Barber Motosports Park was host of the first extended Supersport race of the 2023 MotoAmerica season. A scheduled 37 lap race, with one mandatory pit stop, was in order for late Saturday afternoon as a rain cloud began hovering over.
Warhorse HSBK Ducati rider Xavi Fores was the definitive favorite heading into the event, as he won both races in the opening round at Road Atlanta. However, all eyes were on Squid Hunter Racing’s Josh Hayes as he is still looking for his record-breaking victory to claim the title of all-time MotoAmerica wins.
Another standout, Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa, was consistently near the front during all practice and qualifying sessions, where he managed to qualify in third position behind Hayes and the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki rider of Tyler Scott in pole position.
With lingering rain clouds, the race began and Tyler Scott took full advantage of his grid position to take the early lead, while Xavi Fores pushed forward to third, and Mesa squeezed into second place.
At the start of lap three, Fores pushed his way into second, then continued that drive forward and quickly took the lead as rain began to trickle down. The rain began to cause some hesitation amongst the front runners as Fores opened up a gap and Hayes managed to edge up to second.
On lap six, Hayes was reeling in Fores as the duo pulled away from the pack and the rain seemed to stop. However, just two laps late, winds pushed in quick and the rain fell harder causing multiple crashes and a red flag stop of the race.
This situation was now similar to the previous event here in Alabama just one season ago, as the rain became hit and miss. Tire selection was now key for the restart.
Who will go out with slicks and who will choose rain tires? As the track dries, who will be first to trade their rains for slicks?
As the race was restarted, Fores and Hayes took off at the front swapping positions and testing the limits of the available traction. But as they rounded the course towards the second lap, the red flag came out once again due to another accident.
As the paddock buzzed with effort to get the bikes and riders sorted for the second restart, the sun emerged and the track began drying.
The lights went out on the grid for the third time of the event (the race was now reduced to 28 laps), and Hayes found himself quickly realizing he made the wrong choice to compete with rain tires, while Fores and Mesa found immediate speed on slicks.
Fores and Mesa continued to pull out front on lap one, as Tyler Scott and Josh Hayes pulled into the pits for slick tires. Teague Hobbs would make the same decision on the following lap.
Fores and Mesa led the field with a comfortable gap ahead of Anthony Mazziotto, as Hayes began working to push forward from rejoining the back of pack.
Xavi Fores pulled in for his mandatory pit stop at the end of lap sixteen, while Mesa put his machine to work, looking to make up precious time, before making his pit stop the following lap.
With ten laps to go, Hayes found himself in fourth position, while Fores leads ahead of Mazziotto in second and Mesa in third.
As the pit stops finished sorting out positions, Mesa slotted into second place, three seconds behind Fores. The remaining laps were seemingly frustrating for Mesa, as lapped traffic continued to dampen his pace.
Mesa pushed hard, but Fores’ lead was too much. The Ducati Panigale V2 crossed the line (on the front wheel) in first, followed by Mesa, Mazziotto, Gilbert, & Hayes in fifth respectively.
Ryan Yearwood is the motorsports correspondent for SoBros Network as well as the pioneer and visionary behind SoBros Outdoors. Follow on Twitter: @OutdoorSoBro.
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