Josh Herrin and Ducati Well Suited To Elkhart Lake’s Road America
Give the characteristics of Elkhart Lake’s Road America, with it’s long straightaways and hard-braking zones, it’s no wonder Josh Herrin is excited to be returning to America’s dairyland this weekend for MotoAmerica’s Superbikes at Road America.
“Yeah, I’m pumped. This track has always been good to me and this year on the Ducati, the Panigale V4 R, this is definitely a horsepower track and our bike’s punching probably 260 horsepower, so I’m excited to come and race here.
“We had a good weekend at Road Atlanta that has some long straights, but you’ve got much longer straights here, so I think it should be a good one for us. Yeah, I’m excited for race day.”
Herrin believes his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC is well suited to the challenges Road America’s four-mile circuit presents. However, the reigning MotoAmerica Supersport champion doesn’t think he’s quite ready to topple the perennial Superbike champion Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha team.
“I think I’m on the best bike in the paddock”
“I think I’m on the best bike in the paddock, but I think we’re still learning these tracks. That’s one disadvantage we have is me, I’m new to this bike on all these tracks. So we’re learning a little bit each weekend where the Yamaha guys, they have the same riders on the team now. (reigning Superbike champion Jake) Gagne’s been on for four years, (Cameron) Petersen’s been on for two years, so they still have quite a bit of an advantage over us and (the Tytlers Racing Cycle BMW M 1000 RR of Cameron) Beaubier.
“But, the Ducati, for sure we’re getting a lot of notes from Europe but the thing is we’re on different tires and different types of tracks, so we still gotta figure it out on our own. We can’t use everything they give us. It’s definitely gonna be tough just because how much experience those guys have on those bikes and all these tracks.”
While Herrin loves long, fast straightaways like those at Road America, there’s another portion of the track that he’s enjoyed even more over the years.
“I’m a big fan of lot straightaways and always have been. I’m a little bit on the lighter side so I’ve always had an advantage on the straightaways, but the Carousel here is a lot of fun for me. I’ve been able to win two races, or maybe a win and a second, but the last lap I had to pass somebody around the outside of the Carousel which most people don’t think about doing, and most people that are watching have never seen anybody do it. So that’s a really fun section of the track for me.”
Given his appreciation of high speed straightaways, it’s interesting that Herrin finds the main straightaway between turns 14 and 1 at Road America to be a particular challenge.
“To be honest, one of the hardest spots is the front straightaway. Just coming over that rise, we’re going - you know, the top speeds of our bike, if you let them wind out, is well over 200 mph - but here, coming over the hill on the straightaway, we’re in fourth gear, click into fifth gear, maybe, and we’re probably doing 140, 150, 160, somewhere around there. The front wheel just wants to come up because you come over the crest of the hill, it just wants to wheelie.
“It’s really challenging just to keep the wheel down and keep the momentum up. So that’s actually, to me, one of the trickiest spots on the track and you can win or lose a race right there because the last lap, battling to the line, if you let your front wheel up in the air a little bit too much and you gotta roll off the throttle, you’re going to lose the race.”
After the winning the 2013 AMA Superbike championship, Herrin left to try his hand on the international circuit in FIM Moto2. A year later, Herrin was back in the states, racing in MotoAmerica Superstock, Supersport and Superbike Series.
As Herrin returns to the Medallia Superbike Series this season, he’s been joined by 5-time Superbike champion Cameron Beaubier, fresh from two seasons in Moto2.
“Yeah, it’s great, Last year I was in Supersport, so it’s two new guys coming into Superbike. I think we’re the only two guys in Superbike that have done a full year in Moto2. I think you get a lot more aggressive when you come back from Moto2. You’re used to racing the guys over there, scrapping it up every weekend.
“You see a different Cameron Beaubier than you did before. I think he’s more aggressive now, which to me, is cool. It’s been fun racing when I’ve got to ride with him. I’m looking forward to it. This weekend we’re going to have a lot of long straightaways so I’m sure that the Ducati and the BMW will be fighting a lot on the straightaways and a lot of hard braking areas to see who can, I guess, have the least amount of fear going into the brakes and have some good racing and show some fun to the fans.”
Even though he only spent one season on the Moto2 circuit, like Beaubier, Herrin returned a changed rider.
“I was already an aggressive rider, but it made me more aggressive and made me get up to speed quicker early on in the weekend and made me not sweat it so much if I was a little bit off. Because over there, if you’re a little bit off you’re 20 positions back where here you’re six, seven spots back. It taught me to be stronger, mentally, probably a little bit better of a rider, as well.”
Herrin should be easy to spot this weekend. He’ll be the one wearing Ducati red, passing on the outside of the Carousel, as well as refusing to be the first to hit the brakes at the end of Road America’s long straights. If that’s not enough to identify Herrin on track, he’s made it even easier as he returns to America’s dairyland.
“I’m doing a new helmet every race and this weekend my helmet looks like a block of cheese. So, you shouldn’t miss me on the track.”
Photos by Brian J. Nelson, Ducati