Fong Rips MotoAmerica COTA Test
M
4 Ecstar Suzuki's Bobby
Fong ran through the gamut
of emotions in the final session
of the two-day Dunlop Preseason
Test, at the Circuit of the Ameri-
cas—elation, disappointment and
ultimately happiness.
Fong turned in the best lap of
the test in the eighth and final
session, but the lap was initially
taken away when it was reported
that he had cut the track. The
issue was resolved, however,
when it was determined that
Fong cut the track, but not on
his fast lap. That meant that Fong
leaves Texas with bragging rights
as the fastest Superbike rider
over the two days, his 2:08.343
bettering Loris Baz's 2:08.595
from the final session.
"Hero to zero like that," Fong
said before knowing that his
quick lap had been reinstated.
"They said I cut the track, but I
didn't. I wouldn't lie and I'd be
honest here. We did a good test
and it's unfortunate not to see my
name on top. The team has been
doing a lot of hard work here
and it's unfortunate for the team
because we wanted to be on top.
But we will bring it to Atlanta and
bring the heat.
"We haven't tested at all and
I haven't been on a road race
bike since October and have
just been riding motocross a
lot. Yesterday was kind of weird.
We started off really strong and
then we cracked a swingarm and
had to go to a back-up one that
we had to test anyway. It wasn't
working as well and we need to
do more development with that,
but with that being said they fixed
the swingarm overnight and we
got back to where we started,
and we just started improving
today. Overall, it was a really
good test."
Fresh N' Lean Attack Perfor-
mance Yamaha's Jake Gagne
ended the day as the second
fastest of the Superbike men, the
2020 MotoAmerica Superbike
Championship runner-up lap-
ping at 2:08.902 in today's third
session.
"It was a great test, and we
got a lot done," Gagne said. "We
worked through a lot of stuff, a
lot of chassis stuff and electron-
ics. Luckily the weather held
out today. It was little windy, but
actually pretty nice. We got a lot
of laps in and just got to try stuff
to see what works, what doesn't
work. My goal was working
with my crew chief; we weren't
focused on lap times. I think a lot
of the guys were using the softer
IN
THE
WIND
P50
Bobby Fong ended up
the fastest of the fast
at the two-day Dunlop
Preseason Test at Circuit
of the Americas.
PHOTOS: BRIAN J. NELSON
