Saturday Morning Notes // Road America

Superbike

Road America was never going to be a Yamaha track, most that know the current manufacturer landscape in Superbike knew that coming in and as suspected — it was two Ducati's and a BMW in the top 3 separated by just 0.226. Beaubier first, Sean Dylan Kelly second just .134 back, and Cameron Petersen in third.

The front trio flanked by three Yamaha's — Fong, Beach and Scholtz who were all hovering around 1.6 seconds back. On the Attack Yamaha front, there's high confidence that they can find a bit more to keep them with the group, but time will tell as the final practice session and eventually qualifying roll on this morning.

Baggers

Eager were we all to see what the rule change did for the balance of power in Mission King of the Baggers — and it's wild what 200rpm will do. Trap speeds show the gap's closed a bit on that front, and from Practice 1 it looked like the times were going to be close at the front with Hayden Gillim leading another session on his Factory Indian, Kyle Wyman just 0.309 back aboard his Factory Harley.

Then came Qualifying 1, where Gillim cranked the dial and hammered home a 2:16.842 for the lap record and provisional pole, .992 clear of Wyman, who was another 1.1 seconds clear of Rispoli in third. It'll be interesting to see if the rest of the field can close the gap in Q2 this morning.

The final note of interest on Baggers this morning was a video posted by Dynojet, Harley's partner in their factory effort, highlighting the sound of new cams in the Factory Harley. That paired with the 200rpm bump has seemingly helped them close the gap power wise, but can the field close the gap to Gillim at the front?

Supersport

This class has my full attention this weekend, after learning that a rule change had taken place on Thursday, impacting both Ducati and Yamaha. Information was scarce, just a bulletin posted to the racer communications app used by MotoAmerica to the field, no details, just new maps for the machines, due to be installed by the first session.

What we've learned is that the Ducati received a reduction in power, primarily on the top end, while the Suzuki received an increase in power, lower in the curve to give it some more torque.

What's interesting is that the Practice 1 times showed no real difference, Herrin at the front, with only 2 Yamaha's within a second of him in Hayes and Davis. The Suzuki? Tyler Scott, 1.5 seconds adrift in seventh place.

The tables turned in Q1 — Scott to the top of the pile, four tenths quicker than Herrin and the Ducati V2 of Binder behind him. Additionally Aiden Sneed entered the chat in fourth aboard his 3D Motorsports Suzuki.

No official comment from MotoAmerica as of 8am on the rule change, stay tuned for more from both the teams and the series.

Twins

With a firm grip on the championship standings, Hank Vossberg was the odds on favorite to head the first session of the weekend, but it was Jody Barry and his Aprilia ending the session a half second clear of Vossberg, with Bodie Paige and his Suzuki third.

Vossberg wasted no time flipping the script though, taking provisional pole with a 1.1 second gap over Barry in second, and 1.4 clear of Paige in 3rd.

Will anyone close the gap to Vossberg this morning in Q2? Time will tell!

Let's go racing.