Gagne Fires First Shot with Superbike Race 1 Victory at PIRC
Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne continues to make championship gains with seventh MotoAmerica Superbike victory in 2023 / Aug 19, 2023 /
Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne put on another masterclass performance in today’s opening race of the MotoAmerica Superbike tripleheader at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The defending champ led from start to finish to further extend his points lead with his seventh victory of the season. Making his return as a fill-in rider for the team was JD Beach, who navigated the tricky, greasy conditions in his first Superbike race in two years to finish seventh.
It was another trademark Gagne Superbike victory, with the reigning back-to-back champ grabbing the holeshot from the second spot on the front row of the grid. He then threw down some fast times to bring the heat on a hot day at the 2.78-mile track in Wampum, Pennsylvania, and built a comfortable gap up front. Gagne remained unchallenged in the 17-lap race, scoring his 36th-career Superbike victory and seventh of the season to expand his lead in the championship to 83 points.
With a weekend off from his full-time duties as an American Flat Track racer, Beach had a solid first race back since his last fill-in ride with the team at Brainerd International Raceway in 2021. Qualifying 10th, he had a good start from the fourth row of the grid into ninth and made his way to seventh around the halfway mark, where he would finish.
The Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team returns tomorrow for twice the MotoAmerica Superbike action with Race 2 and 3 of the weekend at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania
Richard Stanboli – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manage“Another mission accomplished – a front-row sweep of Yamaha R1s as well as a decisive victory for Jake. JD also found a good rhythm in the race, and the result did not show his potential. We will work hard to repeat the winning performance on Sunday, as well as help JD get closer to the podium. It should be fun.”
Jake Gagne – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing“It was a great Race 1 today. A good start always makes life easier. I put my head down and just kind of inched away from those guys. This was the hottest track that we’ve had so far this weekend. So it was a little greasier than expected, but the R1 loves this track. We made steady improvements all weekend, and we are looking to make more progress for tomorrow’s double header!”
JD Beach – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing“My goal for Race 1 was just to get a good start and move forward from where I started. I wanted to stay calm and finish the race, to do every lap, see the checkered flag, and get my feet under me. We did that. Now I’m feeling really good for the next two races!”
2023 MotoAmerica Superbike PIRC Resultshttp://www.motoamericaregistration.com/2016-results/
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USAYamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company`s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.- based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana)