AMA Pro Racing Infineon Preview 2011

After an eight week hiatus the AMA Pro Road Racing series is back in action this weekend at Northern California’s Infineon Raceway. Dubbed the West Coast Moto Jam, the weekend event will feature races in the National Guard Superbike, Daytona Sportbike and Motorcycle-Superstore.com Supersport classes on both Saturday and Sunday. Additionally the TTXGP (electric motorcycle racing) series will host its first round which you can read more about in the TTXGP Infineon Preview 2011. Additionally the AHRMA National Vintage Motocross will be taking place as well as flat track and supermoto racing.

NATIONAL GUARD AMA SUPERBIKE

Compared to the sixth-gear pinned, top speed configuration of Daytona, Infineon’s road course is a far more technical. Not only is it shorter in terms of length (2.53-miles) it features considerable elevation changes throughout its 12-turn layout which puts an emphasis on rider strength/fitness and handling/acceleration.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Blake Young started off the season with a pair of wins at the season opener in Daytona and will be looking to add to his resume in California. Both he and teammate Tommy Hayden’s Yoshimura-prepped Suzuki GSX-R1000s showed some serious top speed down Daytona’s high banks, so it will be interesting to see how their bikes perform at a drastically different course where max speed isn’t a factor.

Reigning AMA Superbike champ, Josh Hayes is known for his high-levels of athletic prowess, which could pay dividends especially if it’s hot at Infineon. While his Graves Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1 isn’t the fastest bike on the grid it has developed a reputation for its ability to accelerate off corners due in part to its innovative crossplane crankshaft and unique engine firing order. Historically Hayes has done well here and should be is a contender for double race wins this weekend. Other riders to keep an eye on are rookie M4 Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas, Jordan Suzuki’s Ben Bostrom and Roger Lee Hayden.

DAYTONA SPORTBIKE

Following a controversial Daytona 200 (read the results in the Daytona 200 Results 2011) which will be remembered by multiple race stoppages due to crashes and unusual tire wear issues with the spec Dunlop D211 GP-A tires, the Daytona Sportbike returns to a more conventional 22-lap race. Both Ducati and Latus Motor’s Jason DiSalvo will be anxious to prove to fans that his historic win at Daytona wasn’t a fluke. Fellow Ducati 848 EVO rider and young up and comer PJ Jacobsen will also be looking to redeem himself after crashing out of his first-ever Daytona Sportbike race at Daytona.

As always the talent pool in the DSB class is deep and any number of riders could fight for a win at Infineon. After narrowly losing the championship the last two seasons, Graves Motorsports Yamaha rider Josh Herrin will be going all out in his quest to finally secure an AMA national championship. Fellow Yamaha riders Jake Zemke and Tommy Aquino are also more than capable of dicing for race wins and it will be interesting to see how things unfold during the races.

RMR Geico Suzuki rider Danny Eslick is another one of the series’ top riders and known for his wild take no-prisoners riding style not to mention his colorful personality off-track. Like Jacobsen, Eslick crashed out of the 200 and will need to win some races in order to regain some points.

MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM SUPERSPORT

Last year Elena Myers became the first woman to ever win an AMA road race after she won the Supersport race at Infineon aboard a Lucas Oil and Roadracingworld.com Suzuki GSX-R600, proving that she indeed has what it takes to run with the boys. Unfortunately this year, it’s going to be difficult for her to put in a repeat performance since recently breaking her arm in a supermoto training accident in April. Word on the street is that she’s actually going to try and race anyways, which proves that she has some serious guts.

Yamaha riders Tomas Puerta and David Gaviria who both ride for the LTD Racing / Y.E.S. team each picked up their first-ever career wins at Daytona in March and figure to be the ones to beat in California. Other racers to keep an eye on are Rata Racing Ducati’s Stefano Mesa and ANT Racing/Star School’s James Rispoli.

Interested in coming out to the races? LeoVince Exhaust & Electronics in conjunction with Infineon Raceway and Motorcycle-Superstore.com is offering discount online coupons good for $5 off individual Saturday or Sunday day passes or $10 for a weekend ticket. Visit www.motorcycle-superstore.com/motojam for more info.

Can’t make it out? Then park yourself in front of your TV as SPEED will broadcast the AMA Daytona Sportbike Race 1 at 7 p.m. (PST) on Saturday, May 14 followed by AMA Superbike Race 1 at 8 p.m (PST). Sunday’s Superbike and DSB races will appear at 9 and 10 p.m. (PST) respectively.