FEATURE I 2 0 2 2 M O T O A M E R I C A S U P E R B I K E C H A M P I O N S H I P P R E V I E W
P76
FAVORITES
There's no reason to think 2022 will be any different,
as a new year brings renewed energy from not just
his competitors but the man himself. Fully focused on
retaining the crown, it will take a very inspired rider to
knock Fresh N' Lean Attack Performance Yamaha's
Gagne off his throne.
#32 JAKE GAGNE
FRESH N' LEAN ATTACK
PERFORMANCE YAMAHA
They say the first win is always the
hardest. Once that hurdle is out of the
way, the confidence comes and the
wins thereafter come easier and easier.
That's the way it's supposed to work
out, and indeed that's what happened
to Jake Gagne in 2021. The Colorado
resident was simply on another level in
2021, blitzing everyone in a devastatingly
monotonous fashion. It was almost
like clockwork that Gagne would win
on Sunday, which must have been a
demoralizing feeling for his rivals.
#45 CAMERON PETERSEN
FRESH N' LEAN ATTACK PERFORMANCE YAMAHA
He might be Gagne's teammate, but Cameron Petersen
will be out to show he's no number two. The South
African's career has been one of hard graft, diligently
working his way up the ranks on sometimes sub-
standard machinery until he was finally given a lifeline
by John and Chris Ulrich last year as Josh Herrin's
replacement on the M4 Ecstar Suzuki. Petersen
acquitted himself well to the task, scoring his first
Superbike race win in torrential conditions at Barber
and finishing the year third behind compatriot Scholtz.
A call up to the all-conquering Fresh N' Lean Attack
Performance Yamaha team was his reward, and after
an excellent showing at Daytona where he missed the
winner's Rolex by 0.007 seconds, Petersen knows
this is his year to shine.
