For the four former MotoAmerica riders who are now competing on the world stage, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy brought them a lot of success over the past weekend.
In the FIM Superbike World Championship, Kawasaki WorldSBK Team’s Garrett Gerloff notched his best individual finishing position since joining Team Green at the beginning of this season. The former MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner fought his way up to eighth place in Sunday’s Race 2. The result was two positions higher than his previous best race finish this season. Gerloff scored points in both full-distance races at Misano, which was a home round for his Italian team.
“Today ended up not so bad,” the Texan said. “I was a bit frustrated after the Superpole Race because I was in eighth place, then I was just trying my best to stay in the top nine, to try to make sure that I could have a better starting position for Race 2. I didn’t get one, so I was definitely frustrated. We had not the best start in Race 2, but we had pretty good pace, and I felt better and better the more laps I did, and the more the fuel load started to go down. I finished inside the top ten, and it was nice to have a single digit next to my name. We made some progress, and I hope we make more in the next race, and keep improving, I really hope.”
Gerloff has now amassed a total of 40 points as the 2025 championship reaches the halfway point of the season, which puts him 17th in the current standings.
Italian rider Danilo Petrucci, who is also a multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner, was in action at Misano in the FIM Superbike World Championship, as well. Petrucci finished third in Saturday’s Race 1, and on Sunday morning, he was fourth in the Superpole Race. Finally, under scorching temperatures at Misano, the Barni Spark Racing Team rider endured to score a fifth-place result aboard his Ducati Panigale V4 R in the weekend-concluding Race 2.
“Compared to yesterday, today, the others were faster,” commented Petrux. “I rode a fully defensive race because I knew Nicolò (Bulega) would catch up, but I still tried to attack (Andrea) Locatelli a few times, without success. In the last five laps, the heat was unbearable. Sweat was running into my eyes, and I could barely see. But I hung in there. This weekend, I finished third, fourth and fifth and managed to gain a few points on those behind me.”
Petrucci is currently third in the season points standings.
In the FIM Supersport World Championship, former multi-time MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Valentin Debise was fourth in Race 1 and third in Race 2 aboard his Team Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2.
“I’m really happy to end the weekend with a podium,” said Debise. “It was an intense race, and I knew I had to push from the start. We did a great job all weekend, improving step by step. I want to thank the team for their amazing support and hard work. Now, our focus shifts to Donington, where we aim to keep fighting at the front.”
The Frenchman is currently ranked seventh in championship points on the season.
The fourth former MotoAmerica rider in action over the weekend at Misano was 18-year-old Chris Clark, who is competing for Accolade SMRZ BGR this season in the FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup Championship. Clark, from Fairfax, Virginia, was seventh in Saturday’s Race 1, and on Sunday, he landed on the podium with a third-place result, which has him positioned second in the season points standings with four rounds and eight races left to go in the spec series.
“Overall it was a successful weekend with two race finishes and one of them being another podium,” Clark said. “I started on Friday with a bit slower pace than I would have liked, and that left me mid-pack after Superpole, which was not ideal but also not the end of the world given how the R3 races usually go. In Race 1, I had a bit of trouble making moves, but I was able to get into the lead group and salvaged seventh. Race 2 was similar, and I was in the lead group but was struggling every time I pulled out of the slipstream. It was frustrating, but I still managed P3 in a photo finish, which was such a great result for me and the team. I’m only four points from the championship lead, and I am looking forward to Donington where I am determined to fight at the front again. It’s all about long-term thinking for me right now – so let’s do it. I want to thank the team and everyone who is supporting me.”
For Gerloff, Petrucci, Debise, and Clark, all four riders will be back in action at Donington Park in England on July 11 through 13.
They will be joined by two more MotoAmerica riders, Mallory Dobbs and Sonya Lloyd, who will be competing in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, also at Donington Park on July 11 through 13.
Incidentally, Dobbs will be back in the MotoAmerica paddock at her home track of Ridge Motorsports Park where the Diva Racing rider will compete in both the SC-Project Twins Cup Championship and the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Powered By Harley-Davidson on June 27 through 29.
