Page 34 - PULSE-FOUR

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THE PULSE • ISSUE FOUR
The move upset the YZF-R1 as well as the man piloting it and he miraculously kept it on the pavement, tucking into third position. Elias was forced to take defensive lines to keep Herrin at Bay and Beaubier re- gained the lost ground, launching an all-out offensive at Canada Corner which left the championship leader in the kitty litter. The collision gifted Herrin the lead, but the raw speed of the Factory Yamaha YZF-R1 and the power of the draft pulled Beaubier to his first victory of the season, fulfilling an exceptional comeback ride. The second race was just as exciting although there was nothing but clean and respectful racing be- tween all of the competitors; the trio from the first race were joined by Roger Hayden and a couple of others in a titanic battle for the podium, but it was ultimately Beaubier that came out on top yet again. The second race Motul Superbike race at Road America could later be looked upon as a turning point in the 2018 sea- son; it was the first time that Toni Elias has showed real hesitation since the commencement of his Mo- toAmerica career and it was the first time that he’s finished off the podium (barring a DNF) since June 23rd of 2016 at Utah Motorsports Campus. There are a lot of factors at play: the new Dunlop KR451 N-Tek rear tire, the DNF the previous race, and Beaubier’s successful history at the circuit -- but it was the first time we’ve seen Toni Elias on his back foot in MotoAmerica competition in some time, settling for fourth position in the second race. The tides have turned in the championships standings as Beaubier swung into the lead, holding a two point advantage ahead of the defending series champ. Although the momentum sits on the side of the Yamaha rider, Elias went 1-1 at Laguna Seca in 2017 and that’s the next stop on the calendar.
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MOTO AMERICA
2018