Garrett Gerloff Tops Daytona SportBikes

Larry Lawrence | May 30, 2014
Garrett Gerloff wins Superbike Shootout Pro Sportbike Championship with the win at Miller Motorsports Park. Photography By Brian J Nelson 

File Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Garrett Gerloff topped the first Daytona SportBike session Friday at Road America riding his Y.E.S./Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha R6 to a time of 2:19.984. Gerloff was the only rider to dip into the 2:19 bracket. Dane Westby was third (2:20.230) on the Yamalube Westby Racing Yamaha and Jake Gagne third (2:20.368) on the RoadRace Factory/Red Bull.

Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick (2:23.059) was down the charts a bit in eighth on the Riders Discount Racing Triumph.

Gerloff is primed to try to earn his first AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike win. He has continued to improve his form after missing most of 2012 with a broken leg. Gerloff’s potential can’t be denied as he nearly earned his maiden AMA Pro victory last year at Miller Motorsports Park and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, but was narrowly beaten by Beaubier both times. This could be the weekend for the young Texan.

Wesby is hoping to bounce back after a crash while running in the lead group at Daytona.

Last year Gagne was victorious in the second leg of the Road America DSB doubleheader, making him the only racer to defeat series champion Cameron Beaubier all season. Gagne kept the pressure on Beaubier the entire race, then pounced late when Beaubier make a rare mistake.

Daytona SportBike practice from Road America – May 30, 2014
1 8 Garrett Gerloff Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R6 2:19.984
2 00 Dane Westby Yamalube Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 2:20.230
3 32 Jake Gagne RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6 2:20.368
4 40 Jason DiSalvo Castrol/Triumph/Sportbike Track Time Triumph Daytona 675 2:21.157
5 50 Bobby Fong Latus Motors/Castrol/Triumph Racing Triumph Daytona 675 2:22.369
6 85 Jake Lewis MotoSport.com/Meen Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R6 2:22.424
7 6 JD Beach Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R6 2:22.460
8 69 Danny Eslick Riders Discount Racing Triumph  Triumph Daytona 675 2:23.059
9 98 Jake Zemke GEICO Motorcycle Road Racing Honda CBR600RR 2:23.454
10 12 Tomas Puerta RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6 2:23.476

 

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.