VIP Experience VIP Experience
Pittsburgh International Race Complex • August 18-20, 2023
Slicer’s Corner
Greetings to all our VIP guests. I am hoping that everyone had as good of a time as I did?
Pitt Race was exceptional, being back in Penciltuckee (my home state) where the rolling hills and greenery are everywhere. Summers have always been special and being able to attend a MotoAmerica race in essentially my backyard makes for an even better summer weekend. For seven consecutive years, we have come to Pitt Race and each year I am impressed with the improvements on and off the race circuit. This year was no exception with new track improvements and the facility was groomed to perfection. Well done to the Pitt Race staff, I can’t wait to see what 2024 brings?
Once again, we witnessed why Jake Gagne now is the three-time Medallia Superbike champion. Jake’s Fresh & Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing YZF-R1 did not have the best of starts with a mechanical on the very first lap of practice, but as he told us in the VIP suite, he trusts his team, he knows this venue and quickly got up to speed qualifying second behind an impressive qualifying time set by Bobby Fong on the Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha R1. Speaking of knowing this venue, Jake certainly has the upper hand on his competition with now seven consecutive wins in a row! C’mon Jake, let’s make it interesting next year!
Special thanks to Dunlop for providing the hats that Josh Hayes signed for everyone, all of our special guests and Brian J. Nelson for capturing memorable images that we have used in assembling this digital Pitt Race VIP book for you.
As always, I enjoy seeing familiar faces and meeting the interesting people who take part in our MotoAmerica’s VIP Experience. Thank you again, and I hope to see you next year at Pitt Race or at one of our other MotoAmerica championship rounds.
Best Regards
Ron “Slicer” Heben
The post-Saturday Medallia Superbike grid walk VIP picture. What a great day and what a great group we had at Pitt Race!
Bobby Fong set the pace on his Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha R1 to earn the pole position.
Richie Escalante is always happy to get a candid photo with some of his fans. Richie qualified 4th in SBK.
Cameron Petersen was on hand to give support to Jake Gagne and JD Beach and was a welcome addition in the VIP suite.
This group of VIPs certainly seems to be enjoying the opportunity to be on the grid and get a pre-race shot with Josh Herrin!
VIPs cover the podium along with Jake Gagne, Cameron Beaubier and Mathew Scholtz after the Medallia Superbike Race one. Pitt Race aways has some of the best fans and, of course, some of the best racing!
Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. Team Manager Scott Rybarik, with racers Holy Varey and Emma Betters, stopped in and provided the details on this popular program and some of the ladies who participated in this year’s program.
Fresh & Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing “wounded” pilot Cameron Petersen, along with MotoAmerica’s Rider Representative Michael Martin have a long history with each other. Each provided a unique perspective on their careers.
Fresh & Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team rider and defending Medallia Superbike Champion Jake Gagne was a big hit with our VIP’s. Jake came to the suite before the first race and discussed his success at Pitt Race and his approach for the tripleheader.
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz loves Pitt Race, and it’s easy to see why. The rider of the #11 Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike not only has a total of eight podium appearances and five runner-up results in his past six race weekends at Pitt Race, but he notched two podiums this year, including a runner-up result on Sunday.
As Sunday rolled around, it was time for the Supersport Grid Tour, again, a great way to get up close and get some cool shots with your favorite riders.
Far Left: Tyler Scott was the man to beat in Sunday’s Supersport class. Obviously, our VIP’s gave him the extra incentive to impressively take the win on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.
Middle: Supersport polesitter and race 1 winner was Stefano Mesa, Stefano Mesa had a great weekend taking his fi rst win of the season and then followed it with a third in race 2.
Left: Jake Lewis takes a moment for a candid shot. Jake was solid all weekend with 4-6 results on his Disrupt Racing Suzuki.
Sunday afternoon was getting warm, however Tyler Scott, Xavi Forés and Stefano Mesa, (Supersport race 2 podium fi nishers) took some extra time for those VIP’s who wanted to get a memorable shot with these exceptionally fast racers!
what they do best… taking more pictures!
MotoAmerica’s brand ambassadors stopped in the suite for a quick photo, then it was back to work doing
Left: The man himself, Josh Hayes, the winningest rider in AMA history, always finds time to come and talk with our VIP guests, sign autographs and chit chat about the various things keeping him busy while on and off the track.
Below: Anyone who comes into Eraldo Ferracci’s house with a team shirt is going get a picture. Smart move, men!
The Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team welcomed our guests into their transporter where they met Supersport points leader Xavi Forés and the legendary Eraldo Ferracci.
Something new for our VIP guests, unique drone images from Pittsburgh International Race Complex. All you need to do is click the insert and “Voila!,” you can experience the facility right on your computer screen! Click image below. Enjoy!
