In our latest look at road racing in the United States, we talked to Jake Gagne about the challenges facing an American rider trying to make his way to Europe. Previously we talked to Wayne Rainey, about how MotoAmerica is nurturing talent. You should give that a read too. -JB
Motorcycle racing needs its next American star. The lineage of world-class US riders has been long and storied over the years. That well of talent has dried up in recent years and the nation has been left waiting patiently for their next star.
From the days when King Kenny Roberts first left the US and went to Europe, there has been a constant torrent of talent from the West, but that torrent became a stream and most recently a shuck.
With the flow of racing talent having been directed off-road over the last ten years, it seems as though MotoAmerica might have once again given American riders a setting upon which to build their careers.
“I grew up racing motocross, and I was able to win some amateur championships,” said Jake Gange prior to the Magny Cours round of WorldSBK.
“I didn’t get on a road race bike until I was fourteen, and my dad signed me up for the Rookies Cup. You only had to send in a CV so we figured, why not? They took 120 kids out to Barber in Alabama for the tryouts.”
“At that point, I had never even watched a road race. I was racing motocross and that was all I cared about! It was like a two-day try out and they called back 22 or 23 of us.”
“Somehow they picked me, but I was definitely the slowest of the group that qualified! It was my first and only time ever on asphalt, but I made progress in the Rookies Cup, and from the first test to the first race I was a little bit outside the top ten.”
“A couple races in, top five. Then the last half, three or four of the last races, I won a couple of them and was kind of one of the guys to beat over there. If it wasn’t for the Red Bull Rookies Cup, I would not be sitting here. I would probably be racing supercross.”
That’s the challenge facing a lot of American racers; getting the opportunity to race on the road. For many, the lure of supercross and motocross is too big to turn down, but more opportunities are being presented to young riders.
Last year Cameron Beaubier raced for Yamaha as a replacement rider, and now Gagne has had the chance to step onto the Red Bull Honda.
A one-off replacement ride for his home round at Laguna Seca offered him a big stage in front of his home fans, but scoring points in France brought with it a lot of added kudos.
The 24-year-old has had a lot to learn to make his debut on the world stage, but he’s been pleased with the season as a whole.
“Obviously we’ve had a lot of new stuff this year. In the US, it was our first year with the Honda, and we’re the only Honda team in MotoAmerica,” said Gagne.
“There’s a lot to take in, a lot to figure out. We struggled early in the year trying to figure out electronics and other things. We have a different package than here in WorldSBK, and we didn’t run traction control or wheelie control all year.”
“That was both good and bad. It was good for us because at least I got to ride the bike and it was reliable for us.”
“In MotoAmerica we want to be with the Yamahas and Suzukis. Those teams have a lot of data and experience, and that means that they have their stuff really dialed in. I think they could come to WorldSBK and do really well.”
“We kept making progress and in the last three or four races we really figured out some electronics stuff. We were reliable and able to make a lot of progress with the chassis and the suspension.
“Racing the WorldSBK machine at Laguna was good because it allowed me to have a different perspective on the bike because it’s so different.”
“Just sitting on it, it feels like a completely different bike because it’s got a different tank and different handlebars, different seat, different pegs. With the power differences, electronics differences, different suspension companies, some different chassis parts it was very interesting.”
Having seen Josh Herrin race on the world stage in Moto2, as the reigning American Superbike champion, European fans were given an insight into the talent level of the domestic series, and it didn’t make for pretty viewing.
The Californian struggled to adapt and refused to move to Europe. It was something that has clearly left a bitter taste in the mouth of a lot of American riders. Gagne refused to criticise his rival, but he was keen to stress he’d not make the same mistakes.
“There’s a lot of really great American riders. The time since Ben Spies has been tough because there’s not been a whole lot of communication between anybody in Europe trying to find riders in the States.”
“It’s tough for the teams because they haven’t seen many of us American riders. It’s good that I got this opportunity, and showed kind of what I can do. I know I’m capable of a lot more still.”
“I just hope that we can keep getting that opportunity. Cam Beaubier is an amazing superbike rider in the States, and he came over and did well in his one round last year. After talking to him, he felt it was tough and that he wasn’t even that happy with how the weekend went.
“Getting just the opportunity to race at Laguna was the biggest weekend of my life. I learned a lot from it. Unfortunately, Stefan Bradl was hurt, but the fact that they were happy to call me back is awesome.”
“There’s a short list of guys that are on that list and you have to kind of be in the circle or you’re not in the circle. I never was in the circle when I raced in Europe.”
“After I won Rookies Cup in 2010, I wanted to race world championship, Moto3. I tried talking to a lot of teams and this and that, and without a bunch of money it wasn’t going to go anywhere.”
“But then, I went back to the States and raced the next year, and then that was 2011 and it’s taken until now for me to get the chance again.”
“I think being an American makes it tough for sure, because I can’t find a lot of American sponsors that will come over and want to put their logo on something that’s so big in Europe.”
“MotoAmerica are doing their best, and the TV package has definitely helped. The racing’s always really good. The riders are good. We just need the opportunities.”
Running in the points and finishing close to his more experienced teammate, Davide Giugliano, has certainly made people take notice of Gagne. Whether it’s enough to afford him further opportunities remains to be seen.
Photo: © 2017 Scott Jones / Photo.GP – All Rights Reserved
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