MOTOAMERICA
AMA/FIM NORTH AMERICAN ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP
P88
ROUND 4 / MAY 31-JUNE 2, 2019
ROAD AMERICA / ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN
Racing is anything but
predictable, as MotoAmerica
proved with a win apiece for
Toni Elias and Josh Herrin.
And the points chase now
closed right up.
SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS
A
fter race one of round four of MotoAmerica
2019, held at the scenic and stupendously fast
Road America, Toni Elias was sitting pretty.
The Yoshimura Suzuki rider had just taken the
race win after a late skirmish with teammate Josh
Herrin, extending his series points lead to 29 over
defending number one, Monster Energy Yamaha's
Cameron Beaubier. But after race two, Elias was
throwing a new HJC helmet at the fence after he
locked the front of the number 24 Suzuki and hit the
deck—seeing a crucial 20 points go out the window
and the title race to Beaubier now back to within
nine points. It was a case of not-so-easy come, very-
easy go for the Spaniard. At least Herrin took the
second race win, limiting the title damage.
Race one was an enthralling encounter with
as many as seven riders in the lead group that
included Elias and Herrin, Beaubier, Monster
Energy Yamaha's Garrett Gerloff, Estenson Racing
Yamaha's JD Beach and Westby Racing Yamaha's
Mathew Scholtz. Pole-sitter Elias and Herrin were
the main protagonists, duking it out at the front for
the majority of the race until drama on the final lap
when Herrin made an opportunistic lunge around
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
Josh Herrin made up for
the disappointment of
race one with a brilliant
outside pass in race two
to take the win.