VOLUME ISSUE MAY , P65
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN J. NELSON
S
ometimes the best de-
fense is a good offense.
The first round of the
2023 Medallia MotoAmerica
Superbike Championship saw
career rivals Jake Gagne
(Fresh N Lean Progressive Ya
-
maha) and Cameron Beaubier
(Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW)
lock horns in two highly enter
-
taining scraps.
This time around at Barber
Motorsports Park, however, the
champion was back with au
-
thority, as Gagne topped every
session bar Sunday morning's
warmup, took two race wins
and broke the lap record in the
final encounter to rubber stamp
a 24-point championship lead.
"I pulled up to the grid last
and I got off to a sweet start,
luckily," said Gagne after race
two. "I heard Cam (Petersen,
Gagne's teammate) went down
in [turn] five. I was surprised on
my gap. Even on the first lap
I think I had a half second on
my board, or something. So, I
think that kind of gave me that
little bit of a separation in the
beginning. Put my head down.
I was surprised to see 22.4 (a
1:22.4 lap), honestly. Really
surprised."
SMACKDOWN
Jake Gagne (1) was
never really challenged
all weekend and moves
into a comfortable
championship lead.
