---
title: "Elias Wins MotoAmerica Superbike Competition Over Beaubier By a Hair"
description: "The points leader continues his tear at Virginia International Raceway."
date: "2018-05-06"
modified: "2018-05-07"
authors:
  - name: "Peter Jones"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/peter-jones"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20660/elias-wins-motoamerica-superbike-competition-at-vir-by-0-114-seconds-over-beaubier"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "MotoAmerica"
  - "motorsport"
  - "racing"
  - "VIR"
---

# Elias Wins MotoAmerica Superbike Competition Over Beaubier By a Hair

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/05/vir_saturday1.jpeg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Cameron Beaubier led most of the 20-lap [MotoAmerica](<https://motoamerica.com>) Superbike race at Virginia International Raceway, but Toni Elias led the only lap that mattered, taking a hard-fought win by a scant 0.114 seconds. [Despite the threat of rain](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20648/motoamerica-superbike-yamahas-cameron-beaubier-fastest-in-first-qualifying-at-vir>), the race was run in the dry.

Elias, riding for [Yoshimura Suzuki](<https://yoshimurasuzuki.squarespace.com>), has now scored his fourth win of the 2018 season. Elias now leads the Superbike championship by 26-points over Westby Racing Matthew Scholtz. [Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing](<https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/motorsports/pages/road-racing-monster-energy-yamalube-yamaha-factory-racing-team>)’s Beaubier is now third in the points. Finishing third was Yamalube/Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz. Scholtz is the only other Superbike class winner this year with two victories.

After the initial start, the race was red-flagged on the first lap due to a spectacular three-rider crash. The incident involved Beaubier’s teammate Garrett Gerloffalso, and two riders who fell trying to avoid him: Quicksilver/LEXIN/Hudson Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Roger Hayden.

After the race, Spanish-rider Elias told the press, “For me, it was clear; make a good start in the beginning. When he \[Beaubier\] started to go his pace, it was difficult for me. I was struggling a lot, especially in traction areas. I need to find something for tomorrow. But at the end, the race became easier at and I started to play my cards. I could see he was playing his cards. Both of us are playing really good, and at the end, I thought I could win but I was not sure. I was not sure because there was some struggle. I could feel him in the back. I saw him a couple of times. Always, the victory is nice.”

“We were going back and forth, and he \[Elias\] was protecting the insides really good on the last lap," Beaubier added. "We tried to go around him, which didn’t work. I was a little frustrated there in the middle of the race just because I felt like I didn’t have the grip I did in practice, but we’re going to go back and maybe make some changes for tomorrow and hope for a good race. So, it’s a bummer not to win, but I’m glad I’m up here (on the podium). I got second. We’ve got tomorrow to try again. I just want to give a shout out to Garrett (Gerloff). It sucks to see your buddy and your teammate go down like that. Hope he’s back for tomorrow,” he said.

**Superbike Race One Results**

1. Toni Elias (Suzuki)

2. Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha)

3. Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha)

4. Josh Herrin (Yamaha)

5. Jake Lewis (Suzuki)

**Supersport Race One Results**

1. JD Beach (Yamaha)

2. Hayden Gillim (Yamaha)

3. Richie Escalante (Yamaha)

4. Cory West (Suzuki)

5. Braeden Ortt (Yamaha)

**Liqui Moly Junior Cup Results**

1. Alex Dumas (KTM)

2. Gavin Anthony (Yamaha)

3. Jay Newton (Yamaha)

4. Dylan Deutschlander (Yamaha)

5. Jackson Blackmon (Yamaha)

**Twins Cup Results**

1. Xavier Zayat (Suzuki)

2. Chris Parrish (Suzuki)

3. Chris Murray (Suzuki)

4. Jason Madama (Yamaha)

5. Darrell Ricks (Suzuki)

[Sunday’s program at VIR features five races](<https://motoamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-MotoAmerica-VIR-Event-Schedule.pdf>), including Superbike Race Two and Supersport Race Two. All races are run rain or shine.

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