Beaubier continues to raise the bar and smash track records. He topped his lap record on Friday, throwing down a 1:22.676 to take his sixth Superpole of the season in seven tries. He grabbed the holeshot from pole position, but then ran wide at Charlotte’s Web, allowing Mathew Scholtz through. Beaubier tried to counter but the Westby Racing Yamaha rider held him off. He got the drive out of the final corner and retook the lead before the start of lap two and never looked back, scoring a commanding 50th-career superbike victory. Beaubier’s 12th win of the season gives him a round total of 300 points, 89 points clear of his teammate with seven races remaining.
Gagne qualified third for an all-Yamaha front row. The Californian got a decent start in third and after Beaubier made his way into the lead, Gagne waited for his opportunity to pass Scholtz. Hot on his heels, he was able to make the move on lap four after the fast chicane along the back straight. Gagne put in some consistent laps to score a solid second-place finish, his 10th podium of the season.
The Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing team heads into Sunday’s race two looking to return to the top of the podium at Barber Motorsports Park.
