Simply One Level Separates Gagne From Petrucci In 2022 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship
Extremely-Shut Title Chase Heads To New Jersey Motorsport Park, September 9/11.
IRVINE, CA (September 6, 2022) – After finishing eight rounds, 16 races, 246 laps and 659.948 miles within the 2022 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship, only one level separates Contemporary N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne from Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Danilo Petrucci because the sequence makes its method to New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 9/11.
One measly level.
The 2 have arrived at this level in completely alternative ways. Gagne has received 10 races however has blundered in two of them with crashes that resulted in zero factors. Petrucci, in the meantime, hasn’t had the pure tempo that Gagne has had at most races, however he’s been there to select up the items when his rival has faltered. The Italian has received 4 races. Two of these got here with two dominating performances at Circuit of The Americas in spherical one, the opposite two after Gagne deposited his YZF-R1 within the gravel entice at Highway Atlanta after which destroyed a second Yamaha at Brainerd Worldwide Raceway. In whole, Petrucci has 14 podium finishes in 16 races and podiums in 11 straight races heading to NJMP.
Each have had seasons worthy of championships, however just one will get it and it’s a battle that ought to maintain us entertained till the ultimate lap at Barber Motorsports Park, September 23-25. A September to recollect, it appears.
Whereas this has principally been the Gagne/Petrucci present, let’s not overlook the opposite two riders who’ve received races in 2022 – Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen and Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz. Each of their wins got here midseason at Highway America with Scholtz excelling early within the season whereas Petersen has had his finest races within the second half. Petersen has 10 podiums whereas Scholtz has eight.
That places Petersen forward of his fellow South African by 22 factors with the 2 rounds and 4 races left on the schedule. These two have additionally confirmed to be quick sufficient {that a} dangerous day for both Gagne or Petrucci doesn’t imply an computerized second place, it doubtlessly means a fourth-place end. Thus, the 2 Yamaha riders might play a task within the consequence of the championship.
“We’re principally the second funded Yamaha group,” Scholtz stated after ending second to Gagne in race two at Pitt Race. “They undoubtedly assist us out however, on the finish of the day, Westby pay my wage. Westby are the blokes that hand me the contract provide each single yr, so I simply wish to do the perfect I can for them. But when I can assist Yamaha, I undoubtedly will. I might like to see myself first and Jake (Gagne) second. That may be essentially the most perfect state of affairs.”
Whereas the “Huge 4” are solidified on the high of the standings, the battle for fifth within the championship will seemingly go to the bitter finish.
Hector Barbera presently leads his Tytlers Cycle Racing teammate PJ Jacobsen by 20 factors within the battle for fifth. Whereas Jacobsen has extra podiums (two to 1), Barbera has fewer DNFs with the Spaniard lacking out on factors in simply two races with Jacobsen has 5 non-scores in his column.
Behind them comes a throng of racers combating inside the highest 10. They’re led by Imaginative and prescient Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante in seventh with the Superbike rookie main his teammate Jake Lewis by simply 5 factors. Eight factors behind Lewis is Aftercare Hayes Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates, who in flip leads Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim by 5 factors with the Kentuckian rounding out the highest 10.
Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing teammates Corey Alexander and Travis Wyman are on the skin trying in and path Gillim by 20 and 22 factors, respectively.
NJMP Superbike Notes…
Together with his two victories final yr at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Jake Gagne turned the eighth totally different rider to win an AMA Superbike race within the 13-year historical past of the sequence within the Backyard State. The winningest rider in AMA Superbike historical past at NJMP is much and away Josh Hayes together with his 11 Superbike victories on the facility, together with the primary two AMA Superbike races held on the monitor in Millville in 2009. Fittingly, Hayes is entered to race at NJMP this yr on a Squid Hunter Yamaha YZF-R6 within the Supersport class.
The MotoAmerica Superbike Championship featured three races throughout its weekend at NJMP in 2021 to make up for the cancellation of its spherical at Circuit of The Americas.
Jake Gagne was dominant within the three races a yr in the past. On Saturday he beat Mathew Scholtz and Toni Elias in race one and he adopted that up with two victories on Sunday – over Scholtz and Josh Herrin.
Along with the clear sweep of the three races, Gagne additionally certified on pole place on his Contemporary N Lean Assault Efficiency Yamaha Racing YZF-R1 (now the Contemporary N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing group). Gagne lapped at 1:20.355 with Scholtz and Loris Baz becoming a member of him on the entrance row. Gagne’s finest wasn’t a lap file, nevertheless, as that’s nonetheless held by Cameron Beaubier – together with his 1:19.806 coming throughout Superpole in 2020.
Though he’s not the lap file holder, Gagne is the race lap file holder together with his 1:20.076 coming in race two final yr on the two.250-mile racetrack.
What a distinction a extremely good yr makes. Final yr at NJMP, Gagne left Jersey with 16 profession AMA Superbike victories, which tied him with MotoAmerica President and three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey for ninth on the all-time win checklist. A yr later and Gagne has 27 victories and is only one behind former AMA and World Superbike Champion Ben Spies for sixth on the all-time checklist.
It’s a convention that we’ve to deliver up yearly: Roger Hayden, who received twice at NJMP throughout his Superbike profession, completed second there 5 occasions. Included in these 5 runner-up finishes had been a .044 of a second loss to Josh Hayes in 2015, a .156 of a second loss to Toni Elias in 2016 and a .039 of a second loss to Elias in 2017. Hayden is all the time a winner to MotoAmerica and its followers, nevertheless, as he offers colour commentary of MotoAmerica’s races on MotoAmerica Dwell+, the sequence’ reside streaming and on-demand platform.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American street racing sequence created in 2014 that’s house to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that features three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Corridor of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former supervisor of Group Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports advertising government Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For extra data on MotoAmerica, go to www.MotoAmerica.com. Additionally make certain to comply with MotoAmerica on Twitter, Fb and Instagram.
