The MotoAmerica Superbike championship kicked off this weekend with its season opening round at Barber Motorsports Park. The races on Saturday offered perfect conditions. However, on Sunday a major storm raged through the paddock with thunderstorms delaying the day in the morning. Here’s how the event unfolded.
Superbike
The Superbike class had a mixed bag of race winners. Cameron Beaubier and Bobby Fong had a back and forth battle out front in Race 1 with Beaubier getting the best of Fong as the pair crossed the finish line after 20 laps. “Jake and I were just talking about it. He was so fast out of (turn) two. I don’t know what he was doing. I don’t know what line he was taking or what he was doing out of there. It was kind of like we were yo-yo-ing pretty good. I had some good spots. He had some good spots. There at the end, I kept lining him up going into turn one, but didn’t quite get there.
Finally, I did it with a couple of laps to go. Just put my head down those last couple of laps. I think he got hung up a little bit with a lapper going into turn one. But I’m super happy with how those last couple of laps went, my times, and how I felt. It’s going to be tough. This guy, he’s been ripping up at the Podium Club, hitting the gym. I’m stoked Jake is back and healthy again. Same with me. It was a pretty crappy middle of the year last year. I’m sure for both of us for different reasons. Awesome racing with these guys. It’s going to be a long year.”
After losing out on the battle at the fornt Jake Gagne Bounce back using the rian to his advantage in race two. After securing the win he said, “The bike just was working really good. I’m happy to leave with two podiums. I’m psyched with that, honestly.” The battle at the front for Superbike will be an intense one with all rider sin contention looking to further their legacies in the AMA MotoAmerica history books.
Supersport
Josh Hayes secured his 89th AMA victory in race 2 of Motivation Supersport. The now 50 year old continues to show that he has what it takes to hang with the younger generation in the countries premier superport class. I won the last National I rode in the rain in 2023 at New Jersey,” Hayes said. “My expectations were not this today. Somebody asked me and I’m like, ‘Supersport in the rain right now is so stacked…What an incredible weekend. I watched these two guys battle last year, and with any stroke of luck they’re going to have to deal with me more than in the rain this year, and that’s our goal and our hope. I’m looking forward to some more racing.”
Of note, Mathew Scholtz finished P1 in race 1 and P3 in race two after highsiding fromt he lead in the rain. Scholtz was able to recover and make his way all the back to the podium places after his teammate Blake Davis was forced off track after a late crash by Tyler Scott. Davis ended race 2 in P4; just missing on on a second podium on the weekend.
Twins Cup
Alessandro DiMario put on a master class at Barber in Twins Cup. After finishing on the podium twice and dominating the wet race DiMario ahs made it clear that he is taking the battle to Mathew CHapin who dominated the first round for Twins cup as Dayton securing both wins. DiMario said, “I just got flashbacks from last year,” Di Mario said. “In race one last year, it was in the rain, and I crashed, and then I won on Sunday in the dry. So, this year was split. I kinda lost in the dry and then won in the wet. I wasn’t really expecting it. Earlier I was just like, ‘I’m gonna go out there and win.’ I was so pissed about yesterday. I had a big moment in the big esses. I’m really happy, but I can’t really enjoy it right now. I have to go put my other helmet on and go race Talent Cup.”
Talent Cup
DiMario pulled dual duty in Twins and Talent cup this weekend. After a dominate win in Race 1. The rain threw a curve ball for DiMario in race 2. Dimario ahd built up an early lead but a late mistake saw him drop down the pecking order. He left the weekend as the points leader but was visibily displeased with the outcome of the race after giving up points. Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Hank Vossberg won race 2 after staying poised and focus on holding his position into the final laps of the race.
Next up is Road Atlanta where will will see the debut of the 2025 Stock 1000 class in one month’s time.