Michael Gilbert Wins His First-Career Superstock 600 Race
Cycle News Staff | September 12, 2015
Photography by Brian J. Nelson
The Bazzaz Superstock 600 final was also held in iffy conditions and no one mastered them better than HB Racing’s Michael Gilbert, the Yamaha R6-mounted rider earning his first victory of the year and the first of his pro career. Second place went to Ryan Jones, the 34-year-old having the best outing of his career on his Push Brewing Kawasaki after qualifying 15th when his ZX-6R was found to be underweight in qualifying. Jones was 1.8 seconds behind Gilbert at the finish.
“I was hoping it was going to rain because I knew the rain was really going to help me,” Gilbert said. “You just have to ride smooth and consistent and that’s what we did – lap after lap. We practice this a million times wherever – on the dirt track – so you keep riding smooth and put your laps together and bring it home.”
Third place went to podium first-timer Nick McFadden, the R6-mounted privateer from Owensboro, Kentucky, having the best day of his pro career. McFadden ran second to early leader Richie Escalante before giving way to Gilbert and ultimately Jones.
With Joe Roberts having already secured second in the championship with his 245 points, Escalante holds on to second despite finishing 14th with an overheating motorcycle. He sits 23 points ahead of Travis Wyman, who crashed out of the race on the first lap.
Day two of racing action in the MotoAmerica Championship of New Jersey gets started Sunday with the second KTM RC 390 Cup race at 11:30 a.m. Practice sessions for all classes start prior to that with the Superstock 600 warm-up session starting at 8:30 a.m. The Dunlop Fan Walk will take place at 10:15 a.m.
BAZZAZ SUPERSTOCK 600 RACE 1: 1. Michael Gilbert (Yamaha); 2. Ryan Jones (Kawasaki); 3. Nick McFadden (Yamaha); 4. Jayson Uribe (Yamaha); 5. Cody Wyman (Yamaha); 6. Andy DiBrino (Yamaha); 7. Conner Blevins (Kawasaki); 8. Chad Lewin (Yamaha); 9. Curtis Murray (Suzuki); 10. Caroline Olsen (Suzuki).
