MotoAmerica Round 9 Championship of New Jersey

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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 9 New Jersey!

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At New Jersey, Gerloff Wins Seventh Consecutive MotoAmerica Supersport Race, While Hayes And Herrin Finish Fifth And Sixth In Superbike Race 2

Millville, NJ - September 10, 2017 – Defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Garrett Gerloff’s winning streak now stands at seven victories as the 22-year-old Texan notched his tenth win of the season on Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The result moved Garrett five points closer to wrapping up his second consecutive MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. Once again, Garrett led the entire race from start to finish.

“It was super-difficult today with JD right there, but it was cool to be able to race so close with him,” Garrett said. “I’m happy with how consistent I was able to be, riding smooth laps, and hitting my marks. Now, I can go into the next two races with the mindset that I want to win, but I don’t have to (win to wrap up the Championship).”

Garrett’s teammate JD Beach finished second for another Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha team 1-2 finish. Garrett and JD also remain 1-2, respectively, in the Championship points standings with one round and two races remaining in the 2017 MotoAmerica Supersport season.

JD commented, “My whole team and crew have been working hard to find a better setup for me, and I think we really found something in race 2 today. I felt like I had something for Garrett today, but the backmarkers kind of got in the way. It was a fun race, though, and it felt good to be able to ride the bike like I want to.”

Also on Sunday, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Josh Hayes started his 150th Superbike race as a factory Yamaha rider, but the four-time AMA Superbike Champion was not happy with the decision he made to change the setup of his #4 Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike following the podium result that he notched on Saturday. The changes proved costly as Josh finished fifth, two positions back from his third-place Saturday result.

“We tried making a pretty large change for today’s race because we didn’t want the same result as yesterday,” said Josh. “We wanted to do better than that, but, unfortunately, it didn’t work. I gave it my best effort, but I’m not happy with the result, Hopefully, we can take what we learned and make the bike better for the final round next weekend.”

Hayes and his teammate Josh Herrin battled it out with each other during the 23-lap race, and Herrin--still getting acclimated to his Yamaha Factory R1 Superbike during the first weekend of his two-round temporary return to the same team on which he won the 2013 AMA Superbike Championship--finished sixth and right behind Hayes at the checkers.

“I didn’t get the start that I wanted to, so I was disappointed with how I did in today’s race. The finish wasn’t what anybody wanted. The pace was faster today than it was in yesterday’s race, and I think I was pushing a little bit harder than I probably should have. It was a big jump when I got on this bike and it’s a lot more different than I thought it would be. But, overall, we are going in the right direction. I’m looking forward to getting more seat time, and we’re going to work on making the bike a little more comfortable. We’ve got two races under our belt, so we have a good bit of data to look at before next weekend.”

MotoAmerica Supersport Standings

1. Garrett Gerloff – Yamaha – 346

2. JD Beach – Yamaha – 300

3. Valentin Debise – Suzuki – 232

5. Jason Aguilar – Yamaha – 125

MotoAmerica Superbike Standings

1. Toni Elias – Suzuki – 390

2. Roger Hayden – Suzuki – 297

3. Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha – 255

4. Josh Hayes – Yamaha – 207

5. Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha – 175

Yamaha’s Factory Superbike and Factory-Supported Supersport Teams will be back in action next weekend, September 15-17, for the season-concluding Championship of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham.

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Gerloff Wins Sixth Consecutive Supersport Race, At New Jersey; Hayes and Herrin Finish 3-4 In Superbike Race

Millville, NJ - September 9, 2017 – Defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Garrett Gerloff is moving closer and closer to becoming a two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion.

On Saturday at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Garrett got the holeshot in the red-flagged and restarted race, and he led from start to finish, taking the checkered flag with a gap of more than ten and a half seconds back to the second-place finisher. Garrett’s Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha teammate JD Beach finished third.

After notching his sixth race victory in a row and ninth win this season, Garrett said, “It was a really good race. We were kind of feeling weird yesterday during the two practice sessions, but my team and I came up with a plan this morning, and I was happy with how my R6 handled. I was able to get a good second start and pull a gap so that I could ride my own race. It feels good to get another win.”

Podium finisher JD commented, “We finally got off to a really good start in the race, but then, we had the red flag. I hope whoever went down is all right. On the restart, Garrett got off the line really well, and I slotted in behind him. The backmarkers played a role in today’s race because it was difficult to get around those slower riders, and Garrett kept increasing his gap.”

Supersport Race 2 from New Jersey Motorsports Park will go green on Sunday at 2:25 PM Eastern.

In Saturday’s Superbike Race 1 at NJMP, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Josh Hayes got a good start off the line and slotted into second place aboard his #4 Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike. The four-time AMA Superbike Champion took the lead in short fashion and immediately began pulling a gap.

As the laps wound down, Hayes was reeled in by Toni Elias, and then by Roger Hayden, shuffling him back to third, which is where he finished the race. Meanwhile, Hayes’ once-again teammate Josh Herrin, who is substituting for the injured Cameron Beaubier, had nearly a race-long battle with Jake Gagne. On the final lap, Herrin was able to make the pass on Gagne, to give the Yamaha Factory Superbike team a 3-4 finish.

“I felt really good on the motorcycle, and I was digging in there pretty hard,” said Hayes. “Toni (Elias) had a small gap on me, and I was just biding my time, looking for a place to pass. But, when I tried to get underneath him a couple of times, it really cost me. I beat the bike up pretty good, and they had a pace at the end that I couldn’t match. But, I’m glad that I was able to lead the race and ultimately finish up on the podium.”

“I was really happy with the race,” Herrin said. “I want to be fighting at the front, and I’m excited to have this opportunity to ride the best bike in the paddock. The R1 is a race-winning bike, many times over, and that’s where I want to be with it. From where we were at the start of the weekend, finishing fourth was a huge step forward for us. Also, we have a lot of data to look at going into tomorrow. I had a good battle with (Jake) Gagne, and I was glad to get by him on the final lap and get a 3-4 finish for our Yamaha Factory Superbike Team today.”

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

MotoAmerica Superbike Standings

1. Toni Elias – Suzuki – 365

2. Roger Hayden – Suzuki – 281

3. Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha – 255

4. Josh Hayes – Yamaha – 196

MotoAmerica Supersport Standings

1. Garrett Gerloff – Yamaha – 321

2. JD Beach – Yamaha – 280

3. Valentin Debise – Suzuki – 216

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The Yamaha bLU cRU Road Racers Motor Into Millville For This Weekend’s Championship of New Jersey

Cypress, CA - September 6, 2017 – Round 9 of the 2017 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship is this weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ, and the Yamaha bLU cRU teams are looking forward to racing again at NJMP’s 12-turn, 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway.

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

NJMP is always a favorite stop for four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes, and not just because the “Mississippi Madman” has won a total of 11 Superbike races aboard his Yamaha YZF-R1 at New Jersey. He also loves the passion and enthusiasm of the fans who attend the South Jersey event.

“I’ve won a few races at New Jersey, and I really like the track,” Hayes said. “It also looks like the weather is going to be ideal for racing. Things have started to head in the right direction for my team and me at the past two rounds, and I’m excited to ride my R1 again this weekend and continue to make it even better. The fans at NJMP are really awesome. They’re knowledgeable about motorcycle road racing and our series, and I feed off their energy.”

Josh Herrin also loves racing at NJMP, and he’s especially stoked to visit the track this weekend, since he’ll be racing for the Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing team as a replacement rider for the injured Cameron Beaubier.

Herrin commented, “It’s been a whirlwind since I got the call from Keith (McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.) the other day to substitute for Cameron Beaubier on the Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing Team. I have to give a big thanks to Alpinestars, Bell Helmets, and my helmet painter Brett King Designs for stepping up big and getting my safety equipment ready and looking good for this weekend. Also, thanks to Wienerschnitzel for sticking by me as one of my personal sponsors, too. I’m super-excited to race at New Jersey. The atmosphere there is so cool, and all the fans there are awesome, from the adults down to all the kids who race mini-GP bikes there.”

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

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

Defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Garrett Gerloff and his teammate, 2015 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion JD Beach will continue their season-long battle for the 2017 Supersport crown. Garrett currently has a 32-point lead over JD coming into New Jersey, but he knows that he needs to keep himself focused on the task at hand, which is to turn fast laps at one of his favorite racetracks.

“I can remember my first visit to New Jersey Motorsports Park like it was yesterday," said Garrett. It was amazing to win my first professional road race at this awesome track. Now, six years later, I’m excited to return again to a track that holds such great memories for me. I’m ready to hit the switchbacks and blast through the wide-open, fourth-gear last corner! Let’s go!”

JD also is keenly aware of what he needs to do, and that’s to get the wins over his red-hot teammate. The Kentuckian and his team have been working hard to find an edge for New Jersey.

“NJMP should be an interesting weekend for us," JD said. "We’ve had two tough weekends coming to grips with the setup on our new R6. But, at Pittsburgh, we took a step forward, which definitely helped us in Race 2. And then, after Race 2, my crew and I got some things sorted for NJMP. So, it should be fun to swing my leg over my Monster Energy/Yamalube/Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha R6 on Friday morning, and give it a go.”

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

Meet Josh Hayes, Josh Herrin, Garrett, And JD

Friday night, from 7 to 8 PM, be sure to stop by Deptford Yamaha at 1300 Clements Bridge Road in nearby Deptford, New Jersey. Josh Hayes, Josh Herrin, Garrett Gerloff, and JD Beach will be on hand to meet fans, sign autographs, and give away posters.

Josh Hayes, Josh Herrin, 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.