s highlight,” Baz said. “We knew how big this weekend could be for the team, and I never thought I could be so happy for someone else who beat me!
“I have been learning a lot this year. That pole position means I’m back, but I need to improve my race pace more. I was here at the beginning of this project with the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team, and I know what it means for everyone. I’m so happy and proud of everyone.
“On my side, we made a big step and greatly improved from Austin. It isn’t easy to run two Superbikes, but we’ve grown a lot since Austin. Thanks to everybody, and we’ll come back fighting for the final race tomorrow.”
Bobby Shek (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team Manager)
“It’s been such a great season,” Shek said. “In 2024, we’ve proven the Ducati has no bad tracks. Our worst rack traditionally was New Jersey, and now we’ve got two bikes on the podium and one on the top step, and I can’t wait to do it all again next year. Josh’s goal was to win the title from the top step, and he did that; it just shows what a champion he is.”
Jason Chinnock (Ducati North America CEO)
“Josh Herrin’s performance on the Panigale V4 R this season has been phenomenal, and his victory in the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship marks a historic moment for Ducati. It’s been 30 years since a Ducati rider earned the US national Superbike championship —a testament to the talent, dedication, and unwavering work ethic of Josh and the entire Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team. It’s exceptionally special to have Eraldo Ferracci contribute to the team’s spirit as we claim the #1 plate for Ducati again.
“This championship isn’t just a victory for Josh but a significant milestone for Ducati. Joining the roster of previous Ducati Superbike Champions, like Troy Corser and Doug Polen is an achievement that ushers in a new chapter in American superbike racing for years to come. We couldn’t be prouder of Josh, the team, along with the support from Ducati Corse. This victory fuels our passion for racing and commitment to the growth of Ducati in the US.”
The following is from Rahal Ducati Moto…
The checkered flag has been waved for the final time of the 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport season. And just as the season started, the Rahal Ducati Moto team claimed victory as PJ Jacobsen crossed the finish line with Corey Alexander coming in third and Kayla Yaakov finishing seventh.
With nothing to lose, all three riders rode incredible races and finished the season off on an incredible effort.
As the final round of competition falls behind us, Rahal Ducati Moto reflects back on the incredible success coming out of its debut season. Take a look at the below statistics from RDM’s first year:
* Seven race wins: Road Atlanta Race 1 (Jacobsen), Road America Race 2 (Jacobsen), Road America Race 1 (Jacobsen), Laguna Seca Race 1 (Jacobsen), Laguna Seca Race 2 (Jacobsen), Mid-Ohio Race 1 (Jacobsen), New Jersey Race 2 (Jacobsen)
* 20 total podiums: Road Atlanta Race 2 (2nd, Alexander), Barber Race 1 (2nd, Jacobsen), Barber Race 2 (2nd, Jacobsen), Road America Race 2 (3rd, Jacobsen), Brainerd Race 1 (2nd, Jacobsen), Brainerd Race 2 (2nd, Jacobsen // 3rd, Alexander), Ridge Race 1 (2nd, Jacobsen // 3rd, Yaakov), Ridge Race 2 (2nd, Yaakov), COTA Race 1 (3rd, Alexander), New Jersey Race 1 (2nd, Alexander // 3rd, Jacobsen), New Jersey Race 2 (3rd, Corey Alexander)
* 29 top-five finishes, 43 top-10 finishes
* 14 front-row starts
* 679 of 722 laps completed
* 90 of a possible 245 laps led
* Only two races in which a Rahal Ducati Moto Rider did not finish on the podium (Mid-Ohio Race 2 and COTA Race 2)
As the truck heads back to the team’s new headquarters in Zionsville, Indiana, and begins to prep for the 2025 season, we are incredibly thankful to our entire crew, our riders, our sponsors, and our fans for all their support throughout our rookie season. Rahal Ducati Moto looks forward to growing the team’s success and fighting for the championship next season.
Keep up with all things Rahal Ducati Moto this off season by following the team on social media (@rahalducatimoto).
PJ JACOBSEN
No. 15 XPEL DUCATI PANIGALE V2
STARTED: 4th
FINISHED: 1st
CHAMPIONSHIP: 2nd (331 pts)
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “Today was great. I feel like yesterday we were struggling with grip and some other things out of our hands. I went 1.1 seconds faster in this race. I felt really good today. Scholtz was pressuring me and got past me, but then I regained myself again and felt great – even towards the end if he were to come back towards me with those laped bikes – I still could’ve went faster with my lap times. I’m really happy to cap of the season like this, especially for the team. They’ve done such a great job this entire season. It’s great to end the season with a win and get a short break before working for next year, when we start testing and Graham [Rahal] can keep it rolling for us next season. Huge thanks to the whole team and XPEL.”
COREY ALEXANDER
No. 23 ROLLER DIE + FORMING DUCATI PANIGALE V2
STARTED: 3rd
FINISHED: 3rd
CHAMPIONSHIP: 6th (176 pts)
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “It was a great weekend for us at home here in New Jersey – getting two podiums to cap off the year. I really wanted to get a win before the season was over, and I gave it everything I had today, but PJ and Mathew [Scholtz] were riding too well for me. I had nothing left with some grip issues, but otherwise they just outrode me. I’m stoked to go into the off season and continue into next year with some more progress. Thanks to the whole team for all their hard work all year and thanks to Roller Die and our sponsors for making this possible.”
KAYLA YAAKOV
No. 19 XPEL DUCATI PANIGALE V2
STARTED: 5th
FINISHED: 7th
CHAMPIONSHIP: 7th (151 pts)
WHAT SHE’S SAYING: “We just finished the last race of the year, and I would’ve liked to end it on a better note, but with all things considered, I’m very happy with the progress we made. This whole season has been amazing, and I couldn’t have asked to be a part of a better team. For our first year, we’ve done an amazing job. I’m happy that we were able to achieve my goal, which was to be on the podium by the middle of the season. We made progress, continued to chip away at it, and got closer to the front – a definite positive. As much as I would’ve wanted to be a little bit closer, this is part of it, and we’re going to continue to keep learning and keep growing. I can’t wait to continue with this team next year and come back even stronger.
The following is from Dunlop…
Since 2015, Dunlop has proudly served as the official spec tire for all classes of the AMA MotoAmerica series. Year after year, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series continues to captivate fans with its thrilling action, and the 2024 season was no exception, concluding at the challenging New Jersey Motorsports Park.
This year was an even more exciting season for the Dunlop crew, with the Sportmax Slick demolishing lap and class records at multiple tracks! The Sportmax Slick replaced the industry standard KR448 and KR451 slicks last season and continues to be the Official Tires of the MotoAmerica series through 2025.
Last year, Jake Gagne wrapped up his third straight MotoAmerica Superbike on his Fresh N’ Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing with two rounds remaining, but unfortunately, this year, Gagne injured his hand and arm and ended up sitting out part of the season. This year, the championship came down to the final round at NJ Motorsports Park between Josh Herrin on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati and Cameron Beaubier on his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW.
Four support class titles were decided in the rounds leading up to the series finale. In the hands-on Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Championship rider, Mikayla Moore, won seven of the eight races in the series to dominate her championship for the second year in a row. In his first year of racing, Matthew Chapin, on his BARTCON racing Kawasaki, clinched the 2024 Junior Cup Championship, winning 6 out of 10 races with one more round left to go. Matthew jumped to the Twins Cup at Circuit of The Americas and finished a respectful fourth and fifth!
At round ten at the Circuit of The Americas, the Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson rider Corey West also finished the season as champion for the first time in the always-exciting Super Hooligans series. Plus, Alessandro Di Mario claimed his first Twins Cup championship on his Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia.
At the season finale in New Jersey, the Superbike title was won by Josh Herrin on Saturday in dominating fashion! Herrin who didn’t need to win the race, pushed and battled his way into the lead on the new Dunlop Sportmax Slicks taking home his second Superbike championship!
In the Supersport class, it was Mathew Scholtz on his Strack Racing Yamaha who came into the final stop of the season with a thirty-nine-point lead over the Rahal Ducati Moto w/ XPEL rider PJ Jacobsen. Scholtz rode smart on Saturday, finishing fifth and gathered enough points to clinch his second MotoAmerica championship, first in the Supersport class.
Then, in the Stock 1000 class, reigning champ Hayden Gillim, riding his Real Steel Motorsports Honda, had to beat Jayson Urbie, riding on his OrangeCat Racing BMW on Sunday in New Jersey. Gillim came out on top after a race long battle with Ashton Yates to take the win and the 2024 Championship.
Meanwhile, only two points separated the Harley-Davidson Factory Racing rider Kyle Wyman over the S&S/Indian Motorcycle rider Troy Herfoss in the King of the Baggers Championship going into the final stop of the series. Rocco Landers on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson won on Saturday delaying the championship battle. On Sunday, Herfoss took control and won his seventh race of the season and the Championship in his rookie year in that class.
“MotoAmerica racing in 2024 has delivered some of the most electrifying and competitive action we’ve seen in years, with numerous lap records shattered thanks to our new Sportmax Slick tire,” said Mike Buckley, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing at Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. “The constant evolution of the series, classes, and tire technology reflects the dedication and collaboration between MotoAmerica, the Dunlop support crew, and the incredible efforts of the riders, teams, and everyone involved. We’re truly proud to remain the official tire supplier of MotoAmerica for the foreseeable future.”
Congratulations to all the 2024 Champions:
Steel Commander Superbike – Josh Herrin
Supersport – Mathew Scholtz
Junior Cup – Matthew Chapin
Stock 1000 – Hayden Gillim
BellissiMoto Twins Cup – Alessandro Di Mario
Mission King Of T he Baggers – Troy Herfoss
Mission Super Hooligan – Cory West
Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. – Mikayla Moore
The following is from OrangeCat Racing…
Jayson Uribe came up a little short of winning the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 title in his first season back racing full time, but the Californian still finished second in the championship chase and made the conclusion of his 2024 season a memorable one. Uribe narrowly missed out on winning the Saturday Stock 1000 race at New Jersey Motorsports Park, then earned a hard-fought third-place finish on Sunday to end the season with a double podium performance despite starting eighth in both races.
This season marked OrangeCat Racing’s second-consecutive year with one of its riders finishing second in the Stock 1000 standings, as Kaleb De Keyrel accomplished the same feat in 2023.
Uribe’s teammate, Travis Wyman, had a positive end to what has been a challenging 2024 campaign. The Las Vegas resident and two-time Stock 1000 Championship runner-up struggled in Saturday’s Race 1 before capturing a ninth-place finish Sunday.
Overall, Uribe amassed 180 championship points, with two race victories, five additional podium finishes and two additional top-five results to his credit in just 10 races. Wyman finished the season ninth in the points standings with 69 points.
The weekend’s Stock 1000 action kicked off Friday morning with the round’s only practice session, in which both OrangeCat Racing riders struggled a little for pace. Uribe was the sixth-fastest rider in that session, and Wyman was 12th-fastest. The first of two qualifying sessions took place Friday afternoon, and it ended with Uribe having provisionally qualified seventh and Wyman 12th. Qualifying concluded Saturday morning with Uribe having slipped to eighth in the qualifying order and Wyman having secured 12th place on the starting grid for the round’s two Stock 1000 races.
The Saturday Stock 1000 race was the scene of a fierce battle between Uribe and the championship leader in the race’s closing laps. Uribe wheelied a little at the start of the race, but quickly began working his way up the running order. He was running in sixth place by the end of Lap 1 and second place at the end of the next lap. Though the championship leader had built a sizable lead to the rest of the field, Uribe methodically closed that gap and took the race lead at the end of Lap 11 when the championship leader nearly crashed coming out of the last corner. Uribe held a narrow lead for the next three laps, but a bold move by the championship leader at the last turn of the last lap demoted Uribe to a runner-up finish by a margin of 0.026 seconds. Wyman continued to struggle for pace in Race 1 and had to settle for an 11th-place result.
Sunday’s Race 2 – the final Stock 1000 race of the 2024 season – didn’t go as well for Uribe. Though he moved up several positions early in the first lap, he fell back in the running order later in the lap to complete it in seventh place. Uribe moved up to fifth place on Lap 3 and fourth place on Lap 11 of the 14-lap race. Uribe continued pushing hard to the last corner of the last lap, when he made a move that helped him claim a third-place finish by a margin of 0.030 seconds. Wyman had a much better race on Sunday. He ran most of the race in 10th place and moved up to ninth place on Lap 11 – which was the position he finished the race in.
The OrangeCat Racing Team thanks its many sponsors and fans for the contributions to the team’s success in 2024. An announcement about the team’s plans for the 2025 MotoAmerica season will be made at a later date.
Jayson Uribe / No. 360
“We may have barely missed out on the No. 1 plate, but to be able to ride with such a great crew and on such an amazing machine is a win for me. Coming into the weekend, I knew that I had my work cut out for me. All I wanted to do was focus on my riding and never give up. The weather was pretty bad all the way into Race 1, and trying to get a decent setup was almost impossible with the constantly changing conditions. In both qualifying sessions, both the team and I made the decision to stay on wet tires as the track started to dry out towards the end of the sessions. It worked out up until about the last minute, when I went from P1 to P8 when a few other riders decided to move to slick tires. It was a risk that we weren’t willing to take, and I don’t regret it one bit. In Race 1, I was able to close the gap up to the race leader and make a move into the lead. Honestly, I didn’t expect him to make a pass in the last corner on the last lap, seeing as there was a wet patch on the entry and we were on slicks. Props to him for being willing to risk everything for the win. Race 2 was the same story, more or less. The first few laps were a big struggle for me, I just couldn’t get the rear tire to grip. After I figured out how to ride the bike with it being so loose, I just put my head down and kept pushing to close the gap. I was happy to be able to catch up and pass my way onto the podium on the last lap. A huge shout out to the entire OrangeCat Racing team, alpha Racing, BMW, and all my supporters throughout the year. I genuinely rode my heart out this weekend, I feel there’s nothing more I could’ve done.”
Travis Wyman / No. 10
“New Jersey was a tough one for me. The conditions were super difficult in practice and qualifying with the wet/dry racetrack. I had a really hard time finding my rhythm and ended up qualifying 12th. I finished the races in 11th and ninth, which is progress but still isn’t where we want to be. Congrats to Jayson on getting second place in the championship and thank you to the entire OrangeCat Racing Team for all their hard work this season. Now it’s onto 2025!”
The following is from Altus Motorsports…
MotoAmerica wrapped up the 2024 season at New Jersey Motorsports Park. It was a challenging year for Altus Motorsports, but the team showed incredible growth and resilience throughout the season. The team is already looking ahead to 2025, motivated and ready to come bigger and better than ever.
Jake Lewis had a strong showing in Race 1, finishing in 6th place. However, Race 2 proved more difficult, and he crossed the line in 12th.
Jake Lewis: “It was a difficult final weekend for us in New Jersey. The weather was inconsistent all weekend and we just struggled for pace every time on track. It was a bummer to lose 3rd in the championship, but we can be proud of our season against some extremely talented competition. Thanks to the whole crew and Altus Motorsports team for the opportunity this season. I had a lot of fun and achieved good results. We will see what happens in 2025!”
Jaret Nassaney showed promise early in the weekend, qualifying 8th for the Supersport races. Unfortunately, a highside crash in Race 1 resulted in a broken collarbone, preventing him from competing in Race 2.
Jaret Nassaney: “Disappointing to leave NJMP in a sling and no results, but we showed that we can run with the front pack when everything works out. 2024 was tough, but I’m ready to put in the hard work this off-season and come back stronger next year.”
Torin Collins had a strong performance to finish out the season, finishing 10th in Race 1 and 11th in Race 2.
George Nassaney: “This season was full of challenges, but I couldn’t be prouder of how our riders and crew came together. We had some tough breaks, but we learned a lot and grew as a team. I want to personally thank Boyd, Rick, Murph, William, Nelson, Sean, and LJ for all of the hard work this season. Without them, our riders would not have had the success they had. Jake, Jaret, and Torin competed every weekend at the highest level, and I could not be more proud. The Supersport class is no joke. Lots of amazing, talented riders make this class extremely tough. We are excited for 2025, and I’m already preparing for our team to come back stronger next season.”
The following is from Real Steel Motorsports…
Hayden Gillim went into the final round of the 2024 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship with a 7-point lead in the standings and finished off qualifying Friday afternoon with provisional pole position with a 1.5 second gap back to 2nd place. With conditions Saturday morning, the Friday times stood as the fastest, and Gillim had pole position for the races.
In the first race on Saturday, Hayden took the lead from the start and led for the first 10 laps until his competitor for the championship passed for the lead. The remaining 4 laps were a dogfight with Hayden making a last lap, last corner pass to take the victory. Going into the final race on Sunday, Gillim had a 12-point lead.
On Sunday, Hayden again took the lead off the start and while hounded by a fellow Honda CBR1000RR-R SP, he was never passed and finished the season with another victory. Gillim retained the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship despite stiff competition and showcased the potential of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.
This effort is proudly supported by Steel Commander Corp., Southern Honda Powersports, American Honda, Comstock Energy LLC, Vesrah, Maxima Racing Oils, Fast Line Track Days, KTech Suspension, Orient Express, Dunlop, GB Racing, Redline Tire Warmers, and REB Graphics.
Hayden Gillim – Rider #1: “This season was a ton of fun with lots of ups and lots of downs and a few too many crashes but in Stock 1000, everything came together in the end. I won a good handful of races and just had a lot of fun with the team. I can’t thank the sponsors, crew (Jerry, Mark, Rob, Colby and Chuck), and Summer and the kids enough. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”
Jerry Nickell – Team Principal: “2024 has been an exciting year and the team is proud to have brought a MotoAmerica championship to Honda with the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. It’s been a long time coming. Hayden is an amazing rider and a great partner in this adventure. I’m looking forward to returning to the MotoAmerica paddock next year and continuing to build on our team’s success and history.”
Mark Junge – Crew Chief: “Hayden was a Beast on this Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP even with his injured hand and really highlighted the performance of this package. On the next to the last lap in Saturday’s race he had a major tank-slapper coming on to the front straight that measured at 2.8 G’s and had 18 oscillations on the data, and he recovered and made a winning pass in the final corner – He is an amazing rider.”
David Carmody – GM Southern Honda Powersports: “Southern Honda Powersports is proud to be a part of the Real Steel Motorsports family and partner with Hayden on the project to bring the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP to the top step of the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Hayden, Jerry, Mark, and the team in 2025.”
