ROAD RACE
MOTOAMERICA FIM NORTH AMERICAN ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 7 / AUGUST 10-12, 2018
SONOMA RACEWAY / SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
P88
"I just put my head down at the
beginning of the race because I
knew that Toni made an improve-
ment this morning, and I knew
Josh was really good yesterday
at the start of the race," Beaubier
said. "So, I knew I needed just
to get out front and put my head
down and just try to run with it,
and we were able to do it. It really
was a perfect weekend."
Elias was pleased to get one
place over Herrin, but effectively
ceded the championship, stat-
ing, "Today was a little bit better
than yesterday. I think the pace
was much faster. We did a great
job. I gave all I had. Of course,
it's not what we want, but we
improved from yesterday. This
is the most important thing. The
Factory Racing Suzuki GSX-
R1000) in his first race since an-
nouncing his retirement, Danny
Eslick (Scheibe Racing BMW S
1000 RR), Kyle Wyman (Lucas
Oil/KWR Yamaha YZF-R1), Geoff
May (Omega Moto Yamaha YZF-
R1) and Jayson Uribe (Genu-
ine Broaster Chicken Honda
CBR1000RR SP2).
Race two would again be
a Beaubier benefit as he fin-
ished lap one 1.1 seconds clear,
increasing that to 4.3 seconds af-
ter three laps, 6.4 seconds after
five and eventually to 10 seconds
before backing off for a 6.5-sec-
ond victory over Elias and Herrin.
It was textbook stuff from the
two-time MotoAmerica Superbike
Champion.
"Going into the race, I knew
that I had a little bit of time on
the guys," Beaubier said. "I just
wanted to get out and put my
head down and push from the
first lap. That wasn't the case.
Herrin snuck up the inside going
up into two and I was like, 'oh
man!' He was riding really tough,
really good the first lap. I knew I
had to get into the lead and just
try to put my head down because
I felt like I had a good pace. It all
went to plan."
With Herrin and Elias lock-
ing out the race-one podium,
the top 10 was rounded out by
Beaubier's factory Yamaha team-
mate, Garrett Gerloff, Jake Lewis
(M4 Ecstar Suzuki GSX-R1000)
Roger Hayden (Yoshimura Suzuki
Jake Lewis (85) had another
consistent weekend on the M4 Ecstar
Suzuki. Here he leads Cameron
Petersen (45), Danny Eslick (69) and
Roger Hayden (95).
