Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati in the top four after day one at Barber Motorsports Park

• Loris Baz shines for Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati, with Josh Herrin close behind him in Alabama

Sunnyvale, Calif., May 17, 2024 — It was a full day in the saddle for both Josh Herrin and Loris Baz as MotoAmerica reconvened for the second round of the 2024 Steel Commander Superbike Championship at Barber Motorsports Park.

This time, it was Loris Baz’s time to shine as the Frenchman, fresh from surgery after his round one crash that resulted in a fractured ankle, led the charge for the team by posting the second-fastest time of 1:23.323 behind leader Cameron Beaubier after a marathon 35 laps across the day’s two sessions.

Josh Herrin was another who put in the miles by completing 32 laps of the picturesque 2.38-mile Barber Motorsports Park, his 1:23.461 good enough to place him fourth on the Day One timesheets. 

The Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team will now head back to the debrief room and try to fine-tune the factory Ducati Panigale V4 R ahead of the all-important second qualifying session scheduled for 9:50 am CDT tomorrow (May 18).

2024 Barber Motorsports Park Superbike Qualifying 1 Results – Top 5

P1 – Cameron Beaubier 1:22.468

P2 – Loris Baz (Ducati) 1:23.323

P3 – Sean Dylan Kelly 1:23.449 

P4 – Josh Herrin (Ducati) 1:23.461

P5 – Jake Gagne 1:23.565 

Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#76)

“It was a really good day today,” Baz enthused. “We did a big debrief with everyone in Italy—they have so much experience with this machine back in the factory—we went through all the data and came back with a different idea of set-up than what we were expecting, and it was a big surprise, especially after the test in New Jersey.

“Coming here, my ankle is still a bit painful in the direction changes, but it’s OK, and I’m working together with Josh to get a good lap time. He helped me a lot at Road Atlanta, and I am trying to pay him back this weekend. He’s great to have as a teammate.”

Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#2)

“We made a set-up change. I was behind Loris, and I tucked the front in the chicane, which surely lost us three to four-tenths. I’m happy with how I felt overall, and I’m sure we’ll be there when the green light goes out.”

The second round of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship continues with the second Superbike practice scheduled for 9:50 am CDT on Saturday, May 18.

Race One will begin on Saturday, May 18, at 3:10 p.m. CDT. Race Two will begin at 12:15 p.m. CDT on Sunday, May 19, with Race Three scheduled for 3:10 p.m. that same afternoon.