Westby Racing shuts its doors
Rennie Scaysbrook | December 18, 2023
The Westby Racing team will cease operations effective immediately after team owner Tryg Westby citing his ongoing health issues as the cause.
Westby Racing has been an integral part of the MotoAmerica paddock, first with the late Dane Westby and more recently with South African star Mathew Scholtz.
“This is one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make in my entire life,” Westby said. “I’ve been dealing with a lot of health issues over the past few years, and it’s been getting more and more difficult for me to get to the races. So, after a lot of careful thought, I’ve decided to conclude our long run as an AMA and MotoAmerica race team.
“I started this team with my son Dane, and after he passed, we continued to run the team as an answer to ‘WWDD?,’ which is ‘What Would Dane Do?’ Well, the answer to that was to keep racing because we had unfinished business that we started with Dane. But, now, due to my health, it’s time to close this chapter of the Westby legacy.
“I want to personally thank all the riders, crew members, staff members, sponsors, and team partners—especially Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.—who have worked with us over the years. We had a lot of success and good times together. I wish everyone well in their next endeavors, and I also want to thank MotoAmerica for allowing us to be part of their excellent road racing series.”
No word has yet been given as to if Mathew Scholtz, who finished fifth in the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, will be on the grid for 2024.