The Yamaha YZF-R1 has wrapped up another early season weekend of success with wins on both sides of the Atlantic.
Round two of the British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park was the scene of not one but two podium stories as Josh Brookes set the pace on his Milwaukee Yamaha R1. Brookes scored second in the first race, setting a new track lap record in the process as he fought with championship leader Shane Byrne, securing him pole position for race two.
He was back and more determined than ever for the second race and dominated completely. Despite an effort by Byrne to take the race back it was Brookes who took his first win for Milwaukee Yamaha and move into second in the standings.
Across the Atlantic Ocean Cameron Beaubier was also using his Yamaha R1 to its full potential in the AMA Championship at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California. Beaubier was on form, showing the race winning speed of his recent Daytona win to take pole on Saturday. Sunday’s race saw him on the front row alongside last teammate Josh Hayes. The multiple Yamaha AMA champion did his best t stay with Beaubier, the top outclassing their rivals to make it a Yamaha 1-2 on the podium. Graves Yamaha’s Garrett Gerloff mirrored the success in the Sportbike class, taking pole and then the race win with his Yamaha YZF-R6.
The excellent results continue the R1 podium stories of 2014, following the GMT-94 Yamaha’s second place finish at last week’s 24Hr Bol d’Or race in France.
Josh Brookes
Milwaukee Yamaha, British SuperBike Championship
“It is a great feeling to win and what we all push so hard to achieve, so to get it is quite rewarding but it was so difficult. There is always a dog fight in BSB to get to the result so I tried not to make mistakes and set my pace quite strong and consistent. In the early laps Shane got passed me and I thought I can’t let him get into that robotic stage where he is in the zone so I pulled a really cool, aggressive move to get back ahead. I had some really big slides and moments at the end of the race and I thought come on let’s just keep it all together and bring it home so I was really pleased to finally see that chequered flag waving.”
Cameron Beaubier
Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha, AMA-SBK Championship
“I started on the pole, which is on the inside here at Sonoma Raceway, so I kind of got pinched off in the first turn, which shuffled me back to fifth. This track is very technical, and I’m glad I’ve upped my training this year because it’s helped me handle the big R1 compared to my R6 last year. I was able to work myself back up to Josh, who was in the lead, and it wasn’t easy to get around him. It’s great to get this win on my home track and in front of my family and friends.”
Source: www.yamaha-racing.com
