ROAD RACE
ROUND 4 / JUNE 3-4, 2017
ROAD AMERICA / ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN
P106
2017 MOTOAMERICA
eight-lap race looked set to be
a thriller to the end, but ended
up with an anticlimactic finish
when Herrin's bike blew up on
the entrance to turn one and left
oil on the racing surface. That
brought out the red flag and the
premature end to the race.
Since Elias had led across
the line the lap of the incident,
he was awarded victory by 0.131
of a second over Hayden with
Beaubier just 0.854 of a second
adrift in third place.
"On the paper, this race was
short, 13 laps and shorter than
most of our other races, but
after the red flag, only eight
laps," Elias said. "I know Roger
topped Hayden by 0.131 of a sec-
ond when the race was stopped
for a second time because of oil
on the racing line in turn one.
The first stoppage came on the
opening lap when Bobby Fong,
Jake Lewis and Mathew Scholtz
crashed on the exit of turn five.
Fortunately, the three escaped in-
jury and Lewis and Scholtz were
able to restart the race with Fong
being forced to sit it out with a
badly damaged motorcycle.
From the onset of the restart,
the race at the front was hot and
heavy with Elias and Hayden go-
ing at it at the front while Beau-
bier fought through from a bad
start to join them. The shortened
of the support I have received.
It's just how it is. Nicky [Hayden]
and my family are well liked and
loved by a lot of people in the
sport. I was worried coming into
the weekend, not knowing how I
would be, but I was able to block
everything out on the track and
put in a good run."
Fourth place went to Helmet
Sounds/Western Services/
Meen Motorsports' Josh Herrin
just 0.451 of a second clear of
fifth-placed Jake Lewis, who was
the Bazzaz Superstock 1000
winner on his M4 Ecstar Suzuki.
SUNDAY
In race two on Sunday, Elias
Jake Lewis was the
top Superstock 1000
rider Saturday.