JD Beach and Garrett GerloffMotoAmerica fans are going to see some familiar faces with the Yamaha Extended Service (Y.E.S.)/Graves/Yamaha road racing team in the upcoming 2016 Supersport season.Once again piloting the Y.E.S./Graves Yamaha YZF-R6 supersports will be the reigning MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, JD Beach, as well as last year’s third-place overall finisher in the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, Garrett Gerloff. Beach chose to rep his achievements with pride and is rocking the #1 Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6 while Gerloff will be making use of an identical R6 sporting #31.
“We’re proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Yamaha Extended Service and Graves Motorsports as title sponsors and vital partners with our team,” commented Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.“The Yamaha R6 is the dominant bike in MotoAmerica Supersport racing, and we’re also proud that JD won 8 races, reached the podium 13 times, and earned 3 poles on his way to winning the Championship, while his teammate Garrett notched 2 wins, 10 podiums, and 2 poles to finish a strong third in the Supersport final standings. Both riders are extra-motivated this season, with JD aiming to repeat as Champion, and Garrett will undoubtedly be one of the strongest contenders for the crown.”JD Beach says: “I’m really looking forward to getting the season started in Austin this April, which is where I got my very first MotoAmerica win. I’ll be running the big target on my bike…I mean, the number 1. We’ve worked hard to get it, and we plan to run it proudly. The team and I have been putting in 195% since the checkered flag waved at New Jersey Motorsports Park to conclude the 2015 season, and we can’t wait to give it our best and keep that number 1 on our R6.”Garrett Gerloff says: “Every year, I learn more and more about what it takes to win, and last year was no different. I changed up my program this off-season, and I’ve been working as hard as I can in some other areas of training that I’ve left off in the past. I’m confident that it will pay off in 2016. I can’t wait to get on my R6 at the first round at COTA (my home track) and ride the way I know how.”Yamaha is constantly updating their website with racing news, results, photos, and videos. Visit Yamaha Motorsports to keep up with the latest information.
Our first segment introduces you to the new Arch 1s. This latest, slightly more sporting American V-twin, adds to the original KRGT1 coming from the boutique manufacturer based in Hawthorne, Southern California. Senior Editor Nic de Sena rode through Malibu with Gard Hollinger, who co-founded Arch Motorcycle with his friend, Keanu Reeves. The 1s is a unique ride for sure, and Nic explains what makes the bike really stand out.
For the entertaining story behind Arch Motorcycle from Gard Hollinger himself, you must listen to his podcast episode on Motos & Friends HERE
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The guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—visit your local dealer or suzukicycles.com to learn more.
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In our second segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with multiple Emmy award-winning writer, Producer, Director, and actor, Thom Beers. the former Chairman & CEO of Fremantle Media North America, responsible for American Idol and America’s Got Talent.
Thom’s fertile imagination led to most of the really big reality TV shows such as ‘Deadliest Catch’ (now in its 17th season!), and many others. Of course for us in the motorcycle world, you’ll be interested to hear the genesis and story of how he started the first real fabrication reality show ‘Monster Garage’, that showcased Jesse James, and then how that led to ‘Biker Build Off’ and the ‘Zombie Choppers’ movie.
You’d imagine that most of Thom’s time is spent sitting behind a desk and on his phone. Not so. His intense stories of capturing much of the content for these shows make for some hair-raising listening.
