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ROUND 5 / JULY 7-9, 2023 WEATHERTECH RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA / SALINAS, CALIFORNIA ROAD RACE I FIM NORTH AMERICAN ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIP P80 Beaubier had other plans though, and just like in race two, he scythed past at turn one and put the hammer down. Her- rin lost the rear coming out of turn four and Gagne was also through, but his two-second penalty meant that although the finishing order on track was Beaubier, Gagne and Her- rin, Gagne would be demoted to third and lose another five points in the title race. "I woke up pretty sore this morning, for sure, but it wasn't too bad once I got riding," Beau- bier said. "After the first few laps 10 was 1.9 seconds off the lead. Five laps later, the gap was half a second and the number one was right there, although any hopes for a win were dashed when he was given a two-second penalty for exceed- ing track limits. That essentially meant Beau- bier and Herrin had the race to themselves, and with two laps to go, Herrin, the Ducatisti in the stands (and the visiting Ducati Corse Sporting Director, Paolo Ciabatti) started to dream of a win in Ducati's home U.S. base state. The Ridge two weeks prior. PJ Jacobsen bought the second Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW home in third place. It was an excellent showing from the Vision Wheel M4 Ecstar Suzuki team with Richie Escalan - te coming home in fourth and class debutant Brandon Paasch, who replaced the retired Toni Elias, taking a fine fifth. In race two, the two form men of the 2023 championship cleared off at the front. Gagne did all the donkey work for the first three quarters of the race by leading his perennial cham - pionship shadow Beaubier until the 16th lap, when former four- time MotoAmerica champion Beaubier threw it up the inside at turn one for the lead. He was never headed, pulling clear to a 2.4-second win with Herrin 5.6 seconds in arrears. Richie Escalante's continual improvement in the Superbike class was on display again with fourth on the Vision Wheel M4 Ecstar Suzuki while Petersen was fifth, 14 seconds off Beau - bier's pace. Herrin was ready to give it hell in race three and although Petersen once again got the holeshot, Herrin dived through to take the lead at the final corner and immediately started to build a gap. He'd made a half- second advantage by lap six but Beaubier was gradually reeling him in and by lap 10, he was right there, shadowing career- rival Herrin just like he did with Gagne in race one. Gagne, meanwhile, was mak - ing up for a poor start and by lap Superbike Race Two Superbike Race Three