Record hot temperatures and record hot lap times were both in full swing at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton Washington for Round 4 of MotoAmerica racing! There were thrills and spills but very little chill to be had with temp soaring to nearly 125 degrees on the track. The race weekend kicked off with a Dunlop Tire test at The ridge under typical North West conditions, but the forecast had record-breaking heat in store for the teams and fans at the Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbike round 4 at The Ridge. While the action was hot on track, it also had fans and teams in the paddock looking for shelter and a way to keep cool.

If you have never been in a MotoAmerica Paddock, you have to make it a point to get out to a race and experience it for yourself. Racing is only a small part of what makes the MotoAmerica series of races really go. The people are the heart and soul of the racing world. Whether it be members of the race teams like mechanics and owners, or the fans who spend their hard-earned money and even vacation days to see the races, the paddock is full of awesome people and even people-watching opportunities. You can often hear racers, teams, and fans refer to one another as a racing family. From coast to coast and border to border, people make their way to see great friends, share great motorcycling stories, and catch some great racing. With a bulk of MotoAmerica happening on the east coast, it is a real effort for some to make the trip out to The Ridge or Laguna Seca. Yet they ride, drive or fly to make sure they are there to support their racing family. This year above all others, we can appreciate the ability to do just that. Even with unbelievable heat, fans came out in force to support their favorite teams, and thanks to ever-lifting Covid protocols, the race family was able to meet and share in the fellowship that is motorsport. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Diane Shepard Tribou for taking great pictures around the paddock for me. Here is the thing, she would have taken all these pictures anyway because she is the perfect example of the above type of person. A moto social butterfly who knows everyone in the racing business from seas to shining sea. When I looked through her pictures as the weekend progressed, I realized just how awesome our sport is. Sure there are fast bikes and cool trophies but just look at all of the families who are there racing together or cheering together. Look at the lifelong friendships made by the sport of motorcycling. When I really stop to think about it, that is why I love the sport so much. I have literally had hours and hours and thousands of miles with my dad in the truck and in the pits just he and I. I have met other riders and their families from all over the world going through the same things that my family and I are. I have helped and been helped when things went really wrong. I have congratulated and been congratulated for winning on the track and shared some fantastic stories off the track. I can honestly say that fishing stories don’t hold a candle to motorcycle stories!

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My point is...people are the core of this sport. It’s truly different from other sports in that it’s not just a gathering of fans watching teams and athletes they can’t interact with. The MotoAmerica Paddock is a traveling family reunion where the fans can literally be in on the action and shake hands with the riders and crews. I’ve even seen fans help in the occasional odd circumstance and I’ve seen teams sit down to eat with fans. We are lucky to have such a community and a sport that allows such access. I for one am grateful to be a part of it. Come on out to a MotoAmerica event and see what I mean!

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Enough with the mushy stuff...let’s talk about that racing! Always great racing and excitement from the men and women of MotoAmerica. The Ridge saw championship points lead changes and some first-time winners along the way. Let’s jump right in! Superbike was no surprise with Jake Gangne taking both wins in dominating fashion. The real action was behind him with teammate Josh Herrin really stepping up his game and charging to not one but two-second place finishes making it a one-two Fresh and Lean Attack Yamaha podium. The action from 3rd to 5 in both races did not disappoint with superbike rookie Cam Petterson aboard the M4 Ecstar team Suzuki bringing home 3rd in race one and my LS2 Helmets teammate Loris Baz bringing home the 3rd place hardware in superbike race two. Not too bad for his first trip ever to The Ridge and in oppressive heat! The Frenchman said several times throughout the weekend that it was one of the most beautiful places he’s ever raced. High praise from an international racing star!

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Stock 1000 was packed with great racing as well. Race one saw Jake “The Snake” Lewis on the Altus Motorsports Suzuki jump out to a  commanding lead ahead of a foursome of Kawasakis. However, it was Corey Alexander on the Honos/Hudson Valley Motorsports Kawasaki that was on the attack. Alexander ran down Lewis and passed him in the last moments of the race taking the win in race one followed by Jake Lewis and Michael Gilbert rounding out the podium in third making it a Kawasaki, Suzuki, Kawasaki top 3. Race two had both Alexander and Lewis rocketing off the start going one-two until Lewis had a problem that resulted in him pulling the number 85 behind the wall for a DNF allowing Alexander to gain championship points to within 17 with a win in race two. The story of race two has to be a fantastic run by Ashton Yates aboard the Honda Fireblade Triple R from Jones Honda! He stepped up in a big way from Saturday's race not only keeping pace with Alexander but finishing within less than half a second at the line! The two battled back and forth through the end and pulled an impressive gap over third-place Travis Wyman aboard the Travis Wyman Racing BMW.