New Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Elias increase MotoAmerica Superbike lead

New Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Elias increase MotoAmerica Superbike lead

Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Toni Elias extended his MotoAmerica Superbike Championship points lead with a victory on Sunday aboard the brand-new 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000.

He took the win at the ‘Suzuki ECSTAR Championship’ event, racing in front of a sun-drenched crowd at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia as team-mate Roger Hayden finished a close runner-up in Sunday’s race, just 0.308 seconds behind, putting him into a tie for second the championship standings.

Sparks flew on-and-off the track between Elias and rival Cameron Beaubier. The two made contact in both Saturday and Sunday’s races. Emotions were high and it resulted in a tense post-race press conference with the two competitors verbally going back and forth, before finally shaking hands and agreeing to respect one another on the track.

Sunday was a remarkable day in general for Suzuki riders at the Suzuki ECSTAR Championship: Suzuki won every race it entered, in a stunning sweep of Sunday’s events.

In Bazzaz Superstock 1000 it was Jake Lewis winning his first event of the year on his Suzuki GSX-R1000, in Supersport Valentine Debise won on a Suzuki GSX-R600 and in Superstock 600 it was Nick McFadden victorious aboard another Suzuki GSX-R600. And to put icing on the cake, Billy Etheridge won the special WERA Superbike 1000 race on a Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Now with three wins in four races, Elias enjoys a commanding 26-point lead in the Motul MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.


Related Motorsport Articles

84,554 articles