Speed - Made in America

Californian Jake Gagne simply dominated the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Series to earn his first Superbike crown and his third AMA Championship, the Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing team leader crushing the record books en route to the title. Gagne won a record 17 out of 20 races on the team’s Yamaha YZF-R1, including a record-setting 16 in a row. Gagne returns to the team in 2022 and will begin the campaign as the heavy favorite to win a second Superbike title.

After suffering a mechanical failure in the opening race of the season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Gagne went on a tear, winning the next 17 races in a row. He wasn’t stopped until the first of three races in the series finale at Barber Motorsports Park when Mother Nature wreaked havoc with a torrential downpour. In race two at Barber, Gagne finished third and, fittingly, he won the final race of the season on Sunday in Alabama.

The Superbike Championship is the third AMA title for Gagne as he won the AMA Daytona SportBike Championship in 2015 and was crowned champion of the inaugural MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship in 2015. Gagne won 11 races during his 2015 championship-winning campaign.

In 2018, the former youth motocrosser competed overseas in the World Superbike Championship on a Ten Kate Honda but returned stateside to the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship in 2019 and rode a Scheibe Racing BMW to eighth in the title chase.

Gagne, who was born and raised in San Diego, California, now resides in Durango, Colorado.

Little Known Fact: Jake Gagne qualified for and raced in the 2015 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship round at the Utah Motorsports Campus and very nearly finished in the top 20.

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins: 17
Podiums: 29

Career Highlights

2021 – Won the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with a record-setting 17 wins out of 20 races on his Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha. 2020 – Finished second in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with 11 podiums as a teammate to champion Cameron Beaubier on the Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha team. 2019 – Rode a Scheibe Racing BMW to eighth in the Superbike title chase with a best finish of fourth. 2018 – Raced a Ten Kate Honda in the World Superbike Championship and ended up 17^th in the championship. 2017 – Finished 11^th in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship on a RoadRace Factory Honda. 2016 – Finished 10^th in the 2016 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with a best result of third at Road Atlanta. 2015 – Won the MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship on a RoadRace Factory Yamaha YZFR-1 with 11 victories. 2014 – Won the AMA Daytona SportBike Championship. 2013 – Raced a RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha to second to Cameron Beaubier in the AMA Daytona SportBike class and was the only rider to beat Beaubier when he scored victory at Road America. 2012 – Won his first-career AMA Daytona SportBike race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on his RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha. 2011 – Raced as a wild card in the Moto2 World Championship round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 2010 – Won four rounds of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and won the championship. 2009 – Competed in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and two rounds of the AMA Supersport East Series with a best finish of sixth. 2008 – Competed in the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup, winning two rounds at Road Atlanta and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, respectively. 2005 – 65cc Ponca City Amateur National Motocross Champion.

Danilo Petrucci debuts in MotoAmerica in 2022 after an illustrious 10-year racing career in MotoGP, where he was a two-time race winner, earned 10-career podiums and a pair of fast-lap honors. He also won the Italian (CIV) STK1000 Championship in 2011. Danilo will be racing in MotoAmerica Superbike with Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC.

Little Known Fact: In addition to road racing, Danilo is also a world-class off-road rider. He competed in the 2022 Dakar Rally and won a stage in spite of being a rookie in the event. Danilo has been vacationing in America most of his life, starting when he was eight and came to the U.S. to visit his cousins. Danilo has previous experience at just two tracks in the MotoAmerica Championship – COTA and Laguna Seca. Danilo began racing mini-bikes when he was seven years old. His path to MotoGP was very different than most. He raced almost exclusively on Superstock machines before making the jump straight into MotoGP in 2012.

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins:
Podiums: 

Career Highlights:

2022 – Won Stage 5 of the Dakar Rally riding with Tech3 KTM Factory Racing. 2021 – Raced MotoGP with Tech3 KTM Factory Racing. Scored three top-10 finishes, with a best of fifth at Le Mans. Ranked 21^st in the final standings. 2020 – Raced for the factory Ducati team in MotoGP. He won the French Grand Prix, marking his second-career MotoGP victory. Ranked 12^th in the final standings. 2019 – Scored three podiums, including earning his career-first MotoGP victory in the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. Earned his highest-ever year-end ranking in MotoGP with sixth. Raced for the factory Ducati MotoGP squad. 2018 – Took five top-five MotoGP finishes, including a podium (2^nd) at Le Mans. Ranked eighth in the final standings. Raced for Alma Pramac Racing Ducati. 2017 – Earned four MotoGP podium finishes racing for Octo Pramac Racing Ducati. Ranked eighth in the world championship. 2016 – Raced MotoGP with Octo Pramac Yakhnich Ducati and scored eight top-10 finishes ending the season ranked 14^th. Best result was 7^th (twice). 2015: Raced with the Octo Pramac Racing Ducati team, earning 11 top-10 finishes. Earned his first MotoGP podium result with a runner-up finish behind Valentino Rossi in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Ranked 10^th. 2014 – Raced MotoGP with the Octo IodaRacing Team on an Aprilia-powered ART. Earned six points-paying finishes (best of 11^th at Aragon) and ended the year ranked 20^th. 2013 – Raced MotoGP with Came IodaRacing Project on a BMW-powered Suter. Best finish was 11^th at Catalunya. Ranked 17^th. 2012 – Debut season in MotoGP. Raced for the Came IodaRacing Project team under Claiming Rule Teams (CRT) regulations. The team began the season running its own chassis, the TR003, with an Aprilia RSV4 engine before switching to Suter frames and BMW engines midway through the season. Petrucci recorded seven points-scoring finishes and was 19^th in the championship, with a best finish of eighth at the final round. 2011 – Raced Superstock 1000 Cup (a support class in WSBK) and finished runner-up in the championship, scoring four wins. Raced a Barni Racing Team Ducati. Won the Italian STK1000 Championship with Team Italia Ducati. Was a factory Ducati race test rider. 2010 – Raced for Team Pedercini Kawasaki in Superstock 1000 Cup where he ranked ninth. 2009-2007 – Raced three seasons in the European Superstock 600 Championship where he scored three wins in 2009.

South African Mathew Scholtz had his career-best season of racing in 2021 with the Westby Racing rider ending the season second in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with two victories and 16 total podium finishes.

Scholtz has made the MotoAmerica Championship his home after making the move to full time racing in the U.S. following a successful seven-podium 2017 season in the Superstock 1000 Championship.

The Westby Racing rider won the 2021 season opener, had nine-second place finishes and ended his season with another victory in the three-race season finale at Barber Motorsports Park. Scholtz, the 2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion and a former South African SuperGP National Champion, doubled his career-win total with his two wins in 2021 to bring his total to four. Scholtz’ first win came in the 2017 season finale at Barber Motorsports Park and his second was at Circuit of The Americas in 2018.

The coming season marks Scholtz’ sixth consecutive season as the lone Superbike rider for Westby Racing. Once again campaigning the iconic gold-and-black Westby Racing Yamaha R1 Superbike, he and the team have their sights set squarely on the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.

Little Known Fact: When Scholtz won the MotoAmerica Superbike race at Barber Motorsports Park in 2017, he became the first rider to win a Superbike race while riding a Superstock 1000-spec motorcycle.

MotoAmerica
Wins: 4
Podiums: 42

Career Highlights:

2021 – Had his best season yet in 2021, ending the season as the runner-up to Jake Gagne in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship on his Westby Racing Yamaha. 2020 – Finished fifth in the 2020 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with 10 podiums that includes six second-place finishes – despite missing the last four races due to an injury suffered at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 2019 – Rode his Westby Racing Yamaha to sixth in the Superbike Championship with five podium finishes. 2018 – Moved up to the MotoAmerica Superbike series and ended up fourth in the championship with one victory and eight podium finishes for Westby Racing. 2017 – Earned the MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship with 10 victories and 19 podiums. Also became the first Superstock 1000 racer to win a MotoAmerica Superbike race with his victory in the final race of the season at Barber Motorsports Park. 2016 – Finished seventh in the MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship with seven podiums. Also earned the SuperGP National Championship in his homeland of South Africa. 2015 – Finished second in the SuperGP National Championship. 2014 – Was runner-up in the South African Super600 National Championship. 2013 – Competed in the World Supersport Championship and finished 23^rd at season’s end. 2012 – Finished 16^th in the World Supersport Championship. 2011 – Competed in the Spanish Moto2 CEV Championship. 2010 – Raced in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and earned a podium finish. 2009 – Finished seventh in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup with two podium finishes. 2008 – Ended the season sixth in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup with one win and three podium finishes. 2007 – Finished second in the 125cc South African National Championship with nine victories.

For the third straight season, “Aussie” Dave Anthony ended the 2020 MotoAmerica Superbike Series ranked 10th in the championship. Anthony’s best finish in 2020 was a sixth, a result he turned in on four occasions. Anthony not only races in the series, but he is also a successful team owner, running two other riders in addition to himself under the FLY Racing ADR Motorsports banner. Anthony is an Australian who now calls Murrieta, California, home.

Little Known Fact: Anthony has two AMA Superbike podiums to his credit with second place finishes to Josh Hayes at Road America and Barber Motorsports Park in 2014. Anthony ended up fifth in the AMA Superbike Championship in 2014.

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins: 0
Podiums: 2

Career Highlights:

2020 – Finished 10^th in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 with four sixth place finishes the highlight to his season. 2019 – Ended the 2019 MotoAmerica Superbike Series ranked 10^th in the championship. 2018 – Ended up 10^th in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. 2017 – Finished ninth in the MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship and 17^th in the MotoAmerica Superbike Series. 2016 – Ended the season 11^th in the Superstock 1000 Championship. 2015 – Finished fourth in the MotoAmerica Supersport Series with two podium finishes. 2014 – Ended the AMA Superbike Series ranked fifth in the championship point standings. 2013 – Finished 10^th in the AMA Pro Superbike Championship. 2012 – Completed the season ranked 13^th. 2011 – Finished 14^th in the AMA Pro Superbike Championship. 2010 – Raced in selected Superbike and Daytona SportBike rounds. 2009 – Finished 13^th in the AMA Pro Superbike Championship. 2008 – Raced in select AMA Pro Superbike, Superstock and Formula Xtreme rounds. 2007 – Raced in both Formula Xtreme and Supersport. 2006 – Started his AMA racing career with his first Supersport race.

Jayson Uribe has taken a long and unique journey in his road racing career. His early years were primarily contested in Europe with just occasional race outings here in America. In the past couple of seasons, he’s been racing mainly West Coast rounds on Honda Superbikes. Last season, he raced a Suzuki in MotoAmerica Superbike for FLY Racing/ADR Motorsports.

Little Known Fact: At age four Jayson started riding a Honda 50 dirt bike, by seven he was racing Supermoto and by age nine he was road racing.  His entire family rides motorcycles, it’s a passion which runs deep. When not racing Jayson works full time as an electrician for his dad’s company and he also serves as a volunteer fire fighter and has spent time of the front lines in California wildfires.

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins:
Podiums: 1 (Supersport)

Career Highlights:

2021 – Ranked 17^th in MotoAmerica Superbike racing a Suzuki for FLY Racing/ADR Motorsports. Scored four top-10 finishes. Best result was 8^th at VIR. 2020 – Raced a just two weekends of MotoAmerica Superbike events (The Ridge and Laguna Seca) on his own Rock and Sons Racing Honda CBR1000RR. Scored three top-10 finishes, including eight in both rounds at The Ridge. On that limited schedule he finished ranked 21^st in MotoAmerica Superbike. 2019 – Entered just two events (Utah and Laguna Seca) in MotoAmerica Superbike. Earned three top-10 finishes, with a season best of eighth (twice). Rode his own Uribe Racing Honda Superbike. 2018 – Raced West Coast rounds of MotoAmerica Superbike with the factory-backed Genuine Broaster Chicken Honda squad. Finished the year ranked 18^th. Scored three top-10 finishes, with a ninth at round 12 in Utah his top result. 2017 – Split time racing here in America in MotoAmerica Supersport and in the European CEV Moto2 Championship (where he finished 11^th). Ranked 17^th in MotoAmerica Supersport having raced in just two event weekends. In MotoAmerica rode for Rickdiculous Racing Yamaha. Scored a podium in race two at Utah. 2016 – Raced European CEV Moto2 Championship and finished 11^th. 2015 – Raced a single round (New Jersey) of MotoAmerica Superstock 600 on a Meen Motorsports Yamaha, best finish was fourth in race 1. Ranked 19^th in Superstock 600. Became the first American to win a race in any class within the French Superbike Championship when he took victory in a French Superstock 600cc Championship race at the Ledeon circuit. 2014 – Finished third in the British (BSB) Moto3 Championship. Scored six podiums in all with a best result of second (twice). 2013: Finished 11^th in British (BSB) 125cc National Championship. Best result was seventh.

The Spanish-born Cameron Petersen had his breakthrough season of Superbike racing in 2021 as he raced his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki to third in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship while also earning his first-career Superbike victory. Petersen was rewarded for his efforts with a two-year contract with the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha team where he joins forces with defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne.

Petersen, who comes from a family of Zimbabwean motorcycle racers, tasted success for the first time in 2020 when he won the  MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship with Altus Motorsports Suzuki. It was an amazing season for Petersen, who overcame issues to eventually win a class leading eight races to secure the Stock 1000 title.

His 2020 success led to a ride with Suzuki in the Superbike class and he took full advantage of the opportunity, winning a race in the season finale at Barber Motorsports Park and finishing on the podium a total of five times. He also earned a career-first MotoAmerica Superbike pole position – again at Barber Motorsports Park, a track he calls his favorite in the world.

The 2022 season marks the eighth season racing in America for Petersen, who was a South African Supersport National Championship in 2013. His father Robbie raced in America in the 1980s and ‘90s. Both his dad and uncle Dave had Grand Prix experience.

In addition to his championship-winning 2020 in Stock 1000, Petersen also often raced in the Superbike class. He had some strong outings and won the Superbike Cup, which is awarded to the first-place stock bike in the Superbike class.

Little Known Fact: Growing up in the warm-weather environs of Zimbabwe and South Africa, Petersen had no clue how brutal American winters can be. When he first signed to race in America and he landed at the airport, it was during a record cold snap and it was -17 degrees. Petersen was wearing shorts and a tank top when he walked off the plane.

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins: 10 (1 in Superbike, 8 in Stock 1000, 1 in Supersport)
Podiums: 20 (5 in Superbike, 11 in Stock 1000, 4 in Supersport)

Career Highlights:

2021 – Finished third in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship on an M4 ECSTAR Suzuki with his first-career Superbike victory and five total podiums. 2020 – Scored the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship, clinching the title at the Indianapolis round. He won a series-leading eight races in 12 rounds on the Altus Motorsports Suzuki. Won the pole at all but one round of the Stock 1000 series. It marked his first MotoAmerica Championship after six years of competing in the series.  Petersen also raced several rounds of MotoAmerica Superbike and finished eighth in that series with a best finish of fifth, which he accomplished twice. That was good enough to earn him the Superbike Cup, awarded to the top stock machine in the Superbike class. 2019 – Raced for Omega Moto Yamaha in MotoAmerica Superbike. His best result was a sixth, which he did four times. Finished ranked ninth. 2018 – Raced MotoAmerica Superbike for Genuine Broaster Chicken Honda. Best finish was fifth in the first leg at New Jersey. Finished ranked 12^th. 2017 – Raced for Fly Racing/Motul/ADR Motorsport Kawasaki and finished fifth in Superstock 1000 and 11^th in the Superbike class at the Austin round before making the difficult decision to exit the series due to putting too much financial strain on his family. 2016 – Raced for M4 Sportbike TrackGear.com Suzuki in MotoAmerica Supersport. Won on a wet track in the April New Jersey event. Scored a total of three podiums en route to finishing fourth in the series. 2015 – Made his MotoAmerica debut racing Supersport for the RoadRace Factory Yamaha squad. Scored five top-five finishes, with a best result of second in leg one at New Jersey. 2013 – Won the South African Supersport National Championship.

Richie Escalante battled to the bitter end to try and defend his 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, but he came up short to his rival Sean Dylan Kelly and finished second in the title chase. But that was then and this is now, and Escalante will start fresh with a new team – Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki – and in a new class as he moves up to MotoAmerica Superbike for 2022.

The popular Escalante became the first Mexican to win an AMA National Road Racing Championship when he wrapped up the 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship riding for HONOS Kawasaki. Escalante won a remarkable 13 rounds in the 18-round championship, clinching the title with two races remaining. 

Little Known Fact: “Richie” is a nickname. Escalante’s actual first name is Ricardo. Richie’s dad Pablo was a multi-time Latin American Road Racing Champion. Richie’s brother Pablo, Jr. was also a road racer.

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins: 20 (16 Supersport, 4 Superstock 600)
Podiums: 41 (24 Supersport, 17 Superstock 600)

Career Highlights:

2021 – Finished second in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship riding for HONOS Kawasaki. Won three races along the way to bring his career total to 16 in the class as he graduates to the Superbike ranks for 2022. 2020 – Won the 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship riding for HONOS Kawasaki. Earned his first career MotoAmerica Supersport victory in the opening round at Road America and continued to win a series-leading 13 rounds in the 18-race series. Scored a total of 16 podium finishes. Clinched the title with two races remaining. 2019 – Finished fifth in the Supersport standings with six podium finishes, including a season high best of second at VIR and in the season finale at Barber Motorsports Park. Rode for 2 Wheel Legal – Hudson Motorcycles on a Yamaha R6. 2018 – Ranked 6^th in Supersport, including a pair of podium finishes (thirds) at VIR and New Jersey. Raced for Quicksilver/Hudson Motorcycles on a Yamaha R6. 2017 – Sat out of racing due to lack of funding. 2016 – Finished runner-up in the MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship, winning three rounds of the series. Earned nine podium finishes in Superstock 600. Also finished 10^th in the MotoAmerica Supersport standings by way of his Superstock 600 results. The two classes race simultaneously. His best Supersport result was fourth in race 1 at Road America. Raced for HB Racing/Meen Yamaha. 2015 – Finished second in the MotoAmerica Superstock 600 class. Won race two at VIR. Had eight Superstock 600 class podiums. Raced for Escalante Racing on a Yamaha R6. 2014 – Finished 11^th in the AMA Pro Supersport class. His best finish was 6^th (twice, Barber and New Jersey). Rode for Escalante Racing on a Yamaha R6. Also won the Mexican 600cc National Championship. 2013 – Raced in Mexico. 2012 – Raced in the FIM CEV Repsol Moto2 Championship in Spain and finished 16^th, with a best result of eighth.

PJ Jacobsen has one of the most diverse and international racing careers of anyone on the MotoAmerica grid.  Starting his career as a flat track racer, PJ moved to road racing and eventually climbed the ladder to become an elite rider in the Supersport World Championship, winning races and finishing as runner-up in that series in 2015. He also has Grand Prix and World Superbike experience.  Now back in the paddock after a season away due to injury, PJ is making a serious assault on the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, racing a Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR.

Little Known Fact: He’s popularly known as PJ, but his real first name is Patrick.  PJ’s father was a racer as well and got PJ into riding when he was just three and was considered a child prodigy.  PJ started his racing career as a flat tracker and earned over 30 amateur flat track titles before moving to road racing.  He was named the 2005 AMA Youth Dirt Tracker of the Year at the age of 11.  Came back to his roots to race in the American Flat Track Championship in 2010 and 2019.  Was named 2010 Progressive American Flat Track Rookie of the Year.  Has raced in the British and MotoAmerica Supersport championships, while also spending time in World Superbike and British Superbike, along with World Championship and CEV 125GP.  PJ points to Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. and Nicky Hayden as two of his biggest racing heroes.

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins: 5 (4 in Supersport, 1 in Harley-Davidson XR1200)
Podiums: 15 (11 in Supersport, 2 in Daytona SportBike, 2 in Harley-Davidson XR1200)

Career Highlights:

2021 – Did not race but served as a rider coach in the MotoAmerica paddock.  2020 – Began racing in MotoAmerica Superbike but was injured early in the season and missed the rest of the year. Scored three top-10 finishes with a best result of fifth at Road America. Raced a Ducati for Celtic HSBK Racing.  2019 – Served double-duty racing MotoAmerica Supersport and American Flat Track. In Supersport, he finished as runner-up in the championship. Tallied 11 podiums, including four victories. Raced for Celtic HSBK Racing on a Yamaha. Finished 17th in AFT Twins, scoring a season best of fifth.  2018 – Raced in the Superbike World Championships on a Honda and finished the season ranked 19th.  2017 – Raced in the Supersport World Championship for MV Agusta and finished the season ranked sixth. Scored three podiums.  2016 – Ranked fourth in the Supersport World Championship riding a Honda. Earned four podium finishes.  2015 – Was runner-up in the Supersport World Championship despite switching teams mid-season. Started the year on a Kawasaki and moved to a Honda in the second half of the year. Scored seven podiums, including two wins, his first in the series.  2014 – First full season in the Supersport World Championship. Ranked sixth and scored two podiums.  2013 – Raced in the British Superbike series on a Tyco Suzuki and finished the year ranked ninth.  2012 – Won a British Superstock 1000 race at Donington Park and a British Supersport Championship round at Assen. Raced at the Indianapolis round of the AMA Pro Harley-Davidson XR1200 Series, and earned the pole, but he crashed in the race and finished 23rd.  2011 – Raced in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike and finished 10th in the series with two podium finishes. Raced a couple of American Flat Track Twins rounds, with a best result of 13th.  2010 – Was 11th in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike. Best finish was fourth (twice). Raced for Celtic Racing. Raced a couple rounds of the Harley-Davidson XR1200 Series and scored two podiums, including a win at New Jersey. Raced select rounds of American Flat Track Twins, with a best finish of sixth.  2009 – AMA Pro road racing debut in SuperSport East in New Jersey. Earned the pole and finished eighth in the race. Ranked 25th in the series.  2008 – Raced in the 125 Grand Prix World Championship round at Indy where he finished 22nd. Was the youngest American to ever race in a 125GP World Championship race. Raced in the Spanish CEV 125GP, finished fifth in points and earned a podium (first American to podium in CEV).  2007 – Was in the MotoGP Academy.  2006 – Won the USGPRU 125GP Championship.

Barbera made his MotoAmerica Superbike last year riding for Scheibe Racing BMW, and he showed well. The veteran from Spain ended the season ranked seventh in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with a consistent run of fifth- and sixth-place finishes. For 2022, Barbera will be back on a BMW, but it will be as a member of the new Tytlers Cycle Racing/RideHVMC Racing team on a BMW M 1000 RR. Prior to coming to MotoAmerica in 2021, the Spaniard enjoyed a long career of mostly racing in the World Championships. Barbera began his GP career in the old 125cc Grand Prix class in 2002 and began winning races the very next season. In 17 seasons of Grand Prix racing (2002-2018) in all three classes, the Spaniard won a total of 10 Grands Prix and earned 32 podiums. In the past several seasons, Barbera has raced in the World Superbike and World Supersport Championships as well as in the British Superbike Championship.

Little Known Fact: Barbera survived one of the scariest crashes in GP history at Mugello in 2008. As he and Marco Simoncelli were battling for the lead down a straightaway late in the 250cc Grand Prix, Simoncelli swerved to try to keep Barbera from drafting, just as the latter was making his move. The collision locked up Barbera’s front brake, and he went over the bars at over 160 mph. Fortunately, he suffered only minor injuries in the spectacular fall.

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins:
Podiums:

Career Highlights:

2021 – Finished seventh in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship in what was his debut season in the series. 2020 – Raced a Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW in the British Superbike Championship. Scored three top-10 finishes and ended the year ranked 17th.  2019 – Raced select rounds of both the Superbike and Supersport World Championships. Best result was fourth in a World Supersport round riding for Team Tóth Yamaha. Raced a couple of rounds of WSBK with Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki. Best result was a 13th. 2018 – Raced first half of the season in Moto2 for Pons HP40. His best Moto2 result was 11th in France. His early placings put him 23rd ranked at the end of the season. Raced the second half of the season in the World Supersport Championship with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing where he scored three top-10 finishes and finished ranked 17th. 2017 – Raced MotoGP with Reale Avintia Racing Ducati. Finished in the points 10 times and ended the year ranked 22nd. 2016 – Raced MotoGP with Avintia Racing Ducati and a couple of rounds with the factory Ducati team. Earned nine top-10 finishes with a season best of fourth in Malaysia. Ended the year ranked 10th, marking his career-best MotoGP ranking. 2015 – Raced with Avintia Racing Ducati in MotoGP. Earned 11 points-paying finishes with a season best of ninth in Japan. Ranked 15th. 2014 – Raced a Kawasaki-based Avintia MotoGP machine for two-thirds of the season before the team switched to a Ducati for the final five rounds. Scored World Championship points in six rounds with a season-best result of fifth in Australia. 2013 – Raced MotoGP with Avintia Blusens on an FTR-Kawasaki. Earned nine points-paying finishes, including a pair top 10 results. Ranked 16th. 2012 – Raced MotoGP for Pramac Racing Team Ducati. Earned 10 top-10 finishes with a season best of seventh (twice). Ended the year ranked 11th. 2011 – Raced MotoGP for Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP Ducati. Scored seven top-10 finishes with a best of sixth at Jerez. Ended the year ranked 11th. 2010 – Debut season in MotoGP. Raced for Páginas Amarillas Aspar Ducati. Earned eight top-10 finishes with a season best of eighth (twice). Ranked 12th. 2009 – Raced 125cc Grand Prix for Pepe World Team Aprilia. Earned eight podiums, four poles and three GP victories en route to being ranked second, his best ever ranking in the 250cc World Championship. 2008 – Raced for Team Tóth Aprilia in 250cc Grand Prix. Earned four podium finishes, two poles and final ranking of sixth. 2007 – Raced with Team Tóth Aprilia in 250cc Grand Prix. Earned five podium finishes and final ranking of fifth. 2006 – Raced 250cc Grand Prix for Fortuna Aprilia. Scored three podiums, two poles and a victory in China. Ranked seventh. 2005 – Debut season in 250cc Grand Prix riding for Fortuna Honda. Scored three top-five results with a best of fourth in Australia. Finished ninth in the championship. 2004 – Finished runner-up in the 125cc Grand Prix World Championship, his best season-ending result in the series. Raced a Seedorf Racing Aprilia to seven podiums, one pole and four victories. 2003 – Finished third in the 125cc Grand Prix World Championship. Raced an Aprilia for Master-MXOnda-Aspar Team. Earned five podiums, including two wins. 2002 – Debut GP season. Raced in the 125cc class for Master–Aspar Team Aprilia. Scored four top-10 finishes with a best of fourth at Brno. Ranked 14th.

Jake Lewis is getting a crack at finishing some unfinished business with a return to the MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship in 2022 with the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team. Lewis earned a second chance at Superbike racing by winning the 2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship on the Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000 with six victories and two other podiums.

Lewis has been a leading contender since he entered professional road racing in 2012. He won the AMA Pro SuperSport East Championship in his first season, earning him AMA Pro Road Racing’s Rookie of the Year Award. Once a factory Superbike rider with Yoshimura Suzuki, Lewis found himself without a ride last season and only saw action in a couple of rounds as a fill-in rider.

Little Known Fact: Jake cut his teeth as a youth rider on dirt tracks across the Midwest before beginning to focus on road racing when he was 13. He earned the prestigious AMA Horizon Award in 2011, recognizing him as the top amateur road racer in the country that year.

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins: 11 (6 in Stock 1000, 2 in Daytona SportBike, 3 in SuperSport East)
Podiums: 33 (9 in Stock 1000, 6 in Superbike, 7 in Daytona SportBike, 11 SuperSport East)

Career Highlights:

2021 – Won the 2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship on his Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000, winning six races en route to the title. Scored nine Stock 1000 podium in total. Finished eighth in MotoAmerica Superbike with a total of 14 top-10 finishes, including a season-best fifth (twice). Was the number-one ranked rider in Superbike Cup for riders racing Stock 1000 machines in Superbike. 2020 – Raced a couple of MotoAmerica weekends as a substitute rider. In the opening round at Road America, he finished ninth in Superbike race one aboard the Scheibe Racing BMW. At Pitt Race, he rode the Celtic HSBK Racing Ducati where he scored his best result of the year, eighth in race one. Ranked 22nd in MotoAmerica Superbike. 2019 – Raced with M4 ECSTAR Suzuki in MotoAmerica Superbike. Finished seventh in Superbike. Earned seven top-5 finishes. His best result was fourth in race one at PittRace. 2018 – Finished sixth in MotoAmerica Superbike. Had 13 top-five finishes and scored a podium (third) in race two at Utah. Raced with M4 ECSTAR Suzuki. 2017 – Finished sixth in MotoAmerica Superbike riding for M4 ECSTAR Suzuki. Earned three top-five finishes with his best of fourth coming in race one at Sonoma. 2016 – Was signed to Yoshimura Suzuki, but missed the first half of the season due to a pre-season injury and was replaced by Toni Elias on the team. Came back racing Superstock 1000 with M4 Suzuki. Finished ninth in Superstock 1000 with four top-five finishes. Finished 14^th in MotoAmerica Superbike with six top-10 results. 2015 – Finished fourth in MotoAmerica Superbike, with five podium finishes including a season-best second at Road Atlanta. Honored as Superbike Rookie of the Year. Raced on the factory Yoshimura Suzuki team. 2014 – Finished ranked second in Daytona SportBike, with four podium finishes including wins at Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Raced with MotoSport.com/Meen Yamaha. 2013 – Fifth ranked in Daytona SportBike, with three podium finishes in his first season in the class. Awarded AMA Pro Road Racing Rookie of the Year. Rode for Meen Motorsports Racing Yamaha. 2012 – Won the AMA Pro SuperSport East title, with 11 podium finishes, including three wins. Raced for Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki. 2011 – Competed in club road racing and won the AMA Horizon Award.

Ryan Burke is a six-time number-one plate holder with the MRA club racing organization in Colorado. He is back in pro racing this year after racing AMA 750 Supersport in the late 1990s at his then home track of Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Little Known Fact:  Ryan’s uncle Dennie Burke was an AMA pro road racer, and that’s what got Ryan interested in racing. Ryan says Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz, and Wayne Rainey were the riders he most admired growing up.

MotoAmerica Stats
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Career Highlights:

2021 – Ran a Burke Racing/Boulder Motorsports Ducati in Stock 1000. Recorded no finishes. 1997-1999 – Raced the Pikes Peak round of AMA 750 Supersport each year and scored a best result of 13th in the 1998 event.

Max Flinders enters his 10th season of professional road racing in 2022. He’s been a consistent finisher in MotoAmerica Superbike since 2018 in spite of racing on a small independent team. Max is again racing in MotoAmerica Superbike on a Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha.

Little Known Fact: Born in Burton-On-Trent, England, he started racing in England on the grass track circuit and eventually found his way to the United States when his dad accepted a job offer with NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

MotoAmerica Stats
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Career Highlights:

2021 – Finished 21st in MotoAmerica Superbike. Scored championship points in 10 rounds. Best result was 13th (four times). Raced a Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha. 2020 – Overcame injuries from a training crash on a motocross bike to finish ranked 13^th in MotoAmerica Superbike scoring three top-10 finishes. Best result was ninth (twice – round two at Road America and round five at Road Atlanta.) Rode a Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha. 2019 – Finished 12^th in MotoAmerica Superbike with eight top-10 finishes. Top result was sixth in race one at Sonoma. Raced a Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha. 2018 – Ranked 13^th in MotoAmerica Superbike with four top-10 finishes. Best result was ninth (twice – rounds 17 and 18 at New Jersey.) Raced a Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha. 2017 – Finished seventh in MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 with 16 top-10 results. Top result was fifth in race two at Road Atlanta. Also scored points in MotoAmerica Superbike where he finished 18^th in the final standings. Best Superbike result was 11^th in race one at Barber. Rode a Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha. 2016 – Contested MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 on a Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha. Finished eighth in the Superstock 1000 with 15 top-10 finishes in the 18-race series. Best finish was seventh at round 11 at Barber. Also scored points in four rounds of MotoAmerica Superbike and was ranked 27^th in the championship. 2015 – Finished 12^th in MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 with five top-10 results. Top result was seventh (three times). Rode a Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha. 2014 – Raced AMA Pro Supersport and finished ranked 36^th in the series. Best result was 11^th in round nine at New Jersey. Raced a Friendly Powersport Yamaha R6. 2013 – Finished 24^th in AMA Pro Supersport East. Top result was 13^th at series round eight at Mid-Ohio. Raced a Friendly Powersports Yamaha R6.