The penultimate round of the MotoAmerica Superbike season unfolded at the demanding Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing entered the weekend with a modest points deficit, but rider Bobby Fong turned the event into a showcase of speed and strategy. After qualifying fourth, Fong turned a solid start into a podium in Race 1 and then delivered a masterclass in Race 2, securing his third victory in five outings and drawing within striking distance of the championship leader.
Fong’s Race 2 charge and its impact on the title fight
Race 2 began with Fong snapping off the line and quickly slotting into the top three. A brief melee for position on the opening laps saw him climb to second by Lap 4, positioning him directly behind race-leader Cameron Petersen. Over the next several laps the Californian methodically trimmed Petersen’s 2.7-second advantage, closing to within a bike length with two laps remaining. On the penultimate lap, Fong executed a clean inside pass, overtaking Petersen and holding the lead to the finish line. The victory marked his fourth win of the season and added a tenth podium, leaving him just 26 points behind the series leader with 75 points still up for grabs.
“It was a good weekend,” Fong said after the win. “We changed the tire plan a little bit, and it paid off. Whatever happens at the end, happens. We just have to keep digging and focus on race wins.” His comments reflected a pragmatic mindset, emphasizing incremental gains over long-term championship speculation.
Teammate JD Beach and Mathew Scholtz’s uphill battles
While Fong celebrated, teammate JD Beach endured a roller-coaster weekend. Qualifying seventh, Beach launched from the third row in Race 1, surged to third and even passed Sean Dylan Kelly on Lap 5. However, a mis-judged entry into Turn 16 sent him crashing out, eliminating any chance of points. In Race 2 he again started strong, only to be shuffled back to fifth early on. A series of close-quarter battles eventually settled into a top-five finish, leaving Beach fourth in the
Across the grid, Strack Racing Yamaha’s Mathew scholtz suffered a harsher fate. Arriving only 17 points from the championship lead, Scholtz qualified sixth and fought inside the top six in Race 1 before a technical failure forced a retirement on Lap 3. The second race offered a brief hope; he again ran in the leading pack until a clutch issue on Lap 9 dropped him to the pits, culminating in a 17th-place finish. The South African now trails the points leader by 46 points heading into the finale at New Jersey.
Yamaha’s success in the support classes at COTA
Beyond the premier class, Yamaha riders dominated the supporting categories. In the Super Hooligan National series, Bryce Kornbau swept both races, clinching the championship title with a decisive win in Race 2 after teammate Andy DiBrino ran wide late. Kornbau’s triumph marked his second
Liberty St. Yamaha Racing newcomer Harrison Voight impressed in the Supersport class, qualifying fourth and securing a runner-up finish in Race 2 after a post-race penalty promoted him from third. Veteran four-time AMA Superbike champion Josh Hayes also shone, earning a podium in Race 2 and placing just three points behind third place in the championship.
Young talents Blake Davis and Sam Drane added further depth to Yamaha’s weekend. Davis posted a solid sixth-place finish in the Superbike race and a top-five result in Race 2, while 15-year-old Australian Sam Drane captured his first MotoAmerica Talent Cup victory, overcoming a tight battle with Nathan Gouker in the final laps.
With three races remaining at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the championship narrative remains wide-open. Fong’s COTA triumph narrows the gap to the leader, Beach and Scholtz must recover lost points, and Yamaha’s support-class riders carry momentum into the season finale.
