Josh Hayes leaving behind the Honda for a Yamaha in the 2009 AMA season.
Yamaha Motor Corporation is pleased to announce its 2009 Road Race Team today at its corporate headquarters in Cypress CA. Ben Bostrom and Josh Herrin will return to the team this year joined by new members Josh Hayes and Tommy Aquino.
Fresh off the 2008 AMA Supersport Championship aboard the Graves Motorsports YZF-R6, Ben Bostrom will compete on the all new cross plane crankshaft YZF-R1 prepared by Yamaha Factory Racing in the American Superbike class. Ben is a past AMA Superbike Champion and returns to the class after a re-birth and break out season in 2008, which saw him win six races on the way to the Supersport title. Ben will also compete in selected Daytona Sportbike races this season. Joining Ben on the YZF-R1 is multi-time Formula Extreme Champion Josh Hayes. Josh brings a wealth of experience to the American Superbike class and was one of the few riders who challenged Ben last year in the Supersport Championship battle.
Competing in the AMA Daytona Sportbike Championship will be third year professional Josh Herrin aboard the Graves Motorsports prepared YZF-R6. Having had two full seasons and multiple race wins with the Graves Team, Josh comes into 2009 with increased confidence and Championship expectations. Joining Josh will be the 2008 AMA Road Race Rookie of the Year Tommy Aquino. Just 16 years old, Tommy made quite a splash in 2008 with multiple top finishes while still learning the tracks and pace of AMA Supersport.
Tommy Aquino made quite a splash in 2008 with multiple top finishes.
“We are excited to announce our team for 2009” said Yamaha Racing Division Manager Keith McCarty, “and quite confident that our riders, staff and sponsors will allow us to achieve our goals for the 2009 season.”
Team Yamaha will make its 2009 AMA race debut in both the American Superbike and Daytona Sportbike classes at the opening round at Daytona International Speedway in March.
