The AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class has been unpredictable and electrifying this season and the last event at Barber Motorsports Park might have been the most action-filled yet. The round showcased one of this year’s themes, a different rider earning the spoils of victory.
In the DAYTONA 200, it was Danny Eslick. At Road America, Jake Gagne took the double win. GoPro Daytona SportBike is a topsy turvy world and it was Westby’s turn to shine in Alabama, in the heat, on his gold Yamaha. The popular Oklahoman won two very different contests in Birmingham – one (mostly) from the front, and the other a performance where he stalked his rivals and moved through the front pack.
Westby, after founding his own team with backing from Yamalube for this season, impressed at Daytona by running in the lead pack, but crashed out before the last pit stops. At Road America, he looked to be in line for a podium before a last-lap mechanical. He shored up that first podium with a third on Sunday in Wisconsin but was a little disappointed after easing up as the rain began to fall late in that one.
“The Wolverine” headed into the Triumph SuperBike Classic as one of the top riders in class, having shown his speed in earlier races despite his bad luck. His performance in Alabama, however, was a cut above, and the wins justified the risk he took to form his own squad.
On Saturday, Westby took advantage after a red flag to move to the front by the second lap after the restart. Westby said he sensed chaos after a crash involving Jake Lewis on his MotoSport.com/Meen Yamaha machine, Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha pilot Garrett Gerloff and RoadRace Factory/Red Bull’s Jake Gagne. He motored on, clicking off laps in the Alabama heat.
“I was able to take advantage of the red flag,” said Westby. “I knew the guys were off track, off the line, and there was a little bit of confusion. You just have to keep going until they throw that flag and it ended up working in my favor. The last couple of laps, I saw one guy go flying past, and I knew they were going to try to do something, so I just tried to attack back as quick as I could.”
On Sunday’s start, Westby slipped to sixth in the order and watched the opening laps shake down. Westby passed Danny Eslick on the Riders Discount Racing Triumph entry early on but at halfway he was just fifth and had shown little to convince anyone he would repeat his win. Over the second half of the contest, Westby worked by Latus Motors/Castrol/Triumph Racing’s Bobby Fong, Castrol/Triumph/Sportbike Track Time’ Jason DiSalvo, Lewis and Gagne. Westby had moved to the lead with three to go, advancing his position in the same late corner each time.
“Yesterday was a first for me when I led the race and won it that way,” Westby said after completing his sweep. “Today, I felt like these guys had a leg up on me. I wasn’t quite as comfortable as I wanted to be early on. I was a little slow in some parts of the track but I was really good in the ‘Alabama Rollercoaster,’ as they call it. It was a real barnburner of a race, super hot out there and the conditions were tough. I put my head down and waited until my moment. I passed everyone back there in the back, just a block pass and then making it stick. I had some different lines where I could hold it until the end and earn the position. It was a really great race, and I am proud of what we were able to accomplish.”
Westby also vaulted up the points chart following the trip to Birmingham. He’s now fifth but just 22 points out of the lead. He was 16th and 52 points out after Race 1 at Road America.
Gagne still leads the points, rallying after Saturday’s crash to take third on Sunday. He led most of the race but didn’t have the endgame to earn win No. 3 of 2014.
“I started having a little issue towards the end and the gap was closing,” said Gagne. “The last few laps had me battling again with Jake (Lewis) and Dane Westby. I felt I could make the charge for the lead but I made a small mistake in the chicane and lost two positions. I finished third and took some points but I can’t say I’m too happy. At this point we’re only going to be happy with wins so it’s onto Laguna and another chance to win.”
JD Beach saw a strong second on Saturday but a late mistake and a run off the track Sunday spoiled his chance at a double podium. Even though Beach gathered it back up to salvage fifth, he looked to be in good shape as the laps wound down. Still, the Factory Yamaha pilot’s battle for the win on Saturday added to his fine resume in 2014.
“It seems like Dane and I keep finding each other out there,” said Beach on Saturday. “Dane’s a great rider, and we had a really good battle. There were just a few spots where he had me. I got on the gas too hard and nearly bucked myself off at the end.”
The top Rookie in the class this year has been Tomas Puerta. The Colombian bagged two more top ten finishes for the RoadRace Factory/Red Bull team.
With the wild 2014 season as a backdrop, the next showdown at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca might be the most unpredictable race of the weekend. The joint AMA Pro-FIM event will take place on July 11-13 in Monterey, California.
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
- NHRA announces eight-race schedule for 2024 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series - January 17, 2024
- Forgeline and Pratt Miller Motorsports Announce New Multi-Year Partnership - January 17, 2024
- TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein converts narrow pole to commanding win in the Season 10 opener of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the 2024 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix - January 16, 2024