Beaubier leads as MotoAmerica returns to Sonoma

Gerloff on top of Supersport class on Day 1 at Sonoma Raceway

On-track action got started today at Sonoma Raceway as the MotoAmerica Series brought AMA Superbike racing back to Northern California wine country for the first time since 2012. When all was said and done on a sunny Friday afternoon it was nearby Roseville resident Cameron Beaubier leading the way on the opening day of the Championship at Sonoma Raceway, the defending two-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion heading both sessions.

Beaubier lapped at a best of 1:36.585 to best Quicksilver Latus Motors Kawasaki’s Bobby Fong, the Californian slotting his Superstock 1000-spec ZX-10R into second in the lead-up to Saturday’s Superpole session that will set the grid for both Saturday and Sunday’s headline races. Motul Superbike Championship points leader Toni Elis ended up third fastest on Friday.

Championship leader Garrett Gerloff led the two Supersport practice sessions on his Monster Energy/Yamalube/Y.E.S./Graves Yamaha R6, the Texan besting M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Valentin Debise by 1.2 seconds. Team H35’s Benny Solice ended up third with Gerloff’s teammate JD Beach, who sits just four points behind Gerloff, closing out the day with the fourth fastest time.

The KTM RC Cup, meanwhile, held the first of its two qualifying sessions on Friday with Benjamin Smith heading the time sheets.