MotoAmerica Superbikes at Texas | COTA | SEP 13-15

I am curious how V&H/ Rocco managed to lose the Twins Cup title. I feel that V&H did not manage to put a good enough bike under Rocco for him to not have to over ride the package he had. Crashing twice and then retiring was not a good look. Rocco clearly had the speed to compete based on his bagger races.

 

"What a fucking race! I rode like a motherfucker! I want to say hi to all the messed up kids who did my livery! Those motherfuckers are tough! " SDK or something like that

 

He had a 19 point lead going in to the weekend. All he had to do was finish 4th or better. He appeared that he could have done that comfortably.

 

My kid raced against him way back when. If I remember correctly, the first time I saw him he was riding a little Yamaha that they basically built out of scrap parts. I haven't seen the family in years, but they were good people.

 

Total head scratcher for sure.

Rocco could have ridden at 95% and still podiumed in both races - easily securing his title which would then have likely secured him a bonus and more opportunity for next year - both of which he has desperately needed the past 2 years as his program seems to always come together last minute.

He's been racing professionally for the past 5-6 years now, and he's knocking on 20 years old - I can't even chalk it up to a newbie mistake or an impulsive kid doing dumb things at this point.

 

They had setup problems during FP1 and Q1 and it also appeared they had a technical issue. The bike went well in Q2. Rocco had baggers and twins back to back for race 1. I'm sure that 620lb bagger in that heat had him cooking. He made a mistake and crashed, got back in the race and was gifted a red flag. A false neutral caused the 2nd crash possibly from some damage in the first crash maybe? In race 2 the motor popped possibly cooked a piston or dropped a valve, total speculation. The GSX8 just got pistons so maybe they pushed the tune a bit too much.

 

Racing 1 class in that heat at that track is impressive so agreed, baggers and twins was a huge ask of anyone for sure.

Race 2 would have likely sealed the deal with the DNF as you say, unless of course it was due to the crash Saturday which is the main thing I was scratching my head about - why he felt like pushing so hard. Clearly Pro's have a different mindset to club racers like I was - they need to be stone cold killers but you'd think he'd play it more like KW33 did - realize what was needed, minimize points damage and risk, all for the greater good - for Rocco it was the title, for Kyle, to head to his best track with a lead intact.

Talent level I don't question, just the decision making especially after the red flag gift.

 

How about those SBK races! Was rooting for Beaubier to keep the title tight into the last round, and because I'm a fan.

But I also like JH2 and what a freaking ride from him. Those passes were insane and he raced hard.

Also pumped for SDK. Who cares if he dropped an F-bomb or two. I bet you the kids didn't care and their parents have bigger concerns. Let those kids have a little excitement

 

Screw JH2 (because this is the wera beeb after all lol.) congratulations to SDK., And what can you say about CB6? Racing is racing, and anything can happen, but if fate was fair...I hope he comes back next year.

Then again, Jake obviously was out of contention because of arm pump, if he was healthy, he would have been in contention every round.

For my money, if Cameron didn't break his foot, he would have won the championship, regardless. On the other hand Josh has beat him head to head, so you can't take anything away from his championship either. (In all seriousness, congratulations to Josh, I love to see it).


At the end of the day, I'm a fan of most of them, and it's great to have this much real competition in the field.

Not to mention a whole handful of guys who are "this" close to being in the mix.

 

A 3-3 finish for Rocco would have sealed the championship. He was in 3rd when he crashed. After the race 1 DNF, Rocco was 6 points behind so he needed to be up front and have a bike (or bikes) between them depending on his position.

 

I think he surprised a few people when he did a 15.7 on the streetfighter V2 in Hooligans and finished P2 on Sunday. They were putting that bike together on Thursday and P1 was the first time he rode it.

 

I had seen his face several times,but never kept his name in my head. Fast kid!! But they all are in that field!