Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong rolled into VIRginia International Raceway on a high after winning two of the three races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca a few weeks ago. Fong kept a hot hand on opening day in Virginia, earning a provisional pole position after leading both morning practice and Friday afternoon’s storm-interrupted Q1 session.
With severe weather entering the area and some 11 minutes left in the session, the Q1 was stopped and ultimately scrapped. To make up for the missed time, Saturday’s Q2 will get an extra 10 minutes.
Fong ripped off a 1:24.568 on his fourth lap in the Q1, and that time wasn’t bettered. Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly came the closest with his best of 1:24.846, just .278 of a second off Fong’s best.
Championship points leader Josh Herrin completed the provisional front row on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, just .327 of a second slower than Fong’s pace.
Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier’s return to VIR didn't start off smoothly, since he spent most of the morning session in the pit lane. But things turned around for the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion in the Q1 as he moved to fourth fastest, just a tick over half a second off of Fong’s pacesetter.
Fong’s teammate, Jake Gagne, also fared well on Friday, putting his YZF-R1 into fifth, .045 of a second behind Beaubier.
Motovation Supersport – Chasing Scholtz
Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz and his Yamaha YZF-R9 led the Q1 session for the Motovation Supersport class at VIR on Friday afternoon, with two Ducatis nipping at his heels, namely Celtic/Economy Lube+Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati’s Cameron Petersen and Rahal Ducati Moto w/ XPEL’s PJ Jacobsen.
Scholtz’s fast lap was a 1:26.380, which was .298 of a second better than Petersen’s best lap and .606 faster than Jacobsen’s best on the 2.250-mile North Course at VIR.
Strack Racing’s Blake Davis was fourth fastest, .941 of a second behind his teammate Scholtz, and .221 of a second ahead of fifth-fastest Tyler Scott and his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750.
BPR’s Josh Hayes was sixth fastest, despite suffering through a day of mechanical woes on his Yamaha. Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis ended up seventh and was back to health after his scary crash at Laguna Seca on Friday morning, which forced him out of the race weekend in California.
Rahal Ducati Moto w/Roller Die’s Corey Alexander and Rahal Ducati Moto w/XPEL’s Kayla Yaakov were eighth and ninth, respectively.
Altus Motorsports’ Torin Collins rounded out the top 10.
Parts Unlimited Talent Cup By Motul – Vossberg Gets It Started
Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Hank Vossberg struck first in the Parts Unlimited Talent Cup By Motul with the Wisconsinite earning a provisional pole position with his lap of 1:36.462, putting him just .061 of a second ahead of championship points leader Alessandro Di Mario and his Warhorse Ducati/American Racing Krämer APX-350 MA.
Royalty Racing’s Carson King was third fastest, .665 of a second behind Vossberg and just .157 of a second ahead of Team Roberts’ Kody Kopp. Bodie Paige Racing/Mission Foods/D&D Certified’s Bodie Paige rounded out the top five, just a tick over a second slower than Vossberg.
Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race – MacGregor!
Shea MacGregor waited until the very end to turn in her quickest lap in Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. action at VIR on Friday. Her fast lap was her last lap of the session, and it earned her a provisional pole position heading into tomorrow’s Q2.
MacGregor’s 1:50.133 knocked Camille Conrad from the top spot, with Conrad ending up half a second behind at 1:50.640.
The top two were the only ones to crack into the 1:50s as third-placed Bryanna Everitt was 1.4 seconds adrift, rounding out the provisional front row.
Championship points leader Kira Knebel ended up fourth fastest, with Kate West rounding out the top five.
Stock 1000 – Rain, Rain, Go Away
Eleven riders braved a soaking wet racetrack and heavy rain on Friday afternoon at VIR. Emanuel Nicolas Aguilar and his Corrientes Racing Team/MPR Motorsport Kawasaki led the way with his best lap of 1:49.468, which was over four seconds faster than Edge Racing’s Jason Waters.
OrangeCat Racing’s Jayson Uribe and Elliott Racing Powered By Kat Works LLC’s Keece Elliott were third and fourth, respectively, with Ikonic Yachts’ AJ Blackmon rounding out the top five.
SC-Project Twins Cup – No Go
Inclement weather forced the SC-Project Twins Cup Q1 session to be postponed.
Complete practice, qualifying, and race results are available HERE.
Photo: courtesy MotoAmerica by Brian J. Nelson





