Hayes and Hayden bring battle to Jersey

From AMA Pro Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - After 15 rounds of racing, from Daytona Beach to the last race in Virginia, only 11 points separate AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike points leader Josh Hayes and his Team Graves Yamaha team from his challenger Tommy Hayden aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki.

At every turn, when one of these world class riders would look to have the upper hand, the other would just as quickly strike back and even things out. Heading into this weekend's AMA Pro Racing SuperBike Weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park it will be must-see racing as these two continue the fight for the overall AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike title.

The 2.5-mile, 14-turn Thunderbolt course will be the scene for the continuing battle between these two racers and their very capable teams. Last year at NJMP, Hayes took both race wins but in race one Hayden finished second.

One factor that may come into play this year is a couple of other riders that have wins and may influence the outcome of the championship. Ben Bostrom won recently at Laguna Seca and featured prominently during the VIR races. His Pat Clark Motorsports team with valuable support from Palms Casino and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway have continued to develop their Yamaha motorcycles into regular front runners.

Hayden might have his Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate, Blake Young back to support his efforts this coming weekend. Young has been sidelined since a testing accident back in June. The plan is for Young to test at NJMP and if he is declared fit enough to compete, he will rejoin the team and add one more element to the championship battle.

Jake Zemke and his National Guard Jordan Suzuki can also impact the proceedings at NJMP. Zemke won the opening races of the season and remains in third place overall in the points. He will have to raise his game if he wants to stay in third with Bostrom coming on so strongly.

Another rider who posted a win this year is the popular Larry Pegram and his Foremost Insurance Ducati. Pegram won at Auto Club Speedway and has posted four second place finishes as well.

SPEED TV will be broadcasting the SuperBike race one on Saturday night at 11:00pm EDT and the second AMA Pro SuperBike race on Sunday at 10:00pm EDT.

This year's AMA Pro Daytona SportBike season has been a back and forth battle between three of the sports most talented and personable stars.

Points leader and reigning Daytona SportBike Champion Danny Eslick is as fun and vibrant person as you'll ever meet. And his three pole positions and two wins aboard his GEICO Powersports RMR Suzuki prove it. In contrast to Eslick, Team Graves Yamaha rider Josh Herrin is quietly confident. His riding speaks for itself and after winning the season opening Daytona 200, Herrin has gone on to post four more wins. The third member of the championship battle is the very charismatic Martin Cardenas. The Colombian rider and his M4 Monster Energy Suzuki team have stamped their mark on the championship battle with a series high six wins.

Right behind these three are a number of riders that have featured heavily this season but with the exception of Bobby Fong, who took his career first AMA Pro Racing win at the last race in Virginia, all have yet to post a race win in the ultra competitive Daytona SportBike series this year.

Leading this group is Steve Rapp, who has won the Daytona 200 and has other wins in other AMA Pro classes but he is yet to win in Daytona SportBike. And it's not through lack of trying; Rapp has four second place finishes and another three third place results for the close knit Team Latus Motors Ducati racing team.

Cory West is another rider that has been a big part of the mix week in and week out on his Vesrah Suzuki and he has put together a very solid season.

Herrin's Team Graves Yamaha teammate Tommy Aquino is another rider who has been knocking on the door for a win.

P.J. Jacobson and his Celtic Racing Suzuki team are ready to break out too.

This year's AMA Pro SuperSport competition has seen two divisional champions crowned and a number of other exciting things happen. Joey Pascarella took the West Division title on the strength of his three early season victories and J.D. Beach ran off seven wins in an eight-race span to lock in the East Division crown.

And along the way, Elena Myers made history with her well-earned victory earlier this year and also there were first-time AMA Pro wins for Huntley Nash and Cameron Beaubier in this exciting class for 16 to 21 year old Young Gun riders.

But, heading into this weekend's event at New Jersey Motorsports Park, there is more to the story. Right behind the aforementioned riders is another group of key participants that have greatly contributed to the excitement that is the SuperSport class.

Miles Thornton currently sits fifth in the East Division standings on his Arai Held USA Yamaha. After missing the Daytona season opener, Thornton has accumulated two fourth, two fifth and two 10th place finishes.

Another strong competitor who is pulling double duty as he rides in the SuperSport class and also the new Vance & Hines XR1200 class is Eric Stump, who has a couple of sixth place finishes as his highest result in SuperSport aboard his Markbilt Race Bikes Yamaha.

Ryan Kerr is another rider with great potential. Riding his MJ USA 614 Paintcraft Kawasaki, Kerr has finished every race this year with a high finish of ninth at Road America.

Travis Wyman is one of the three Wyman brothers who are racing in various classes of AMA Pro Racing. He rides a Harv's Harley-Davidson AB-1 Motorsports Yamaha and is coming off his second fourth place finish of the season at VIR.

James Rispoli is another rider that participates in many different types of AMA Pro Racing disciplines. Rispoli didn't start the season until round two at Road Atlanta and after posting a seventh place finish he took a solid third place result at Road America on his ANT-Racing.com Suzuki.

With two races remaining in the inaugural season for the new AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series, the question is whether points leader and winner of three out of three races, Eslick can go on to complete the perfect season. Along with winning every race, Danny has also qualified on the pole position at each race.

A number of other riders have taken their best shots at Eslick and his teammate Jake Holden, riding another RMR Bruce Rossmeyer Daytona Racing GEICO Powersports Lucas Oil XR1200 has given Danny the most trouble on his way to one second place and two third place finishes.

Two young riders have taken commendable podium finishes this year. Eric Stump, riding the Absolutecycle.com Rapidemanage.com XR1200 finished third at Road America. Travis Wyman took his first podium result at the last XR1200 race at the Virginia International Raceway with a second place ahead of Holden.

Practice and qualifying begin on Friday with doubleheader races in the three AMA Pro Road Racing categories on Saturday and Sunday. The Vance & Hines XR1200 race will also be held on Sunday.