By Dean AdamsThe unfortunate reality is that the MotoAmerica series simply does not seem to produce riders fast enough to run at the front in the major world championships. After not even (correction: two) seasons in Moto2, numerous sources suggest that multi-time DMG and MotoA Superbike champion Cameron Beaubier will return to the MotoA Superbike class in 2023 on a BMW.
Beaubier was lauded by both MotoAmerica and Yamaha USA as a future world champion and “the next Wayne Rainey”. He was the great American hope for success in International racing. Of course the 2022 season is not over and “Booby Dog” could see success yet in Moto2 but it seems he has made up his mind as to where his future may lie. Beaubier’s manager, former racer Jake Zemke, did not respond to questions about Beaubier’s future and rumors he will return to MotoAmerica.
The two American riders who have posted the best results in international racing, Joe Roberts and Garret Gerloff, both optioned out of MotoAmerica early. Roberts posted a triumphant win in Moto2 this season (although his camp will suggest he really isn’t an American: he was born here in the USA but he was more importantly conceived in the UK) while Gerloff has run at the front in WSBK, something he’s done while at the same time tip-toeing through the Yamaha WSBK political mine field. Gerloff tangled with WSBK champ and fellow Yamaha man Toprak Razgatlıoğlu one time too many for the British controlled Yamaha WSBK team so he’s presumably out and will have to ride a second string BMW in 2023 if he wants to stay in WSBK.
Jake Gagne is next up on the list. He is scheduled to race his attack Yamaha at the Portimau WSBK round in early October. It’s no secret that Attack owner Richard Stanboli wants to race the WSBK championship. Gagne is a former WSBK rider.
