Racing Through Pain: The Trials of Superbike Competitors at Road America

ELKHART LAKE – During this racing season, PJ Jacobsen faced a significant injury, losing a piece of bone from the tip of his left index finger. This finger is particularly notable as it sits next to a pinky that was nearly severed when he was just 11 years old. Bobby Fong, another competitor, is coping with a torn rotator cuff. Thankfully for him, the pain is more pronounced when getting out of bed rather than while racing his motorcycle. Sean Dylan Kelly, meanwhile, has a chip fracture in his right middle finger, but even with the injury, he manages to operate his bike's brake lever with just his index finger to decelerate from speeds of 190 mph.

These three riders stood on the podium after the second Superbike race of the MotoAmerica weekend on May 31 at Road America, prompting discussions about the physical challenges faced by motorcycle racers. Fong, who secured third place, remarked, “You have no choice, really, to go out there, whether you’re hurt or whatever, and there’s always gonna be somebody just chomping at the bit to get your seat. We can’t call in sick. It is a very stressful job, for sure.” He added, “Sometimes I wonder why the hell I’m doing this. But leaving the track knowing that you had a good result is the best feeling in the world.”

Kelly had a particularly successful weekend, clinching his first win of the season after finishing second the day before. Jacobsen followed closely behind, finishing just 0.381 seconds behind Kelly, marking a significant achievement for his Ducati team, which is owned by IndyCar racer Graham Rahal. Cameron Petersen, who triumphed in the first race, finished fifth in the second. Unfortunately, Cameron Beaubier, a top contender and record holder at the 4-mile track, crashed while leading on Saturday and was unable to race on Sunday due to a dislocated shoulder.

In a humorous exchange, Jacobsen suggested to Kelly, “You should donate me your bone,” to which Kelly replied, “There is a piece that’s kind of dangling, so maybe we could. Money talks, you know.” The camaraderie among the racers is evident, even as they grapple with their injuries. Jacobsen joked about his fading fingers, but he emphasized the importance of building confidence and pushing through pain: “We race motorcycles, we’re all strong here, and we're all in the same mindset of doing these same things.”

While the thrill of high-speed racing is a primary motivator, the risks involved can seem daunting from an outsider's perspective. Riders aim to avoid injury while engaging in intense, high-velocity battles on the track, reaching speeds comparable to Indy cars. “You’re all out here to do the same job and that means that everyone's smart and we're all going the same speed,” noted Kelly. He added that racing alongside others at such high speeds can diminish the perception of danger. “When the front tucks at 180, you pucker up a little bit for sure,” he admitted, recognizing the inherent risks of their sport.