Bikes: The rise of the Americans. Brandon Paasch on the talent emerging in Europe

Making his way back into the British Superbike paddock, American talent Brandon Paasch is just one of the riders paving the way for Americans to make their way back into World Championship racing. We all remember the glory days of Schwantz, Rainey, Mamola, Spencer, and so many more, but it has to be said that the American presence on the world stage has been a bit lack-lustre over the past decade.

Paasch believes during this time America has “always had this talent level, but there just hasn’t been any opportunities for the riders”. But now, in the words of the American, “the doors are starting to be opened up and it’s helping us a lot”.

The World Superbike scene has been shocked at the talent of American rookie Garret Gerloff. He impressed the masses on his debut season in the world championship. Coming over from MotoAmerica, the Yamaha rider even earned himself a short but sweet MotoGP ride standing in for Valentino Rossi at the Valencian Grand Prix, after taking his privateer R1 to several podiums in the 2020 WorldSBK season.

Gerloff has shown the world that the Americans are on the return, with his 2019 MotoAmerica team-mate Cameron Beaubier now joining the Moto2 scene with the all-new American Racing team. Beaubier will not be the only strong American in Moto2 however, Joe Roberts will line up on the grid with the Italtrans team after impressing in his 2020 Moto2 season. Roberts has also had MotoGP offers, showing promise for the future of the U.S.A.

Paasch talks of the importance of Cameron Beaubier doing well for America, but also explains the difficulty in the task.

“I’m hoping Beaubier does well because it’ll make us look a bit better. I think it’s going to take him a couple of races just to get settled in with the team and with the bike because it’s such a big change coming over. He’s been running away with every race here in America and hasn’t had to battle anybody in years, so I think just the racing side of it alone will be a bit different for him.”

Whilst Paasch explains the level in MotoAmerica is high, he also explained that a decline in funding in the championship has been a contributing factor to Americans making their way out of the scene. 

“Over the past two years the factory Suzuki teams have pulled out, the factory Yamaha team isn’t really factory anymore, Monster Energy actually pulled out on their sponsorship, and its taken a big step backwards. The riders here, their pay cheques are starting to get cut so they’ve decided it’s time to go to Europe. Although that’s obviously not the only motivation. Beaubier was kind of in a position that he had to go, and Gerloff wanted to go more than had to go.” Paasch explained.

After experiencing life in both the American and British domestic championships, and with his sights set on the world championships, Paasch believes that he has a better chance of reaching that goal in the British Superbike paddock. 

“MotoAmerica is very much in a progression state where they’re kind of still growing and trying to find spots on the grid. I think BSB is more established, there’s more teams, more riders, more competition, and I feel like the world championship teams look at the BSB and hold it as a higher championship than they would to the American series.” 

Paasch will be piloting the new Triumph Daytona 765 that’s been test-ran in the British Supersport series. He will be in good company with Simon Buckmaster’s PTR Dynavolt Triumph team.

“I’m pumped to be coming back to BSB, for me I think it’s the right direction to be getting into the World Championship. I’m happy to be back overseas with the PTR Dynavolt Triumph team, and hopefully venture my way into world supersport.”

“It’s a team that I’ve been following in the world championship for a while now, it’s just a really really good opportunity for me. As soon as I heard that it was available I jumped at it. Working with Simon Buckmaster and the whole PTR team, I know they have plenty of experience. I know Triumph are new to coming back into the Supersport class with the 765 but they’ve had plenty of experience with the motors in the world Moto2 championship. The triumph 675 from back in the day actually handled really well, but kind of lacked a bit of the power. Now they have the 765cc motor I think it’ll be a really good bike”

Brandon made it no secret that the target for him and the PTR team is to take the Triumph project to the World Supersport category, setting his sights on being another American on the world championship scene. 

“It’s in my contract to go the world championship, so hopefully if everything goes right we’ll make our way into world supersport. It really depends on what the rules wind up being for the Triumph, and what Dorna decide they want to do with the bike. That’s all of our goal, we all want to progress as a team to the world championship, and to have that one year of working together before going into the world championship so we start on the right foot.” 

The American is also looking to start off his British Supersport debut strong. In order to secure his place in the world championship, he explained he’s going out to win the championship.

“Honestly I always wanna win the championship. I wanna win races, win championships, and that’s what I show up to do. Obviously I’m not expecting to go out and win the first couple of races, just because everything’s new, but I’m looking to start on a god spot and just build from there and work my way to the front. I feel like I’m good at keeping my head going in the right direction and keep focussed on what the goal is. I’m not expecting too much out of that gate, but I am expecting to be at the front by the end of the year.” 

With his sights firmly set on his goals, Paasch could be one of many new American names set to swarm the motorcycle racing world.