MOTOAMERICA SUPERSPORT CHAMPION GARRETT GERLOFF
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INTERVIEW
I could just go for it, was a great
feeling."
With two titles in the bag, Ger-
loff was able to reveal that he will
finally be getting his superbike
shot in the factory team—replac-
ing veteran Josh Hayes.
"It's kind of strange to think I'm
getting Josh's bike," Gerloff said
sheepishly. But the Texan knows
this is his big chance, taking on
a two-year contract with Yamaha
that he hopes will be a step-
ping stone into a full time gig in
Europe.
"Keith [McCarty, Yamaha
Motorsports Racing Division
Manager] knows Europe is
where I want to go but I have to
prove myself first. The superbike
grid is going to be stacked next
year—Cameron [Beaubier] is
going to be fast, Toni Elias and
Roger [Hayden] will be up there
and I think Mathew Scholtz will
be a surprise, but my goal is to
be right there from the first race
fighting for podiums and wins.
The R1 is an animal, so it's a
matter of being calm on the bike
and making it work for me. I'm
super pumped—I can't wait for
the season to start."
It's onto bigger and better things
for Gerloff in 2018.
Gerloff has matured into who
many insiders believe is Ameri-
ca's next great hope for world-
championship success. His rise
from a top-five Supersport rider
to near unbeatable champion
shows he's got the talent alone
to make it happen, but he also
possesses the drive and men-
tality and doesn't want to get
too comfortable racing at home
when he knows his ultimate goal
will only present itself a couple
of times in his career, if he's
lucky.
Next year will be big one for
the Texan. Watch this space. CN
