Gerloff (1) outlasted Beach (95) for the Supersport win | Photo: Brian J. Nelson
It’s Gerloff’s Turn in Supersport
Today’s Supersport race was the standard thriller that was fought to the end between Monster Energy/Yamalube/Y.E.S./Graves Yamaha teammates Garrett Gerloff and JD Beach, with the former beating the latter by 1.5 seconds after 19 laps of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
The win was Gerloff’s fourth of the year, which matches Beach’s win total. Gerloff now leads the title chase by four points heading in to the summer break, 196-192.
“With JD [Beach] it’s like you’re never in the clear,” Gerloff said. “It’s never going to be an easy race. He was right there the whole time. We were both wanting to lead because I think we both knew whoever was at the front was going to control the race. We had some good passes, I left some rubber on his leg, so it was good, clean racing and it’s always good to race with a friend and teammate.
“That’s been happening way too much lately (almost tucking the front end). I did that at (Utah) in the second race with (Beach), I almost tucked the front. And again here (at Laguna Seca), I went a little inside and hit the seam between the curb and the pavement and (the bike) tucked pretty fast on me, but lucky I had my knee there ready to pick it back up. I was just hoping (Beach) didn’t run into the back of me like I’ve done in the past with people. I kept it on two wheels and the thing stuck the rest the of race, so, hey, no problems.”
Team H35 Honda’s Benny Solis finished third for his fourth podium of the year and it moved him back to third in the title chase over M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Valentin Debise, the Frenchman crashing out of third place on the first lap.
M4 Rickdiculous Racing Suzuki’s Daytona Anderson ended up fourth, with Superstock 600 winner Jason Aguilar finishing fifth on the RiderzLaw/Aguilar Racing Yamaha.
Aguilar now leads the Superstock 600 title chase by 21 points over Michael Gilbert.
“Yeah (today) was really good,” Aguilar said. “I was a little disappointed after qualifying yesterday. I’ve qualified second at like every race this year, so I wanted just one pole position and got beat by like two-thousandths [of a second] on the last lap. I was a little bit bummed with that, but it was a really good race. Nick McFadden made a mistake on the second lap and I was able to get him. I just kind of raced [watching] my pit board from there, and just kind of backed off the last couple laps and relaxed a little bit.
“I was stoked on (the ride) and I’m stoked to finally win out here. This is kind of my home track. I haven’t had the best of luck here, but I’ve been coming here ever since 2005 with my dad and my grandpa to watch MotoGP. I just remember in 2005 when Nicky (Hayden) won I said that was the best day of my life, so I’m just happy to win here and (dedicate) this one for Nicky.”
RESULTS
Motul Superbike
- Toni Elias, Barcelona, Spain, Suzuki
- Roger Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki
- Josh Herrin, Dublin, Ga., Yamaha
- Josh Hayes, Gulfport, Miss., Yamaha
- Kyle Wyman, Macedon, N.Y., Yamaha
- Mathew Scholtz, Durban, South Africa, Yamaha
- Bobby Fong, Stockton, Calif., Kawasaki
- Anthony West, Melbourne, Australia, Kawasaki
- Danny Eslic, Tulsa, Okla., Yamaha
- Sylvain Barrier, Oynnax, France, BMW
Motul Superbike Championship Standings
- Toni Elias, Barcelona, Spain, Suzuki – 260
- Roger Hayden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki – 220
- Cameron Beaubier, Roseville, Calif., Yamaha – 180
- Josh Hayes, Gulfport, Miss., Yamaha – 124
- Mathew Scholtz, Durban, South Africa, Yamaha – 112
- Bobby Fong, Stockton, Calif., Kawasaki – 106
- Josh Herrin, Dublin, Ga., Yamaha – 105
- Jake Lewis, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki – 93
- Danny Eslick, Tulsa, Okla., Yamaha – 82
- Kyle Wyman, Macedon, N.Y., Yamaha – 76
Bazzaz Superstock 1000
- Mathew Scholtz, Dublin, South Africa, Yamaha
- Bobby Fong, Stockton, Calif., Kawasaki
- Anthony West, Melbourne, Australia, Kawasaki
- Hayden Gillim, Philpot, Ky., Suzuki
- Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, Calif., Yamaha
- Tyler O’Hara, Petaluma, Calif., Yamaha
- Max Flinders, Preston, England, Yamaha
- Jason Lauritzen, San Jose, Calif., Yamaha
- Steven Zoumaras, San Diego, Calif., Kawasaki
Bazzaz Superstock 1000 Championship Standings
- Mathew Scholtz, Durban, South Africa, Yamaha – 241
- Bobby Fong, Stockton, Calif., Kawasaki – 198
- Jake Lewis, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki – 190
- Danny Eslick, Tulsa, Okla., Yamaha – 165
- Hayden Gillim, Philpot, Ky., Suzuki – 138
- Bryce Prince, Bakersfield, Calif., Yamaha – 126
- Max Flinders, Preston, England, Yamaha – 100
- David Anthony, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki – 47
- Anthony Kosinski, Crumstown, Ind., Yamaha – 37
- Anthony West, Melbourne, Australia, Kawasaki – 36
Supersport
- Garrett Gerloff, New Waverly, Texas, Yamaha
- JD Beach, Owensboro, Ky., Yamaha
- Benny Solis, North Hollywood, Calif., Honda
- Daytona Anderson, Riverside, Calif., Suzuki
- Jason Aguilar, Placentia, Calif., Yamaha
- Shane Richardson, Wellington, New Zealand, Kawasaki
- Nick McFadden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki
- Michael Gilbert, Santa Ana, Calif., Yamaha
- Connor Blevins, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki
- Braeden Ortt, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Yamaha
Supersport Championship Standings
- Garrett Gerloff, New Waverly, Texas, Yamaha – 196
- JD Beach, Owensboro, Ky., Yamaha – 192
- Benny Solis, North Hollywood, Calif., Honda – 111
- Valentin Debise, Albi, France, Suzuki – 124
- Daytona Anderson, Riverside, Calif., Suzuki – 79
- Jason Aguilar, Placentia, Calif., Yamaha – 78
- Connor Blevins, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki – 72
- Michael Gilbert, Santa Ana, Calif., Yamaha – 70
- Nick McFadden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki – 62
- Brandon Paasch, Freehold, N.J., Yamaha – 60
Superstock 600
- Jason Aguilar, Placentia, Calif., Yamaha
- Shane Richardson, Wellington, New Zealand, Kawasaki
- Nick McFadden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki
- Michael Gilbert, Santa Ana, Calif., Yamaha
- Conner Blevins, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki
- Braeden Ortt, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Yamaha
- Ashton Yates, Milledgeville, Ga., Yamaha
- Deion Campbell, San Jose, Calif., Yamaha
- Andrew Lee, Clovis, Calif., Yamaha
- JC Camacho, Deer Park, Texas, Suzuki
Superstock 600 Championship Standings
- Jason Aguilar, Placentia, Calif., Yamaha – 160
- Michael Gilbert, Santa Ana, Calif., Yamaha – 139
- Conner Blevins, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki – 136
- Nick McFadden, Owensboro, Ky., Suzuki – 120
- Shane Richardson, Wellington, New Zealand, Kawasaki – 112
- JC Camacho, Deer Park, Texas, Suzuki – 96
- Braeden Ortt, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Yamaha – 83
- Anthony Mazziotto III, Hammonton, N.J., KTM – 65
- Andrew Lee, Clovis, Calif., Yamaha – 61
- Ashton Yates, Milledgeville, Ga., Yamaha – 41
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