MONTEREY, CA – BYR/FOGI Racing’s Ben Young battled through limited track time due to unusual weather conditions during qualifying at this past weekend’s AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Young’s determination and adaptability to a new track earned him a 15th place finish – his best finish of the season.
After missing AMA Pro Road Racing’s 7th round at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH, the Thornbury, Ontario resident was looking forward to his first ever visit to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s legendary 2.238-mile natural road course.
Three of the four classes that make up the AMA Pro Road Racing classes were featured alongside the international stars of MotoGP as part of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.
Young was able to attend the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca thanks to a supportive group of local contractors that contributed towards the team attending Round 8 of the AMA Pro Road Racing season.
The local contractors that stepped-up to further Young’s development in North America’s premier motorcycle racing series included: Viceroy Homes (Collingwood), J.H McNabb Construction Ltd, Bumstead Brothers Plumbing and Heating Services, Thornbury Home Hardware, Lakeshore MGF Services Ltd., Cory Gray Drywall Systems, Creek Valley Inc, Corinthian Kitchens & Bathrooms Grey Bruce Roofing & Reno’s & Precision Septic and Earthworks.
The young Scottish-Canadian was thrilled to be finally able to experience the famed corkscrew during Friday’s first and only practice session. Posting the 20th fastest time of the session Young was eager to get back out and lay down some faster laps during Saturdays morning’s qualifying session.
Unseasonable weather conditions and thick fog along with the strict MotoGP timelines resulted in the cancelation of Saturday’s first qualifying session. AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike’s second qualifying session did start as scheduled however a red flag left little time for Young to significantly improve his lap times. Young utilized the three laps to the best of his ability to achieve 15th fastest in the session.
In total, Young had sixty-five minutes of track time to learn one of the most technical circuits in North America. Between Friday’s practice and the second qualifying session his combined results would see him start 18th on the grid in Sunday’s 20-lap race.
In the only AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race of the weekend, Young got a good start from 18th on the grid. BYR/FOGI Racing’s young pilot battled throughout the race with Huntley Nash, Aaron Gobert and Michael Beck.
Young raced hard right to the line passing Nash and Tommy Aquino on the final lap in the first corner but ran wide in the last corner allowing Aquino by. Young would then regain the spot from Aquino to take the checkered flag in 15th position, his highest finish to-date in this highly competitive championship.
Young was asked about the race and the Laguna Seca track: “The track is brilliant, better than I imagined it would ever be. I had a great race and I’m very pleased with finishing 15th. I’m looking forward to the next round at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix is a great event and it gave me a chance to catch up with a few of our season-long sponsors; Akrapovic, Motul and Arlen Ness. It was great talking to the guys and to thank them in person!”
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