P80
ROUND 1 / APRIL 30-MAY 2, 2021
ROAD ATLANTA / BRASELTON, GEORGIA
ROAD RACE
FIM NORTH AMERICAN ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP
T
he opening round of
MotoAmerica 2021 saw
the introduction of the
post-Beaubier era with those
left behind by the Californian in
recent years now center stage
for the title.
In the end, however, it would
still be a Yamaha benefit as
South African (and now Geor-
gia resident) Mathew Scholtz,
broke through for his second
MotoAmerica Superbike class
victory and his first in the dry
for the Westby Racing team.
In race two, it was possibly the
most long-overdue first victory
for Fresh 'N' Lean Attack Perfor-
mance Yamaha's Jake Gagne,
who rode a masterful race to fin-
ish 4.7 seconds clear of Scholtz
after a technical problem ruled
him out of race one while in con-
tention for the lead.
Scholtz's race-one win came
after he engaged in a fierce (if
brief) fight with fancied newcom-
er Loris Baz on the Warhorse
HSBK Racing Ducati New York
Panigale. The former MotoGP
racer and WorldSBK winner
charged through to the front in
his first MotoAmerica race on
lap 14, but it only lasted one lap
longer as Scholtz dived up the
inside at the notorious downhill
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK • PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN J NELSON
MotoAmerica kicked off in style at
Road Atlanta with Yamaha once again
dominating the proceedings
