2018 MOTOAMERICA SEASON PREVIEW
P104
Feature
maha YZF-R1 superbikes for KWR.
Also stepping up for 2018 is
the Genuine Broaster Chicken
Honda squad. With a more so-
phisticated electronics package
on the CBR1000RR, the sole
Honda entry in the series could
be more competitive, but the
team lost a huge asset in Jake
Gagne to Honda's World Super-
bike squad. Filling his shoes is
young talent Cameron Petersen,
who certainly has a ton of poten-
tial. If he can adapt to the su-
perbike quickly, Petersen might
surprise some folks this year.
M4 Ecstar Suzuki is back in the
Superbike class. The team has
won a superbike national before
with Martin Cardenas. Now the
team pegs its hopes on lanky
Kentuckian Jake Lewis, who was
a factory Suzuki rider a couple of
years ago, before being injured
and losing the seat to fill-in Toni
Elias. Lewis and the team feel
they have a lot to prove and hun-
ger for victory could land Lewis on
the podium at times this season.
The ever-popular Danny Es-
lick is making his debut on the
Scheibe Racing BMW this year.
Eslick had some strong sessions
in the pre-season test at Ala-
bama. And the outgoing Okla-
homan former flat tracker has
perhaps the biggest fan following
of any rider in the series.
Bobby Fong was one of the
few riders who was able to mix it
up with the factory four last year
and he'll be back this season,
going from a Yamaha ride to a
Yamaha R1 sponsored by Hud-
son Motorcycles.
"I am very appreciative and
thankful to Hudson Motorcycles
for giving me this opportunity
and allowing me to continue my
passion for the sport," said Fong.
"With the crew that I have, I am
confident that we will have a
successful and prosperous tour.
After our first test, I knew right
away that this would be a great
opportunity for me and I look
forward to getting back on the
JD Beach is
the favorite in
the Supersport
class, but he'll
be put to the test
by challengers
Valentin Debise (if
he's healthy) and
Hayden Gillim.
