Tandem In Tooele As Garrett Gerloff Wins Pro Sportbike Championship With A Race Win At Miller Motorsports Park; Teammate JD Beach Finishes Second In Race, Third In Championship

• Larry Lawrence

(NEWS RELEASE)

Tooele, UT – May 25, 2014 – They say you never forget your first professional championship, and for Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha rider Garrett Gerloff, his first Pro Sportbike title came at the young age of 18. Garrett won today’s 20-lap race at Miller Motorsports Park in dominant fashion, stretching out a lead of more than 11 seconds by the time he took the checkered flag to wrap up the Pro Sportbike Championship in the GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout Presented By Yamaha.

Garrett’s teammate JD Beach had his best finish of the Superbike Shootout series. He got a great start off the front row of the grid and led for part of the first lap until Garrett passed him. JD remained safely in second place for the remainder of the race.

After the win and wrapping up the championship, Garrett said, “I thought I got a good jump at the start, but JD got by me on the first lap. I really wanted this championship, and I worked hard to build a lead so that I didn’t have to fight so hard towards the end of the race. I’m excited to win my first pro national championship for my team. They’ve worked tirelessly to give me the best bike out there.”

“Race starts have always been a strong point for me because of my dirt track background where the starts are critical,” JD commented. “I knew that Garrett was going to be fast, so I knew I needed to get a good start and try to stay up front. Garrett got past me, and I just tried to stay with him as best I could. To finish second is a great feeling, and I have to thank my team so much for all their hard work.”

Next weekend, the Y.E.S./Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team will be back in action as the AMA Pro Road Racing season resumes with the Subway SuperBike Doubleheader at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Tune In To MAVTV For The Pro Sportbike and Pro Superbike Races

Today’s Pro Sportbike race was taped for airing later on MAVTV. Log on to http://www.MAVTV.com for the exact time and channel, and don’t miss it!

For more Yamaha racing news, results, photos, and videos, check out: http://www.YamahaMotorsports.com/Racing or your favorite Yamaha social media channel.