MotoAmerica Round 6 - Utah

Weekend Press from MotoAmerica Round 6 - 2018 Utah Motorsports 

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Beaubier and Gerloff Finish 1-2 in Sunday’s Superbike Race 2Beach Completes a 1-1 Supersport Sweep at Utah Motorsports Campus

Tooele, Utah – July 23, 2018 – Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing teammates Cameron Beaubier and Garrett Gerloff claimed the top two positions in Sunday’s Superbike Race 2 for a successful close to Round 6 of the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship in Tooele, Utah.

In Supersport racing, Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha’s JD Beach kept his winning streak alive on Sunday as he clinched his fourth consecutive victory with a 1-1 sweep on the weekend at Utah Motorsports Campus (UMC).

Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing Superbike Team

When the green flag waved for Superbike Race 2, Cameron Beaubier launched from the pole position on the starting grid and tucked in behind hard-charging Toni Elias as the pair entered turn 1. Beaubier quickly made his move for the lead and successfully defended his position before pulling away from Elias. As the two riders continued to push the pace, Elias crashed on lap six, creating a comfortable gap over the rest of the field for race leader Beaubier. From there, the two-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion remained smooth and collected on his Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing R1 to ultimately finish 4.2 seconds ahead of his teammate, Garrett Gerloff, earning his fifth Superbike victory of the season while gaining a 49-point lead in the championship standings. With this victory, Beaubier also scored his 29^th career Superbike win, which places him fourth on the list of all-time winningest AMA Superbike riders.

Superbike rookie Garrett Gerloff got off to a great start in Race 2 and quickly found his pace as he piloted his R1 into fifth place behind Roger Hayden. Using the race craft and strategy gained from the experience of earning two MotoAmerica Supersport Championships, Gerloff patiently waited for his opportunity to attack. On lap 13, Gerloff found his opportunity in turn five and made his move to overtake Hayden for third-place. Demonstrating the ability to ride a much faster pace, Gerloff continued to charge and passed Jake Lewis for second-place as the two made their way into turn one with four laps to go in the 17-lap race. When the checkered flag waived, Gerloff scored a career-best second-place finish in the Superbike class on his Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing R1.

Cameron Beaubier - #6 YZF-R1

“We made a couple changes from Saturday’s race to Sunday morning. I felt so good on my R1 all day and I knew if I put my head down I might be able to run away. When I saw Toni was out of the race, I was able to back it down and get to the checkered without too much risk. I’m really happy after this weekend. We struggled bad here last year so to come out of this round with a first and second feels so good, and an increased points lead is the cherry on top.”

Garrett Gerloff - #31 YZF-R1

“I’m so happy with how we ended the weekend! The team and I worked so hard all weekend to get the setup dialed in and we did it. We threw a bunch of changes at the bike for Race 2, so it took me until about half race to feel comfortable with everything, but then my R1 was perfect. I felt like I could put the bike wherever I wanted and I knew I had something for those guys. It felt great to feel like myself and feel loose on the bike again after starting the weekend off slow. I can’t wait to take my setup and confidence to Sonoma Raceway next month!

Tom Halverson - Team Manager

“Congrats to our entire team for a fantastic 1-2 finish! Both Cameron and Garrett’s crews made improvements in the settings for Race 2 that helped Cam set an amazing pace early in the race, and gave Garrett what he needed to have a great race from start to finish. We will carry this momentum into Sonoma, which traditionally is a great track for us.”

2018 MotoAmerica Superbike Standings – 12 of 20 Series Races Completed

Pos. Rider Points

1 Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha 2482Toni Elias – Suzuki 199
3 Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha 152
4 Josh Herrin – Yamaha 151
5 Garrett Gerloff – Yamaha 131
7 Kyle Wyman – Yamaha 101

Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Supersport Team

In an exciting Supersport Race 2, JD Beach clinched his seventh victory of the season to give his Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Team a 1-1 sweep at Utah Motorsports Campus. It didn’t come easy for Beach, who continuously battled closely with Valentin Debise before setting a faster pace late in the race. With four laps to go, Beach launched himself into the lead and maintained a small gap through the finish to edge out Debise by half a second for the win. The victory also earned Beach an 82-point lead in the championship standings.

JD Beach - #95 YZF-R6

“Today was another amazing race and a hard-fought battle with [Valentin] Debise. Between him and [Hayden] Gillim, they have been making me push my limits this year. My whole crew gave me an awesome bike today and made my job a lot easier. I love this track in Utah but I can't wait until Sonoma!”

Chuck Graves – Team Owner

“JD Beach had an exciting race with Valentin Debise, swapping the lead multiple times each lap. With four laps to go, JD put the hammer down and powered his R6 to his seventh win of the season and increased his point lead in the championship.”

2018 MotoAmerica Supersport Standings – 9 of 18 Series Races Completed

Pos. Rider Points

1 JD Beach – Yamaha 215
2 Hayden Gillim – Yamaha 133
3 Cory West – Yamaha 95
5 Braeden Ortt – Yamaha 87

Additional Yamaha bLU cRU Rider Notes

It was a great day for Fastline Performance/Tuned Racing’s Braeden Ortt, who battled his way from outside the top-ten to ultimately land his R6 on the Supersport podium with an impressive third-place finish in Race 2. Ortt currently holds fifth overall in the Supersport standings with two podium finishes under his belt.

With Yamaha bLU cRU Rider Coach Josh Hayes on-hand to provide mentorship, and with tuning insight from Graves Motorsports owner Chuck Graves, the Graves/Yamaha R3 Support Program riders were ready to go on Sunday for the start of Junior Cup Race 2 action. AGVSPORT America MonkeyMoto’s Jay Newton put forth an impressive ride aboard his R3 to finish less than one second away from victory.

In regards to Junior Cup racing, Graves added, “Jay Newton, on his R3, made multiple passes on the last lap to take the lead; however, he was passed at the finish line to take second place honors. All of the R3 racers fought hard today and are looking forward to the next race.”

The Yamaha bLU cRU riders will head to Sonoma, California Aug. 10-12 for Round 7 of the 2018 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship series at Sonoma Raceway. For complete schedule details, visit: http://motoamerica.com/.

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

Also, check out “YamahaMotorUSA” on your favorite social media site.

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Beaubier Scores Second-Place Finish in Superbike Race 1 at Utah Motorsports Campus

Beach Leads Yamaha bLU cRU Riders to Supersport Podium Sweep

Tooele, Utah – July 22, 2018 – It was a solid start to the weekend for Yamaha bLU cRU road racers on Saturday as they claimed six podium finishes from Round 6 of the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship at Utah Motorsports Campus (UMC).

After day one in Tooele, Utah, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Cameron Beaubier continues to lead the Superbike Championship by 24 points following a close second in Race 1.

In Supersport action, Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha’s JD Beach led every lap of Race 1 to earn his sixth victory of the season. Beach was at the helm of a Yamaha bLU cRU podium sweep as he was joined by Hayden Gillim and Cory West who finished second and third respectively.

Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing Superbike Team

Fresh from the momentum of his four-race win streak, Cameron Beaubier started his weekend by capturing Superpole on Friday with a lap time of 1:48.630, making a statement as the only rider in the field to circulate the flowing UMC course in less than 1:49.

When the green flag waived to start Superbike Race 1, Beaubier found himself in second-place on the opening lap. He eased his way into the first two laps before pulling the trigger to put his R1 out front on lap three, and then withstood pressure from Toni Elias for 13 laps before the duo engaged in a back-and-forth battle for the lead.

With three laps remaining, Elias snuck past Beaubier at the end of the long, fast front straightaway and came away with the lead exiting turn one. Beaubier kept the pace and challenged Elias on the final lap with a strategic pass to regain the lead exiting turn 9 in “The Attitudes” section of the track, but Elias countered two turns later in Clubhouse Corner by capturing the inside line and forcing Beaubier to run wide. After a final attempt in the last corner that resulted in a small front-end slide, Beaubier crossed the finish line in second place with only 0.494 seconds separating him from the win.

Garrett Gerloff got off to a great start as he piloted his R1 into fourth-place on the opening lap. Early on, Gerloff settled into a three-way battle for third-place with Roger Hayden and fellow Yamaha bLU cRU rider Josh Herrin. About halfway through the race, Gerloff got shuffled back as far as sixth place but he remained calm and worked his way back to fourth place by the final lap, finishing only one second off the podium.

Cameron Beaubier - #6 YZF-R1

“It always stings leading most of the race and coming up short on the win. But my R1 has been working great all weekend and we have another shot in Race 2.”

Garrett Gerloff - #31 YZF-R1

“It was a big challenge staying consistent through the whole race, but we got some really good information for Sunday’s race! In the end, I’m happy to have run with the group for the podium, but I really want to be fighting with those top two guys for that win. We have some things to try in practice and we’ll go from there, but I’m confident.”

Tom Halverson - Team Manager

“It was difficult getting second after Cameron led for most of the race. On the bright side, his pace was very fast and the high temperatures didn’t faze him. We are confident he can come back and win Race 2. Garrett also discovered some insights during Race 1, and we are confident that he will come back stronger for Race 2. Overall, the Yamaha bLU cRU riders performed great - congrats to Josh Herrin on another podium position!”

2018 MotoAmerica Superbike Standings – 11 of 20 Series Races Completed

Pos. Rider Points1 Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha 2232Toni Elias – Suzuki 199
3 Josh Herrin – Yamaha 151
4 Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha 139
5 Garrett Gerloff – Yamaha 111
7 Kyle Wyman – Yamaha 91

Superbike Race 2 will go green on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. MDT.

Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Supersport Team

JD Beach and the Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Team had an impressive showing in Supersport Race 1 on Saturday. Beach got off to a great start aboard his R6 and he worked hard to maintain the lead position throughout the entire 15-lap race to emerge with his third-consecutive race win.

JD Beach - #95 YZF-R6

“Getting another win on my Yamaha R6 in Utah was awesome! I can’t thank my team enough for all the hard work. The race was super-hot and not easy by no means. Hayden [Gillim] was riding great and pressuring me the whole time. I was sad to see Valentin [Debise] have to pull off before the race started. It’s safe to say Race 2 should be a good battle.”

Chuck Graves – Team Owner

“JD Beach and the team spent the early sessions of the weekend finding the optimum race set-up. The hard work paid off, and JD racked up his sixth win of the year and increased his points lead in the championship.”

2018 MotoAmerica Supersport Standings – 8 of 18 Series Races Completed

Pos. Rider Points
1 JD Beach – Yamaha 190
2 Hayden Gillim – Yamaha 133
3 Cory West – Yamaha 95

Supersport Race 2 will go green on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. MDT.

Additional Yamaha bLU cRU Rider Notes

Despite a rough start in Superbike Race 1, Josh Herrin put forth a great ride to land his Attack Performance/Herrin Compound/Yamaha R1 on the podium once again. Herrin started off just inside the top-ten on the opening lap and climbed his way up to fourth early on. He continued to fight for third place in a multi-rider battle, and ultimately held onto the final podium position.

Rickdiculous Racing’s Hayden Gillim placed his R6 on the podium in Supersport Race 1 after putting up a good fight against JD Beach. Gillim charged hard throughout the race to finish only 1.310 behind Beach for second-place. TSE Racing’s Cory West completed the Yamaha bLU cRU podium sweep after matching his best finishes of the season with third place on his R6.

Under the watchful eye of Yamaha bLU cRU Rider Coach Josh Hayes, and with tuning insight from Graves Motorsports owner Chuck Graves, the Graves/Yamaha R3 Support Program riders

were ready for battle when the green flag waved for Saturday’s MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race 1. MP13 Racing’s Cory Ventura had a great showing as he put his R3 atop the podium with an impressive third-place performance.

“The Graves/Yamaha R3 riders continue to improve, with Gavin Anthony qualifying in the #2 position,” said Chuck Graves. “All of the riders raced with all they had against the larger displacement machines in the class, and in the end, Cory Ventura scored the top honors for the R3 with his third-place podium finish.”

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

Also, check out “YamahaMotorUSA” on your favorite social media site.

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Yamaha bLU cRU Road Racers Head to Utah Motorsports Campus This Weekend for MotoAmerica Round 6

Beaubier and Beach Ready to Continue Championship Points Leads

Cypress, CA – July 18, 2018– Following a one-month break from racing, the 2018 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship resumes this weekend, July 20-22, with Round 6 at Utah Motorsports Campus (UMC) in Tooele, Utah. Yamaha bLU cRUroad racers are feeling refreshed and ready to hit the pavement of UMC's 3.048-mile road course, known for its fast, flowing and wide layout.

Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing Superbike Team

Superbike points leader Cameron Beaubier heads into the second half of the season with a four-race winning streak behind him. Despite facing a few challenges earlier in the season, Beaubier and the Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing Team found the momentum needed to garner a 29-point lead with 10 races remaining in the season.

Beaubier's teammate, Garrett Gerloff, holds a top-five position in the Superbike standings as he continues to lay a consistent foundation in his rookie season on the R1. Having already captured three podium finishes in the premier class, Gerloff is set to be a top contender at UMC.

Cameron Beaubier - #6 YZF-R1

“We had a good little break after Laguna. I've been riding some motocross and bicycles, doing my normal thing. It was nice going into a little break on a positive note. We are only at the halfway mark though, and I'm ready to get back on my R1 and try to keep this momentum going with my guys."

Garrett Gerloff - #31 YZF-R1

“I love going to UMC, it's one of the most “GP Style” tracks that we have. I feel like the layout, with the fast sweeping corners, and the flow of the track, is a big help for me and the way I like to ride. I feel like the bike and I are in a good place and I’m ready to go give it all I have! I’ve really been focusing a lot over the last month on consistency, which isn’t really something you can find from a bike setup. At the end of a race, it’s a given that the bike is going to be different and not work as well as at the beginning of the race, so adapting and still doing the same times as before is where it counts. That’s something that I’ve struggled with a little bit with the new bike but definitely something that I’m improving every time I ride. We’ve worked hard the last month to have the right mindset to do that, so let’s go do it!"

2018 MotoAmerica Superbike Standings – 10 of 20 Series Races Completed

Pos. Rider Points

1 Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha 203

2Tony Elias – Suzuki 174

3 Josh Herrin – Yamaha 135

4 Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha 129

5 Garrett Gerloff – Yamaha 98

6Jake Lewis – Suzuki 95

7 Kyle Wyman – Yamaha 82

Superbike Superpole (Qualifying) is on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. MDT, Superbike Race 1 will go green on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. MDT and Superbike Race 2 is on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Supersport Team

Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha’s JD Beach holds a 52-point lead in the Supersport Championship after seven races in the series. With five victories behind him, Beach has showcased his ability to prevail in all types of race conditions, and he looks to extend his points lead over the competition this weekend.

JD Beach - #95 YZF-R6

“I'm really excited to get back to racing in Utah after this little break we've had. It's been great to be at home a couple weeks and put in a lot of time on my bicycle and motocross bike, but I feel well-prepared to finish the year out strong starting this weekend at the amazing circuit in Tooele."

2018 MotoAmerica Supersport Standings – 7 of 18 Series Races Completed

Pos. Rider Points

1 JD Beach – Yamaha 165

2 Hayden Gillim – Yamaha 113

3 Cory West – Yamaha 79

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