Cycle News

VOL. 55 ISSUE 7 FEBRUARY 21, 2018 P123 in second and third in race two at Laguna in 1995. They were indeed good times for American road racing, as they showcased not only the talents of the home- brewed riders but also the might of the U.S. motorcycle indus- try at a time when it was at its mightiest. Times have, however, changed in a massive way. American riders have had a hard time of it in WorldSBK since Spies left for greener pastures in MotoGP. The late Nicky Hayden never really got to show his speed, especially when he was given the task of developing a brand-new bike from scratch before fate tragically inter- vened last year. I have no doubt the Kentucky Kid would have eventually made it to the front on a much more regular basis once the CBR1000RR SP2 was properly sorted, but sadly, we will never know. A sole victory for him around his old MotoGP stomping ground of Sepang was scant reward for such a hero of American racing. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, with Jake Gagne fittingly taking Hayden's vacant seat in the factory Red Bull Honda WorldSBK team after doing some marvelous things on what was nowhere near the level of bike Cameron (Beaubier) and Toni (Elias) were riding in Mo- toAmerica last year. Californian Gagne is fully deserving of his place among the fastest production racers in world. A Red Bull athlete for many years (indeed, Gagne won the 2010 Red Bull Rook- ies Championship alongside MotoGP), Jake would probably have had a full-time ride in either grand prix or WorldSBK a long time ago if he had a different passport. For an American, get- ting in and staying in with the big guns in Europe is not as easy as it was—the Euro riders have not just caught up, but now lead the game—and if you don't believe me, look at the success of Toni Elias (who, it must be said, is at the tail end of his career having been pro since 2000) since ar- riving in the U.S. Jake knows, however, that sentiment and the desire of series organizers Dorna and his personal sponsor Red Bull is to have a U.S. rider in the champi- onship will only go so far. He has to deliver the goods, especially given he has a very fast and very experienced teammate in Leon Camier on the other side of the garage. If the results don't come, he'll be out. It's exactly what happened to former Mo- toGP rider Stefan Bradl last year, the rider Camier replaced. Gagne will also have to get re-adjusted to living in Europe, a subject that has derailed many a top rider who wasn't born on the continent. I for one hope to high hell he gets the results his amaz- ing talent deserves, for both himself and to shine a light back on American racing and show the European teams that they don't have to only look in their backyard to find the next star. It's a different story for Amer- ica's second rider in this year's WorldSBK series, PJ Jacobsen. The New Yorker has been rac- ing in the WorldSSP series for years, as well as stints in Eng- land in the British Superstock Series. He's Euro hardened, but it won't be easy for him on a privateer Honda against the might of the steamrolling Kawa- saki Racing Team, not to men- tion Gagne himself. If Jacobsen can get regular points-scoring finishes, all power to him. WorldSBK starts this weekend at the world's greatest racing cir- cuit, Phillip Island (I can say that, being an Aussie and all). This series doesn't get the recogni- tion it deserves in the U.S., and with two full-time American riders in the championship, there's more reason than ever to either get a subscription to WorldSBK. com or watch it on BeIN Sports. It's going to be a great year, and here's hoping Kawasaki doesn't walk off into the distance without a challenge like they have the last three years. For Jake and PJ, it's time to show the world what you're made of and bring some glory back to U.S. road racing on the world stage. Game on, boys! CN

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