Josh Hayes continues to roll, winning today at Road America to make it three victories in a row while increasing his lead in the AMA SuperBike point standings.
Team Graves Yamaha rider Josh Hayes was victorious once again, overcoming Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden in a heated contest during the first American Superbike race at Road America. Hayden took the early lead but wasn’t able to hold off Hayes who kept the pressure on throughout most of the race.
In the beginning it was Hayden off the line ahead of Foremost Insurance Pegram Racing's Larry Pegram, Pat Clark Motorsports' Ben Bostrom and Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Blake Young. Jake Zemke rounded out the top-five by the close of the first lap, trailing fourth-placed Pegram by over two and a half seconds.
A pair of riders, Suzuki'sTrent Gibson and BMW’s Eric Pinson, didn't even make it past the first lap as both crashed out.
Hayes was able to overtake Hayden for the lead shortly into the second lap. Meanwhile, Bostrom couldn’t keep the pace of the frontrunners and fell back to sixth behind Pegram.
Heading into the seventh lap Hayes maintained a 0.241-second lead over Hayden, who cranked it up and started applying tremendous pressure.
Hayes was not able to keep the advances of the Suzuki rider at bay, and on Lap 9 Hayden overtook him for the lead. But Hayes was determined not to let him slip away, and stayed right on Hayden's pace. On the next lap Hayes was once again able to retake the lead.
In a tight race, Hayden and Hayes exchanged positions again before the Team Graves Yamaha rider came back with a final pass that would finish off Hayden on Lap 11. Following Hayden to the line were Young, Pegram, and Zemke who rounded out the top-five.
American SuperBike Road America Race 1 Results:
1. Josh Hayes(Yamaha)
Tommy Hayden was able to take second-place after a tense duel with Josh Hayes.
2. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki)
3. Blake Young (Suzuki)
4. Larry Pegram (Ducati)
5. Jake Zemke (Suzuki)
6. Jake Holden (Suzuki)
7. Ben Bostrom (Yamaha)
8. Taylor Knapp (Suzuki)
9. Brett McCormick (Suzuki)
10. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki)
11. Geoff May (Buell)
12. Shane Narbonne (Suzuki)
13. Ron Hix (Suzuki)
14. Chris Clark (Yamaha)
15. Tim Hunt (Suzuki)
16. Eric Haugo (Suzuki)
17. Trent Gibson (Suzuki)
18. Eric Pinson (BMW)
American SuperBike Championship Standings:
1. Tommy Hayden, 229
2. Josh Hayes, 228
3. Jake Zemke, 215
4. Blake Young, 197
5. Larry Pegram, 170
