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PJ Jacobsen and the emerging Kayla Yaakov will defend the colours of the Rahal Ducati Moto team in its first season in the Supersport class of MotoAmerica, in 2024. The owner of the team, Graham Rahal, has in fact decided to focus on a line-up that combines experience and youth for his debut in the championship, entrusting his Ducati Panigale V2 XPEL to the 2015 World Supersport runner-up and the talented 16-year-old from Pennsylvania.
“We are incredibly thrilled with the rider line up we have secured for our inaugural MotoAmerica season. PJ has shown incredible talent in his Supersport and Superbike career. We are grateful he was willing to bring his experience to our team to help set the bar as we attempt to contend for a championship in our inaugural season. Kayla is a young, talented rider and we are excited for her to showcase her potential during her rookie Supersport season. She will have both PJ and Ben Spies to look to for guidance and experience as she grows in her young career,” declared team owner Graham Rahal, who is anxious to see his riders in action in the first test of the year, scheduled for the start of 2024.
“We have a lot of work to do in the next few months as a new team to prepare, so we are eager to get the riders to the track to test with their new mechanics and on their new machines – he added – We have high expectations going into the season and I truly believe we put together a line up to achieve and exceed the standards we have set for ourselves.”
It’s enthusiasm shared by the 30-year-old PJ Jacobsen, who feels he is ready to fight for the Supersport title, after obtaining third place in the Superbike championship standings this season.
“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the Rahal Ducati Moto racing team,” said Jacobsen. “It’s great to be a part of this racing family and I think it’s very good for my future to be with this amazing group of people. Having Ben Spies back is going to be absolutely awesome to help with riding and the mechanics and strategy of the motorcycle racing. When I heard about the possibility of Rahal Ducati Moto coming to the paddock, my eyes lit up because they run such a professional team in car racing, and they will also have a great, professional team in motorcycle racing. It’s great for our sport to have people like this involved, and again, I’m very honoured to get the call from them to be one of the riders to fight for wins and a championship. I’m super excited to get testing started and really, really motivated for the 2024 season - especially after having such a strong Superbike season in 2023. I feel very fit and in top-form in my career right now, and ready to fight for the top honours. Thank you to Graham and the people that truly believe in me. I’m really looking forward to a great 2024 season!”
The first woman to win a MotoAmerica race at Ridge Motorsports Park in 2022, when competing in the Junior Cup, Yaakov established herself last year as the first woman in the history of the championship to stand on the podium in the Supersport class, thanks to third place in Race 1 at New Jersey. And she now aims to take another step forward in her incredible career, tackling her first season in the category, with the colours of the Rahal team.
“I am extremely excited to be joining the Rahal Ducati Moto team for the 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport season - said Yaakov - Being a part of a team with such an iconic backing is a privilege, not only with one of the most prolific motorcycle brands in the world, but also with the Rahal family. Also, having a world champion like Ben Spies in our corner is such an honour. After talking to him for several years, coming together in this team is going to be huge for my progression in this sport! Although it’s a new team that comes with a lot of pressure, I am extremely confident in the abilities of the team and myself for this 2024 season. I can’t wait to get rolling with this amazing crew and am thankful to everyone that has made this possible. I’ll see you on the high banks of Daytona!”
