(MotoAmerica photo)
One race still remains in the MotoAmerica season, but Princeton native Jake Lewis has already nailed down the Stock 1000 national championship.
Lewis, racing for Altus Motorsports, wrapped up the title on Saturday with his win at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.
Lewis earned is fifth victory in 11 races this season with a final-lap pass aboard his Team Hammer-built GSX-R1000R to close out his championship campaign in style.
“I wanted to go out and get the championship from the top step to reward my team and that’s what we did,” Lewis said. “Last year, I was out of the paddock, sitting on the couch, over 200 pounds, and in a tough spot. I thought about quitting racing, but I’ve been traveling the country in a van with my mom and dad since I was four years old, chasing a dream. I worked hard to get back in shape. After I got my butt kicked at the first round, I knew it was time to get going, and we’ve been on the podium pretty much ever since.
“Big thanks to Altus Motorsports for the opportunity and to Team Hammer as well for the amazing technical package.”
The Altus Motorsports team celebrated its second Stock 1000 title in consecutive seasons. Lewis picked up where Cam Petersen left off last year and rode the Altus Suzuki GSX-R1000R to win the class.
“It’s a great feeling. We couldn’t ask for a better person to take over our Stock 1000 bike this year. Jake has been a good fit with the team in the pits and he’s proven his ability on the track. This weekend we grabbed the Stock 1000 championship and next weekend we hope to secure the Superbike Cup as well,” said George Nassaney of Altus Motorsports.
Lewis is also chasing the Superbike Cup in 2021. With the Superbike class running a triple-header at NJMP, Lewis had to grid up three more times on his Stock 1000 GSX-R1000 against the Superbikes. In Race 1, he finished ninth but finished as the top Stock 1000 bike. He was also the top stock bike in the second Superbike race where he crossed the line in eighth overall. In the final Superbike race he took the checkered flag in 12th overall and as the third Superbike Cup rider.
That showing puts Lewis 70 points ahead of his nearest rival. With three Superbike races at the final round in MotoAmerica Superbikes at Alabama this weekend, he’s a few points shy of having that championship wrapped up.
