www.montereycountynow.com JULY 11-17, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 31 SPORTS In a typical season, the tight fourway battle for the MotoAmerica Superbike title would fix the attention of race fans. A mere 9 points separate the top four riders entering the weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. But one step down from the fearsome, hightech 220-horsepower superbike series is a motorsports phenom. Kayla Yaakov is in her first season competing at the Supersport level, riding for a team new to the series, Rahal Ducati Moto. A rookie rider with a first-year team would normally expect some challenges. “We struggled a lot in the first few rounds,” Yaakov admits. “It gets in your head.” But this is Kayla Yaakov, a veteran rider—she started at age 4—with an astonishing 47 titles and 410 race wins to her credit as an amateur and professional. And she just turned 17. “That was a big change for me,” Yaakov says of the move from entry-level MotoAmerica series to Supersport. “This team has worked hard to understand my style of racing.” Her goal for the 2024 campaign was to rack up a few top 10 finishes, perhaps score a podium. Two weeks ago at The Ridge in Washington, Yaakov took third place in her no. 19 XPEL Ducati. That was on Saturday. The next afternoon, she crossed the line in second. Yaakov credits the Rahal Ducati team, in particular team principal Ben Spies, a veteran competitor. “When you see that all three bikes have been on the podium, that speaks volumes about the team,” she points out. Rahal fields a team of three machines. PJ Jacobsen enters the weekend second in points. Corey Alexander has two podiums. But it is still a new team coming each race weekend to a new track, with no data from previous years to fall back on. And Yaakov has respect for Laguna Seca. “The track is cool, but I haven’t had great luck there,” she explains. During the 2022 Junior Cup race, Yaakov’s bike tangled with Max Van in Turn 5 and she went tumbling across the asphalt. “If we can break the Laguna curse and be on the podium, that would be great.” Yaakov says the most difficult part of a race weekend at Laguna Seca is dialing the bike to the 11 corners. But, she says, with a veteran crew, “I have a lot of trust we’ll be able to find the setup quickly.” MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest. July 12-14. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, 1021 Highway 68, Salinas. Tickets $30-$70. Packages available. Discounts for military and veterans. 242-8200, weathertechraceway.com. Gates open 8am each day. RAHAL DUCATI MOTO-STILLHOUSE ’Sport Star Being a rookie on a new team suits teen racing sensation Kayla Yaakov. Both are having a strong season. By Dave Faries MotoAmerica Supersport newcomer Kayla Yaakov is coming off back-to-back podiums. “I felt comfortable from the beginning,” she says of fitting in with the team. New HOURS & MENU! Monday • Thursday • Friday 3 PM to 9 PM saTurday 2 psMu nT do a9yp M 2 pM To 8 pM closed Tues & wed 7th ave & dolores st, carmel-By-The-sea www.theannexcarmel.com
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