Another American in the World Championship Series in 2021

[SoCal250]

Cameron Beaubier is going to the American Racing Team to compete in Moto2 next season! He just won his 5th MotoAmerica Superbike title.  He's taking the seat formerly occupied by Joe Roberts who is switching over to the Italtrans team to take Enea Bastianini's place (he's moving up to MotoGP with Avintia)

So we'll have two Americans in Moto2 for 2021!

[Djg8493]

Is this confirmed?  I have heard rumors but have not seen an official signing anywhere.  He is supposed to be on this weeks Greg's garage podcast (good listen if you don't already)  that came out today but I haven't had a change to listen to it to see if they say anything.

[SoCal250]

Beaubier signed a 2-year deal with American Racing in Moto2. The latest rumor is that Monster Energy may follow him with a sponsorship for the team because of their long relationship. We'll see.

[Djg8493]

Can't wait, this will be fun to see how he does.  He was a class above all year (last 3 really)  It will also be great for the MotoAmerica series to have more success globally.

[SoCal250]

Yet another American is competing in the series! Garrett Gerloff has been picked by Yamaha to sub for Rossi while he's out with Covid.
First time on a MotoGP bike and first time at Valencia, and in the wet!   And #31 did really well in FP1

Rossi's last test was negative. If his latest test is also negative he'll be able to return for Sat practice and qualifying. But how cool for Gerloff to be able to ride the Doctor's bike in a GP event!

[Djg8493]

It would have been awesome, and he did great in both FP1 and 2.  Feel bad for him that Rossi will now race.  I'm sure he opened some eyes.  He just needs to keep it on 2 wheels and he will have a real shot against Rea next year. 

[SoCal250]

Yeah I was kind of hoping Rossi wouldn't be able to return this weekend so Gerloff would get his chance. From what I saw he impressed people. I haven't watched FP2 yet but I'll check it out tonight.

I need to go dig my signed Gerloff Yamaha poster out of storage and put it up in the garage 

[SoCal250]

Gerloff made a huge impression in the paddock. Lin Jarvis praised him in an on-air interview with Simon Crafar.

"Garrett's performance, I think everybody that saw it, it was exceptional, it was very very impressive, very controlled, [he] never put a foot wrong," Yamaha's managing director Lin Jarvis told MotoGP.com the day after Gerloff's practice debut.

"Never ridden an M1, never ridden carbon brakes, never ridden Michelin tyres and never ridden Valencia circuit. Mixed conditions, rain, dry – how he did that yesterday is a mystery, I think, to the whole paddock, but it says a lot about his attitude, his skill and his approach."

"I said to somebody, I think he left a huge business card to the whole MotoGP paddock, and I think he'll go on to have a great career ahead of him now."

"He took a brave move last year to come to Europe, he wants to be in the world championship, came into Superbike, had a good year, he has a better contract next year with Yamaha – and who knows, we might see him here in two years' time."

[Djg8493]

Agree, when I heard that second quote it really put it into perspective, especially given the issues Yamaha has had with the carbon brakes it must have been a big change.  Between everything it opens up some eyes that there may be other avenues into the GP lineup other than moto2

[SoCal250]

Joe Roberts is under consideration for the empty seat at the Aprilia Factory team! During FP2 at Portugal they were really talking up the news that Roberts was in the mix.

The opening came up when Iannone's ban was extended from 18 months to 4 years. Marco Bezzecchi, Crutchlow, and Dovizioso all declined. Other names that have been mentioned lately for the opening are Chaz Davies, Bradley Smith, and Fabio di Giannantonio.

I think Roberts may not be ready yet for MotoGP but offers don't come along very often, especially a factory ride. Although, it is the #2 bike with worst team on the grid, and they have budget issues. It's the only bike on the grid allowed to continue development in 2021, all others are frozen.

[SoCal250]

Roberts is staying in Moto2. Aprilia is promoting one of their test riders to the grid for next season. Either Smith or Savadori will be chosen after the winter tests.

[SoCal250]

Joe Roberts explains why he turned down Aprilia's 2021 MotoGP deal
- Joe Roberts has explained why he decided to turn down the offer of a move into the MotoGP class for 2021 with Aprilia Racing, saying among several reasons that he wouldn't want to receive priority because of his desirable American nationality, telling Gazzetta dello Sport: "I don't want to race in MotoGP just because of my passport, but because I deserve it". (MotoGP.com)

In a separate interview with Cycle News, Roberts expands on this, adding he wanted to respect the Italtrans Moto2 team by not leaving them in the lurch at this late stage in the year. The American scored three poles and one podium en route to seventh overall, an improvement significant enough to earn him new Moto2 champion Enea Bastianini's seat at Italtrans for 2021. (Cycle News)

[RdsOnly]

Beaubier  might do well we will see if he is agreeably to foreign foods.... He is small and light might do well.

JT