The 2017 MotoAmerica Series began this weekend at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, the stateside motorcycle championship running in conjunction with MotoGP at the Texas Formula 1 circuit.This track has always treated the Spaniards well; Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez dominated the MotoGP race once again, winning five of five races at COTA from pole. But he’s not the only Spaniard with a liking for COTA. Yoshimura Suzuki’s Toni Elias is also on a winning streak in the Lone Star State, the Moto2 Champion claiming both MotoAmerica Superbike races this weekend, repeating his 2016 performance.
Two of his largest threats at COTA were teammate Roger Lee Hayden, who claimed pole, and two-time reining MotoAmerica Champion Cameron Beaubier on the Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing YZF-R1.2017 Austin MotoAmerica Results: Suzuki’s Toni Elias leads teammate Roger Lee Hayden and Yamaha’s Cameron BeaubierBeaubier had some issues in race one, though, due to a crash. He recovered and finished eight. This left Elias to battle with Hayden; Elias eventually finishing race one 1.770 seconds ahead of Hayden. Taking the final podium position was Quicksilver Latus Motors Kawasaki ZX-10R rider Bobby Fong—a Superstock 1000 competitor.In race two Elias struck again, and this time was followed to the line 0.716 of a second back by Beaubier. Hayden would claim third.Following race two, Elias said “Roger [Hayden] and I were pushing hard from the very start of the race since the conditions were much warmer today. Pulling off the double win this weekend is really good for my confidence, however, I have my boots on the ground and am concentrated on continuing my season with strong results and staying consistent at each race. All of the guys are going quick right now and it will be a fight each weekend.”During race two, Beaubier made up for his race-one crash, and also had the fastest lap of the race with a 2:09.173.Suzuki’s Elias leads teammate Hayden and Yamaha’s Beaubier“A year ago I left COTA in bad shape, so I’m happy to walk away with decent points today and carry the momentum into Atlanta,” said Beaubier. “Early in the race I was struggling to keep pace with the leaders in the final sections of the track, although I felt alright in the first few sections. I lost some ground at the beginning, but regrouped and got into a flow that allowed me to pick up the pace and make a move on Roger [Hayden] at the end.”Hayden took second with ease on Saturday, but Beaubier prevented another runner-up finish. Following Sunday’s race, Hayden said: “It was a good race, a fun race, and solid start to the new season. There were a few sections of the track I was better than Toni and in other sections he was a little better than me. Cameron [Beaubier] and I had a good battle going, but it let Toni [Elias] slip away.”Like his teammate Beaubier, Josh Hayes also bounced back in today’s Motul Superbike race after his disastrous crash in yesterday’s race one. Hayes’ race was mostly lonely as he finished some 11 seconds behind the lead trio and some 12 seconds ahead of fifth-placed Fong.Fong backed up his Superbike podium finish from yesterday with a fifth in today’s race and that also put him on top of the heap in the Bazzaz Superstock 1000 race for the second straight day.“The pace was a lot faster today and it was nice to walk away with the Superstock win,” said Fong. “I decided to make some changes after yesterday, specifically to the rear shock, and it ended up being for the worse. Today didn’t feel quite as rewarding as yesterday since we were a little bit behind the Superbike guys, but I think it is important to keep my focus on the Superstock class. Trying to keep up with the Superbike guys is awesome for me and has helped me elevate my game.”2017 Austin MotoAmerica Results: Kawasaki’s Bobby FongRounding out the top 10 were HelmetSounds.com/Western Services/Meen Motors’ Josh Herrin, Yamalube/Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz (Superstock 1000), TOBC Racing’s Danny Eslick (Superstock 1000), Motovation USA/Lucas Oils/KWR’s Kyle Wyman, and M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Jake Lewis (Superstock 1000).With two races complete in the 10-round (20-race) battle for the Motul Superbike crown, Elias leads the way with his perfect 50 points, 14 clear of Hayden’s 36. Beaubier sits third with 28 points, one better than Fong.Fong leads the Bazzaz Superstock Championship with 50 points, 10 more than Scholtz and 21 more than Eslick.Round two of the 2017 MotoAmerica Series is the Suzuki ECSTAR Championship at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, next weekend, April 28-30.
Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory + Steve ’Stavros’ Parrish
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.
Our first segment features the new Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory. Senior Editor Nic de Sena brings us his report on the flagship version of Aprilia’s upright middleweight machine. He gives us insight into whether it’s worth spending the extra money on the Factory version, and also of course, whether this sporting Aprilia is really the motorcycle for you.
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The next guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.
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In this segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with (arguably) one of the most interesting Suzuki race riders of all time. the iconic RG500 alongside teammate double World Champion Barry Sheene. The two were almost as famous for their exploits off-track, as for their success on it. Those were the days! Steve also raced the Isle of Man TT for about ten years where he won 13 Silver Replicas, and got a podium finish. His insight into that particular brand of mayhem are fascinating.
But there’s waaay more to Steve Parrish than his motorcycle racing. He is also the most successful Semi-Truck racer ever, and, little known piece of useless trivia—he’s my birthday twin: 24th February. He is a natural entertainer and you can’t miss his recounting of the world’s most entertaining—and arguably terrifying—double-decker bus ride ever. If any of you were actually on that hell-ride then we’d love to hear from you!
