MotoAmerica Round 2 Road Atlanta Press Releases

Misc Press Releases from Monster Energy / Yamaha Factory Race team and Monster Energy / Yamalube / Yamaha Extended Services / Graves / Yamaha at the MotoAmerica 2017 Round 2 Road Atlanta!

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To The Podium For Beaubier In MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2 At Road Atlanta; Gerloff And Beach Do The Same In Supersport Race 2

Braselton, GA - April 30, 2017 – Sunday was a day filled with both solid podium finishes and lots of drama for Yamaha’s Factory Superbike Team and Factory-Supported Supersport Team as two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier finished third aboard his #1 Yamaha YZF-R1 in Superbike Race 2 and Garrett Gerloff and JD Beach finished second and third, respectively, aboard their brand-new Yamaha YZF-R6 machines in Supersport Race 2.

A similar battle developed quickly in Sunday’s Superbike race as it did in Saturday’s Superbike race, with both Cameron and his Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha teammate Josh Hayes in the front group that also included Toni Elias and Roger Hayden.

On Lap Five, Josh tucked the front of his bike going into turn one and fell down. He slid unhurt to the airfence on the outside of the turn, but his #4 R1 wasn’t quite as lucky as it cartwheeled over two rows of fences, past a couple of trees, and through a heavy thicket of vines. As Josh described it, “I saw the bike smoking, so I ran out to get it because I didn’t want my beautiful R1 to burn up! I had to stomp out a couple of small fires caused by the hot (brakes) that started to catch the grass and weeds on fire. In 20 years of racing at this track, I’ve never crashed in turn one before, and I’ve never launched a bike completely out of the racetrack. So, I guess there’s first time for everything.”

Meanwhile, back on the racetrack, a different kind of conflagration was developing, which was a carryover from yesterday’s Superbike Race 1. Cameron found himself in another dogfight with Hayden and, even more so, with Elias.

During the battle, Cameron recorded the fastest lap of the race, but on the final lap, he just wasn’t able to get close enough to either Suzuki rider to make a final pass on them, so he brought his R1 Superbike across the finish line in third, with the thought in his mind that it’s only the second round of the MotoAmerica season, and there is a lot of racing left before the 2017 Championship is decided.

“I got a decent drive up the hill coming into the final corner, and I went to brake on the outside.” Cameron said. “(Toni) moved over on me hard, and I knew it was (payback) from yesterday. I don’t feel like I did anything wrong (yesterday), so, to me, that was unwarranted. If he’s not going to respect me, then I’m going to have a problem with that. I haven’t really lost any respect for him, but I am going to race him hard because I want to win.”

In Sunday’s Supersport race, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha teammates Garrett Gerloff and JD Beach faced the same challenge from Valentin Debise as they did in Saturday’s race. It’s clear that Garrett, JD, and Debise will be dicing with each other at the front of the pack throughout the season, and in this second Road Atlanta matchup of the weekend, Debise prevailed, while Garrett followed up his Saturday race victory with a second-place finish on Sunday, while JD was again third.

“I want to win the races, and make passes,” JD said. “But, this track hasn’t been one of my strong ones. So, all in all, I’m happy with my results this weekend. I’m looking forward to going to some tracks where I feel like I’m better. We learned some stuff about the bike here at Road Atlanta that I think will help us as the season continues.”

Garrett said, “My bike felt good, and I felt like I could run the pace today without too much difficulty. Valentin (Debise) was riding well, and it seemed like it was going to come down to the last lap between us, which it did. I tried to outbrake him, but he got past me, and I just didn’t have an opportunity to pass him back before the checkered flag. I want to win and keep putting this brand-new R6 on top of the box. It’s a great bike, and I’m looking forward to (the next race at) VIR. Every track that we go to, I find more things that this new bike can do better than the old one did.”

As Garrett alluded to, Yamaha’s Factory Superbike Team and Factory-Supported Supersport Team will be back in action in two weeks as the MotoAmerica Championship travels to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the race at VIRginia International Raceway on May 12 - 14.

For more Yamaha racing news, results, photos, and videos, visit http://www.YamahaMotorsports.com/Racing

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Double W-I-N In The A-T-L: Beaubier Gets The Victory & Hayes Podiums In MotoAmerica Superbike; Gerloff Makes It Two Supersport Wins In A Row For Brand-New R6, While Beach Also Podiums

Braselton, GA - April 29, 2017 –In what many are saying was one of the most exciting Superbike races in recent years--if not of all time--Cameron Beaubier prevailed in a race-long battle among five riders that lasted virtually the entire length of Saturday’s 21-lap MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at Road Atlanta. For the two-time and defending Superbike Champion, it was the 20th career Superbike victory for the 24-year-old rider aboard his Yamaha YZF-R1.

Cameron’s Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing teammate Josh Hayes also finished on the podium in third after leading the race for all but five of the laps.

Earlier in the day, Cameron earned the pole position in what was also an action-packed and exciting Superpole qualifying session.

“I didn’t get a very good start, and Toni (Elias) and Roger (Hayden) did, which I was not too happy about,” Cameron said. “Josh (Hayes) did a good job getting to the front, and he was setting a really good pace. I had to keep telling myself to be patient during the race, so I just concentrated on being smooth, and that put me in a position to finally take the lead. In the end, I had to get aggressive because I know that’s what it’s going to take to beat these guys. I was able to get past Toni on the final lap, and hold the lead to the finish line. It was a fun race, and I’m sure tomorrow will be another battle, but my team and I are ready.”

Josh said, “We’ve been making quite a few changes to the bike here at Road Atlanta, and for the race, we finally settled on about what we started the weekend with. When I was leading, I didn’t think my pace was going to be enough for me to maintain the lead at the end. But, there was a lot of passing in that race, and when that’s going on, I like to be sitting at the front so I can just let what happens behind me, happen. We got a good result today with third, but after leading all those laps, I just need to work on being stronger at the end for about three more laps.”

In the afternoon’s Supersport race, which was itself an exciting contest, Garrett Gerloff emerged from a race-long battle with Valentin Debise to notch the victory after executing a skillful and deciding pass on the French rider in the final two laps.

Garrett’s Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha teammate JD Beach, who won last week in Texas, finished third and joined Garrett on the podium.

“We have a really good bike in this brand-new R6,” Garrett said. “The red flag (that stopped the race) actually helped me because we were able to make a couple of changes to the bike, and it was even better after the restart. We’ve got the bike set up so that it’s really strong at the end.”

JD said, “After the race was red-flagged and re-started with 8 laps to go, I knew I needed to do something quick. So I got a good start, but then Valentin came flying past me. After that, I made a mistake and just blew the turn. I’m happy that I was able to get back up to third place again, which is where I was before the re-start. I’m looking forward to Race 2 tomorrow.”

Sunday’s Supersport Race 2 from Road Atlanta will start at 2:25 PM EST, and Superbike Race 2 is at 3:30 PM EST. Both races will be broadcast live on beIN Sports.

For more Yamaha racing news, results, photos, and videos, visit http://www.YamahaMotorsports.com/Racing

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The Yamaha bLU cRU Road Racers March To Atlanta For This Weekend’s MotoAmerica Round Two

Cypress, CA - April 27, 2017 – The 2017 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship kicked off in Austin. TX, last weekend, and the Yamaha bLU cRU road racers are right back in action again this weekend, as the MotoAmerica series features Round Two at Road Atlanta.

Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing: Beaubier & Hayes

Two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier is looking forward to getting back in the saddle of his #1 Yamaha YZF-R1. He fought hard for an eighth-place result on Saturday at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) after suffering a rare tipover in the race. And then, on Sunday, he redeemed himself with a solid second-place result.

“It wasn’t the kind of weekend I’d liked to have had,” Cameron said. “But I got decent Championship points in Race 1 despite my crash, and I got on the podium in Race 2. So, all in all, not bad. I’m glad that we’re racing again this weekend so we can put COTA behind us and get back to winning races.”

Four-time Superbike Champion Josh Hayes also wasn’t overly thrilled with his results at COTA, and it’s a track that continues to vex him.

“COTA is always a difficult race for me,” commented Josh. “But I love going to Road Atlanta, one of the first tracks I ever raced at. Just like last year, I feel confident that I can be in the fight for the wins.”

Superbike Superpole (Qualifying) is on Saturday at 11:30 AM EST, Superbike Race 1 will go green on Saturday at 3:30 PM EST, and Superbike Race 2 is on Sunday at 3:30 PM EST.

Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha: Gerloff & Beach

Riding their brand-new YZF-R6 Supersport machines, defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Garrett Gerloff and his teammate JD Beach were much happier with their COTA outing than their Yamaha Superbike counterparts were.

Garrett set the pole with a blistering final lap in qualifying, but it was JD who prevailed in the Supersport race at COTA, as he ran laps in the race that were faster than his fastest qualifying lap, and he took the win aboard his #95 machine in the 2017 R6’s U.S. road racing debut.

“I’m happy to get the first win at the opening round, but I am realistic about it,” commented JD. “It’s a long season, and we’re just getting started. The competition is tough in this class, and I’ve got to up my game even more for Road Atlanta this weekend.”

Garrett’s pole-setting performance designated him as the man of the meet early in the weekend at COTA, and he reached the podium, but it didn’t set too well with the Texas-based rider of the #1 R6.

“COTA is my home track,” Garrett said. “I’m glad that we got both of the 2017 R6’s up on the podium, but I really wanted that win! I’ve got the number one on my bike, but I didn’t feel like I showed it, especially after setting the pole. JD rode really, really well, so hats off to him. I’m ready to give it all I’ve got this weekend in Atlanta and get the win.”

Supersport Qualifying is Saturday at 9:20 AM EST, Supersport Race 1 is scheduled for Saturday at 2:25 PM EST, and Supersport Race 2 will go green on Sunday at 2:25 PM EST.

Meet Cameron, Josh, Garrett, And JD

Tomorrow night, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, be sure to stop by Mountain Motorsports Mall of Georgia at 1700 Horizon Parkway in Buford. Cameron Beaubier, Josh Hayes, Garrett Gerloff, and JD Beach will be on hand to meet fans, sign autographs, and give away posters.

Cameron, Josh, Garrett, and JD will also be available for autographs at their Team Transporters in the Road America paddock on Saturday from 12:45 to 1:45 PM. And, the Fan Walk, scheduled for 12:40 to 1:40 PM Sunday on pit lane at Road America, is another great opportunity to meet Cameron, Josh, Garrett, and JD. The riders will be handing out free, autographed posters and other team items, and you can also get your picture taken with them, as well as with the Monster Energy and Yamaha Extended Service Umbrella Girls.

Enter To Win A 2017 Yamaha YZ250F Or YZF-R3 In Yamalube 50th Anniversary Graphics!

Look for the Yamalube Umbrella Girls in the paddock, and ask them to enter your name in the Yamalube 50th Anniversary Sweepstakes.

On Monday following the race weekend, one lucky winner’s name will be drawn for the Free Case of Yamalube, and all names collected on the race weekends will be automatically entered in the drawing for the 2017 Yamalube 50th Anniversary YZ250F or YZF-R3. A First Prize Winner and Second Prize Winner will be selected in a random drawing on October 2, 2017 from among all eligible and qualified entries.

No purchase is necessary to enter win. For official Sweepstakes rules, please visit:

https://www.shopyamaha.com/yamalubebikegiveaway

https://www.shopyamaha.com/yamalubeoilgiveaway

For more Yamaha racing news, results, photos, and videos, visit http://www.YamahaMotorsports.com/Racing

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