MotoAmerica’s Musical Chairs: Who’s Getting The Superbike Seats?
It’s been five weeks since the 2020 MotoAmerica season concluded at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and as of today, December 1, there is less than one month remaining in 2020. Thus far, we don’t think there’s been nearly enough talk about the upcoming 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. We’re going to do something about that, so read on.
On paper, this coming season looks to be the most wide-open and difficult-to-predict Superbike Championship in the six-going-on-seven-year history of MotoAmerica. Five-time Champion and winner of 16 out of the 20 Superbike races in 2020, Cameron Beaubier, has moved on to the Moto2 World Championship, which means that someone else is going to win the title in 2021.
But, before we speculate about who that title-winner may be, we have to figure out who’s racing where in 2021. Some of the seats are filled, or assumed to be filled, but a lot of them are not. So, we’re going to make some guesses. Come on along with us, just for the fun of it. And, please, no wagering.
Attack Performance Yamaha
Jake Gagne
Lead-pipe lock, who is entering the second year of his two-year contract with Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), 2020 Championship runner-up who is favored to win 2021 Superbike Championship
Josh Herrin
Looking to rekindle his long former relationship with YMUS, former Yamaha Superbike Champion, formerly raced a Yamaha R1 Superbike for Richard Stanboli and his Attack Performance squad
Cam Petersen
Former Yamaha R1 Superbike rider, works with four-time Yamaha Superbike Champion and brand ambassador Josh Hayes, good friends with Jake Gagne and both work (and train) together at American Supercamp
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
Bobby Fong
Quasi-lead-pipe lock, who won three Superbike races for team in 2020 after winning Supersport Championship for team in 2019, favored to win 2021 Superbike Championship
Cam Petersen
Won 2020 Stock 1000 Championship on Team Hammer-built Suzuki GSX-R1000, has full year of seat time on Suzuki, works with four-time Superbike Champion Josh Hayes who also works with Fong
Sean Dylan Kelly
Rapidly rising star, raced in Supersport for team in 2020, logical career progression
Alex Dumas
Rapidly rising star, raced in Stock 1000 for team in 2020, logical career progression
Westby Racing
Mathew Scholtz
Lead-pipe lock, who signed new contract with Westby Racing for 2021, favored to win 2021 Superbike Championship
Scheibe Racing
Josh Herrin
Had admirable first year racing BMW with solid development towards 2021 season
Valentin Debise
Former MotoAmerica Supersport star who would love to race in America again, international name attractive to BMW Motorrad, good fit for Steve Scheibe-run team
Lance Isaacs
Former World Superbike rider, former BMW Motorrad brand ambassador in homeland of South Africa, former BMW team owner, lives in Utah, would like to race a BMW Superbike in MotoAmerica
Stefano Mesa
Proven literbike race winner, known to like the BMW S 1000 RR, strong work ethic and “privateer mentality” would be good fit for team
KWR Ducati Team
Kyle Wyman
Lead-pipe lock (team owner), who had his best-ever Superbike season in 2020, still early in Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike’s development
Celtic HSBK Racing
Lorenzo Zanetti
Six podium finishes and one win in just eight MotoAmerica races in 2020, Ducati Corse test rider who is “package deal” with Ducati Corse Panigale V4 R Superbike acquired by team in 2020
PJ Jacobsen
2020 season cut short by injury, didn’t have a chance to show full potential on Ducati, long-time relationship with Celtic Racing’s Barry Gilsenan
Toni Elias
Publicly declared that he would like to race a Ducati, former Ducati MotoGP rider and long-time relationship with Ducati Corse
FLY Street Racing ADR Motorsports
David Anthony
Lead-pipe lock (team owner), who completed first year with new Suzuki Superbike, not quite ready to cease being team owner and lead rider
Sam Verderico
Familiarity with team and team logistics, still having fun, had a tough 2020 season and wants to improve on it
Bradley Ward
Promising Superbike season cut short by serious injuries at New Jersey Motorsports Park, will be back if 100% healthy
Michael Gilbert
Raced with ADR Motorsports at final two rounds of 2020 season, continuation of relationship for full 2021 season
Thrashed Racing
Max Flinders
Lead-pipe lock (team owner), who completed first year with new 2020 Yamaha Superbike, still early in bike’s development
Jones Honda/Yoshimura Honda
Ashton Yates
Faithfully carried Honda flag throughout entire 2020 season, patiently waited for 2021 Honda CBR1000R-RR Fireblade SP, strong relationship with Jones Honda
Toni Elias
Favored Yoshimura son, could rekindle historic Yoshimura Honda relationship and give extra attention to 2021 Honda CBR1000R-RR Fireblade SP debut in MotoAmerica
Altus Motorsports
Cameron Petersen
Won 2020 Stock 1000 Championship for team, Superbike ride would be natural progression for team and program, Petersen has strong relationship with team sponsor Hagerty.
Graves Kawasaki
Corey Alexander
Graves Technical Services supported Alexander’s Stock 1000 program in 2020, Alexander’s crew chief Chris Lessing has long-time relationship with Graves Motorsports
Andrew Lee
Won two Stock 1000 Championships on Graves Motorsports-built Kawasaki ZX-10R, raced Graves Motorsports Kawasakis in AFM
Richie Escalante
Won 2020 Supersport Championship on Graves Motorsports-built Kawasaki ZX-6R, logical career progression
Stefano Mesa
Proven Kawasaki ZX-10R race winner, long-time Team Green relationship, “privateer mentality” and strong work ethic are a valuable asset for any team
Valentin Debise
Raced Graves Motorsports Kawasakis in AFM in 2019, helped develop Graves Motorsports-built Kawasaki ZX-6R on which Escalante won 2020 Supersport Championship, former MotoAmerica Supersport star who would love to race in America again
HONOS Kawasaki/Ducati
Richie Escalante
Won 2020 Supersport Championship for team, Superbike ride would be natural progression for team and program, Escalante has strong relationship with team owner Humberto Baca
Toni Elias
Publicly declared that he would like to race a Ducati, former Ducati MotoGP rider and long-time relationship with Ducati Corse, strong relationship with team sponsor HONOS
