Roberts Two for Two in SuperSport

Larry Lawrence | June 23, 2013
  Joe Roberts proved Saturdays Supersport victory at Barber Motorsports Park was no fluke. He won Sundays Supersport final in similar fashion as he did Saturday - starting cautiously and then moving his way to the front on lap four and pulling away to convincing victory.  Andrea Wilson photo

Photography by Andrea Wilson

Joe Roberts proved Saturday’s Supersport victory at Barber Motorsports Park was no fluke. He won Sunday’s Supersport final in similar fashion as he did Saturday – starting cautiously and then moving his way to the front on lap four and pulling away to convincing victory.

The just-turned-16 racer made his AMA Pro debut weekend a perfect one, by winning the pole and then dominating both Supersport races aboard his California Superbike School/Roadracing World.com Honda CBR600RR. He also set a new race record time today and ran under the class lap record (although the AMA only recognizes qualifying times as lap records).

Roberts ran behind Hayden Gillim and Tomas Puerta in the early going Sunday. Roberts then made smooth and sure passes in the next few laps on both to take the lead. He then gradually gapped the Gillim/Puerta battle and went on to win by 3.69 seconds.

Gillim and Puerta had an intense race that came down to the last lap. The two came out of the last turn side by side and it was a drag race to the finish, with Gillim edging Puerta by maybe a half-a-wheel.

Nick McFadden, who scored a podium finish in Saturday’s race, crashed out mid-way through the race while running fourth.

With his outstanding weekend Roberts has now firmly established himself as a rising star and this week’s performance will certainly have teams in the AMA paddock looking his way.

Roberts even seemed a bit taken aback by his standout weekend.

“I thought I was going to be able to run top five,” Roberts said. “That was really my expectations for the weekend. To come out and win both races and be P1 in every session, it’s like a dream come true – definitely my birthday wish.”

Stefano Mesa, who finished eighth on Sunday, continues to lead the Supersport East point standings over Corey Alexander. Alexander finished sixth.

Supersport results from Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, June 23, 2013
1 2 Joe Roberts Glendale, CA Honda CBR600RR 17 Laps
2 69 Hayden Gillim Philpot, KY Yamaha YZF-R6 +03.690
3 12 Tomas Puerta Medellin, Colombia Yamaha YZF-R6 +03.694
4 9 Wyatt Farris Calistoga, CA Yamaha YZF-R6 +22.626
5 72 Miles Thornton West Point, GA Yamaha YZF-R6 +25.314
6 5 Corey Alexander Carmel, NY Suzuki GSX-R600 +26.205
7 122 Ryan Matter Rancho Cucamonga, CAYamaha YZF-R6 +26.564
8 37 Stefano Mesa Boca Raton, FL Yamaha YZF-R6 +26.602
9 24 Travis Wyman Macedon, NY Suzuki GSX-R600 +29.083
10 51 Kaleb De Keyrel White Bear Lake, MN Yamaha YZF-R6 +38.753

Larry Lawrence | Archives Editor

In addition to writing our Archives section on a weekly basis, Lawrence is another who is capable of covering any event we throw his way.