Rennie Scaysbrook | January 19, 2022
The American Racing Team took center stage in a gala event on January 18, held at Team Principle Eitan Butbul’s residence in California.
With Moto2 sophomore Cameron Beaubier joined by class rookie and 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, Sean Dylan Kelly, the two will form the first all-American Grand Prix team line-up since Wayne Rainey and John Kocinski lined up on the 500 cc grid for Team Roberts in 1992.
The event, attended by much of the American motorcycle glitterati, was the final chance for farewells and good lucks before the team packs up and heads to a private test at Jerez in mid-February. The first official hit-out will be the official Dorna test at Portimao in Portugal on February 19-21.
Now in its fourth season, much is expected of the American Racing Team heading into the season, with team leader Cameron Beaubier looking to make the final step to be a full-time front runner in 2022.
“I’m stoked to get that first year out of way. I’ve learned a lot and I’m already feeling way better than when we started last year,” Beaubier said. “I know what I’m getting myself in for, I know the bike and most of the tracks, and I’ve adapted my style to what this bike needs. I want to keep progressing. I ran up front at a few tracks last year and it felt real good. I want more of that this year.”
For Kelly, the year marks a return to Europe following two seasons racing for Team Hammer on the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R, culminating in him winning the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Kelly had previously spent time in Europe and the Grand Prix paddock riding in the Red Bull Rookies Cup, and is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the fastest intermediate riders in the world on the American Racing Team Kalex.
“There’s a lot to learn with this bike, it’s very different to my GSX-R from last year!” Kelly laughed. “The chassis is so stiff, the Triumph motor is amazing—I absolutely love it—but the chassis stiffness just changes everything. The level in this class is so much further, which is why it’s so hard, but I’ve already had a run against the guys at the test in Jerez last year where I was under one second from the top, so I can’t wait to get back to Europe and get started.”
We’ll have a full feature on the American Racing Team from this event where we talk further with Beaubier and Kelly, as well as team Rider Coach John Hopkins and Team Principle, Eitan Butbul in the coming weeks.
For more MotoGP news and results, click here