MotoAmerica Round 8 Championship of Pittsburgh

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Misc Press Releases from Monster Energy / Yamaha Factory Race team and Monster Energy / Yamalube / Yamaha Extended Services / Graves / Yamaha at the MotoAmerica 2017 Round 8 Pittsburgh!

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Hayes Podiums In MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2, While Gerloff Wins His Fifth-Consecutive Supersport Race

Wampum, PA - August 27, 2017 – Four-time and defending AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes showed that he is still very much on his game as he finished third in Sunday’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The 42-year-old American road racing legend battled in the lead group during both legs of the red-flagged and restarted race, and crossed the finish line for his sixth podium result of the 2017 season.

“Today was a much better day for me,” Josh said. “I got off the line better, made some good passes, and had better pace overall. After the restart, I gave it the best run I could in trying to catch (second-place finisher) Toni (Elias), but I just came up a little bit short. I’m happy to get on the podium for Yamaha and my team, and now, we go to New Jersey the weekend after next, which is another track that I like a lot, so I’m excited about that.”

Josh’s Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing teammate Cameron Beaubier suffered a near-highside on the second lap after the restart, and the resulting violent shake of the handlebars on his bike caused a dislocation of his right shoulder. He pleaded with the corner marshals to “pop” his shoulder back in place so he could get back in the race, but no one wanted to take up the cause, so the two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion was unable to continue, and he ultimately went to the hospital where he was treated and released. An update on Cameron’s condition and fitness to race will be provided prior to the next round of the Championship.

In Sunday’s Supersport Race 2, defending class Champion Garrett Gerloff continued his hot streak, racking up his fifth race win in a row and eighth victory of the season in another show of dominance where he led the entire race from start to finish.

“I made a couple of small mistakes, but overall, it was a smooth race for me,” said Garrett. “I was actually able to go a couple of tenths (of a second) quicker than yesterday. But, the tires seemed to drop off a little more than they did yesterday, so I wasn’t able to maintain as fast of a pace as yesterday. I’m super-happy with the result, though, and I can’t wait to race again in two weeks!”

Garrett’s teammate JD Beach recorded his 13th podium result of the season, with another third-place finish to match his third place from yesterday, which put both Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha riders on the podium twice at Pittsburgh.

JD commented, “After we switched to using a different rear tire earlier this season (per Dunlop mandate for the entire Supersport class), it’s been more difficult for me on the bike, and we’ve been struggling with the change. It seemed like the harder I tried, the more difficult it would become. So, after yesterday’s race, we worked with Chris, our suspension engineer, to see where we can improve. We found something that gave me better pace in this race, and hopefully, it will help us get better results in the last two rounds of the season.”

MotoAmerica Superbike Standings

1. Toni Elias – Suzuki – 340

2. Roger Hayden – Suzuki – 261

3. Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha – 255

4. Josh Hayes – Yamaha – 180

5 Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha – 159

MotoAmerica Supersport Standings

1. Garrett Gerloff – Yamaha – 296

2. JD Beach – Yamaha – 264

3. Valentin Debise – Suzuki – 196

Yamaha’s Factory Superbike and Factory-Supported Supersport Teams will be back in action on September 8-10 for the Championship of New Jersey at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville.

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First Time’s A Charm For Beaubier & Gerloff At Pittsburgh As Cameron Wins MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 And Garrett Wins Supersport Race 1

Wampum, PA - August 26, 2017 – MotoAmerica’s two-time and defending Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier, and defending Supersport Champ Garrett Gerloff, both were winners in their first-ever races at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, new to the MotoAmerica race calendar for 2017. And, for both riders, their performances got better and better as the laps wound down.

Cameron got a good start from the second row on the grid, and he was almost immediately in the lead pack and dicing with his rival Toni Elias. The two Champions passed each other back and forth, until Cameron ultimately took the lead towards the end of the race, and crossed the finish line with a gap of nearly one-and-a-half seconds back to Elias. Also, he ran his fastest laps of the race in the latter stages of the 22-lap event.

“It was a really good race for us,” Cameron said. “I felt like I struggled a little bit with grip in the beginning, but as the race went on, the bike kept getting better and better, and my lap times kept improving. I’m happy to get this win today and keep this momentum going.”

Speaking of “getting better and better,” that’s been the ongoing theme for Josh Hayes, who has won all four of his Superbike Championships in the latter stages of his racing career. Today, as Josh lined up on the second row for the race, Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., presented the Mississippi Madman with a commemorative hat for starting his 300th career AMA road race.

“It’s a huge honor to be recognized for 300 AMA starts,” said Josh. “I didn't even know until Keith brought it to my attention on the grid. Also, it's cool to have it happen on the same weekend that Vale (Valentino Rossi) is being honored for 300 starts in GP. I've been incredibly lucky to have had such a long career and opportunity to ride in so many races, and I’m proud to represent Yamaha and the AMA in this way.”

About his race, in which he finished fifth in the Superbike class and eighth overall, he said, “Unfortunately, I made a big mistake in turn one on the first lap, and I put myself in a bad position right from the start. From that point forward, I feel like I ran a good race. I had a solid pace, and I was able to catch up to some of the riders at the front. My laptimes towards the end of the race were pretty decent, so if I hadn’t run off the track going into the first turn off the start, I’d have had a better end-result. I’m glad I get to race again tomorrow and put all that behind me.”

Superbike Race 2 is on Sunday at 3:15 PM EST.

Garrett, who ran a lightning-fast lap earlier in the day to earn the pole position, also ran off the track in the first turn at the start of Saturday’s MotoAmerica Supersport race, but he fared even better than Josh. Showcasing his trademark smoothness, Garrett recovered quickly from his grassy excursion and clicked off fast lap after fast lap. He was the only rider to dip into the 1:43s, and he pressed his advantage all the way to the checkers, where he won by more than 19 seconds in a display of utter dominance.

“Once I got my pace going, I felt like I could just keep running fast laps to the end,” commented Garrett. “We keep making improvements to an already great bike, and I can’t thank my team enough for all they do. It’s been a great season so far, and I just want to keep having fun. I can’t wait to race again tomorrow.”

Garrett’s teammate JD Beach notched his 12th podium result of the season, with his third-place finish.

The fan-favorite, Kentucky-based rider said, “I know I can’t win all the races, but I wish I could have been closer to the front and in the fight. We’re pretty far back in the points, and we don’t have a lot of races left. But, we’re not giving up, and we’ll work on some things so we can come back strong tomorrow.”

Supersport Race 2 from Pittsburgh International Race Complex will go green on Sunday at 2:25 PM EST.

MotoAmerica Superbike Standings

1. Toni Elias – Suzuki 320

2. Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha 255

3. Roger Hayden – Suzuki 236

4. Josh Hayes – Yamaha 164

MotoAmerica Supersport Standings

1. Garrett Gerloff – Yamaha 271

2. JD Beach – Yamaha 248

3. Valentin Debise – Suzuki 176

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The Yamaha bLU cRU Road Racers Are Ready For Their Pitt Stop This Weekend

Cypress, CA - August 23, 2017 – Round 8 of the 2017 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship is this weekend at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, PA, and the Yamaha bLU cRU teams will be racing for the very first time on PIRC’s undulating, 2.78-mile, 21-turn road course.

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

Two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier had a magical weekend during the previous round of the series in Sonoma, CA, where he led every practice and qualifying session, captured the pole position, and won both of the weekend’s races. Cameron is hoping to keep that same momentum going this weekend in Pittsburgh and throughout the remainder of the season.

Cameron said, “We’re coming off a great weekend at Sonoma and hoping to finish out the season strong. I enjoyed the Pittsburgh track when we tested there. It’s smooth and flowing, which is exactly what I like. And it’s spectator-friendly, as well.”

Four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes also had a solid weekend at Sonoma as he reached the podium in both Superbike races, and he, too, is looking to keep his resurgence going at Pittsburgh.

“This weekend at the new PittRace facility, I’m hoping to continue in the same positive direction that we took at Sonoma,” commented Josh. “It seems that track conditions will be a little bit different from when we were there for the test, with more new pavement and the addition of a chicane for safety. I’m looking forward to more time on our R1, and I’m hoping to make Cameron work a little harder for it this weekend.”

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

Like Cameron, defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Garrett Gerloff also had a perfect weekend at Sonoma where he, too, led every practice and qualifying session, captured the pole position, and won both of the weekend’s races. The result enabled Garrett to increase his lead over his teammate JD Beach, which now stands at 14 points.

“Pittsburgh is a big unknown!” Garrett exclaimed. “Luckily, we were able to test there, but I’ve heard there will be some big changes when we arrive at the track on Thursday. No matter what, though, I felt great at the test, and I have a few things up my sleeve for the race weekend. I’m excited that MotoAmerica and PIRC are bringing professional motorcycle road racing to all the great fans in the Pittsburgh area, and I can’t wait to get the action started!”

JD continues to stalk Garrett in their season-long cat-and-mouse game, and his two runner-up finishes at Sonoma have kept the 2015 MotoAmerica Supersport Champ very much in the hunt for this year’s title.

“Going into Pittsburgh, I'm excited for two reasons,” said JD. “First-off, I didn't have to wait too long to get back on my 2017 Yamaha R6. Second, we’re back east again, so I get to drive my sweet van up from my home in Kentucky! But, seriously, I’m looking forward to this weekend. The track was a lot of fun during our test there, but it needed some safety improvements. I’ve heard that PIRC worked hard, with MotoAmerica, to make those changes, so it should be a great weekend!”

Supersport Qualifying at PIRC 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

Friday night, from 6 to 7 PM, be sure to stop by ProMotorsports at 4361 Gibsonia Road, Route 910, in Gibsonia. 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 during the Dunlop Paddock Autograph Session on Saturday from 12:45 to 1:45 PM, and then, again on Sunday during the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk & Autograph Session on pit lane from 12:40 to 1:30 PM. 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.

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