MotoAmerica

This past weekend I had the opportunity and privilege to cover MotoAmerica road racing at Road Atlanta, for Born to Ride magazine. I spent three thrilling days enjoying the rush and roar of the races, had the honor to meet and talk with many of the racers, and caught the passion and dedication of Wayne Rainey and his MotoAmerica staff. It was a weekend I will never forget.

 

Friday I picked up my press credentials, compliments of MotoAmerica and the good folks at our own Road Atlanta. I photographed and enjoyed the practice sessions and early qualifier rounds, and met the great Josh Hayes and Danny Eslick down in the paddock area. Very friendly, down-to-earth guys.

 

 

I had the honor of bringing the Saturday morning invocation, then hit the infield for various shots of pole/grid qualifying around the track. The classes consisted of WERA 1000 semi-pro, KTM RC 390, Supersport/Superstock 600, and Superbike/Superstock 1000. A full slate, indeed. You definitely get your fill of superb racing action, up close and personal, every day. It's an adrenaline rush, just standing along the fences, watching them roar by. I've ridden track days on Road Atlanta several times myself, so I know first-hand the thrill of speed on it. The actual Saturday afternoon Race 1 runs were exhilarating, to say the least.

 

Between races, I had the privilege to meet several more racers, notably Garrett Gerloff, 2016 Supersport 600 national champion, and Bobby Fong, top contender in the Superstock 1000 class. Both are fine young men, very humble and grateful for the opportunity and abilities to compete at this level. Garrett is very vocal about his faith in Jesus Christ, giving thanks for his successes (took 1st in Race 1), and I find that commendable.

 

 

Sunday saw the rivalries intensify, as the Race 2 runs got underway. I witnessed several low-side crashes, all heart-stopping, but nothing could prepare me for what happened to Josh Hayes about 4 laps into the Superbike/Superstock 1000 race. Hayes low-sided out in turn 1, bike and rider sliding into the run-out gravel. Josh was unhurt, but his bike dug in, bounced off the air fence, and careened about 20 feet in the air, clearing the outer fence and clipping the bottom of a Road Atlanta billboard, before landing in the woods off the property! I had just parked at that corner for some photos, and literally just missed it. Tony Elias, Roger Hayden, and Cameron Beaubier battled all the way to the finish, in one of the most thrilling races I've seen in years.

Shattered carcass of Hayes' bike

I have been an ardent fan of motorcycle road racing for a number of years, but sadly, had lost interest in American road racing, in the waning years of AMA management. MotoAmerica taking the reins three years ago, I think, was exactly what our sport needed. Wayne and company are running an outstanding series. Full article forthcoming, in one of the summer issues of Born to Ride.