Hayes clinches AMA SuperBike crown

From AMA Pro Racing

BIRMINGHAM, AL - AMA Pro Racing had a memorable day where five champions were crowned in four classes at Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday. Josh Hayes, Martin Cardenas, Danny Eslick, Austin DeHaven and Tyler O'Hara all captured the coveted number one plate in recognition of their hard fought and well deserved championships in their respective classes. The drama was increased for all involved when they awoke to a morning rain in central Alabama. 

In AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, Hayes ran a careful and calculating race and finished seventh in damp conditions to clinch the 2010 National Guard SuperBike title, his first. Hayes had seven wins and three pole positions on his Team Graves Yamaha in a season that saw him battle to the very last race of the season with Tommy Hayden. Hayden took fourth on Sunday but it wasn't enough to overcome the 18-point lead Hayes held at the start of the day. 

Hayden's Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Blake Young won Sunday's thrilling race over John Hopkins and Larry Pegram. The racing was furious at the front of the field with Young, Hopkins on his M4 Monster Energy Suzuki, Hayden, Geoff May on his Buell, Pegram, Jake Zemke on his National Guard Jordan Suzuki and Hayes all running together. 

Pegram looked very quick on his Foremost Insurance Ducati and he and Hopkins along with May were really battling away. Hayes ran comfortably with Zemke and when he went by, Hayes was content to run just behind Zemke and the lead group and ahead of Brett McCormick on the second Jordan Suzuki. McCormick passed Hayes as well. The moment of truth for Hayes came on lap 10 when McCormick had a fall at turn four and Hayes had to take to the wet grass to avoid the Saskatoon rider and his motorcycle. 

"I had to go on the grass when Brett high-sided and it was very slick, but it was the slowest turn on the track and I thought, 'even if I fall, I can pick the bike back up and continue,'" said Hayes after the race. He ran a lonely race from there on and brought the championship home with his seventh place finish to end up 16 points ahead of Hayden. 

Meanwhile, up front it became Young's day as he led all but two laps of the race to take his third win of the 2010 SuperBike season. Hopkins, Pegram and Hayden were fighting for every inch of track and after May dropped back, Hayden did what he could to overcome Hayes' points lead but it just wasn't to be.

For Young it was a great day after suffering a severe back injury earlier this year at Barber Motorsports Park. He missed three events and five races.

"When I was lying on the couch at home recovering, it was hard watching these guys race," said Young. "But I worked hard to come back. I knew the championship was gone so all I could do is win races and repay the hard work that my team has put in for me all year."

In the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class, Cardenas captured his series high ninth win of the year to take his first AMA Pro Racing championship by eight points over last year's champion, Danny Eslick and his GEICO Powersports Suzuki team. The M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider took a solid victory over Eslick and Dane Westby in another classic Daytona Sportbike race. 

Sunday's Daytona SportBike race was also impacted by wet weather and after Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha team riders Clinton Seller and Westby took up station at the front Cardenas, running third, was the one who was firmly in control of the championship. His main rivals, Eslick and Team Graves Yamaha rider Josh Herrin had a coming together at one point and both were back from the comfortable looking Cardenas. 

All of that changed dramatically on lap 14 when both Westby, who was now leading and also Sellers had spectacular accidents which brought out the red flag. In the blink of an eye, Cardenas' 10-second advantage over Eslick and Herrin was gone. Restarting the race with nine laps left, it was Herrin who led with Cardenas right behind him and Eslick in third. Eslick made a major move and went from third to first and now he was in position to take the championship. 

Cardenas now found himself in fourth, behind Westby as well as his main championship rivals. The big moment came on lap 19 when Herrin made a major move on Eslick in turn four and the two touched as Eslick dove back under Herrin as they went through the middle of the corner. Herrin went off and in a moment, Cardenas was by and into the lead he would not relinquish. 

Eslick recovered to run second ahead of Westby, who had been slightly delayed in the melee as well. As hard as Eslick tried, he just couldn't run Cardenas down. Right at the end, Eslick had a big moment and Cardenas was able to take the checkered flag and the championship by 1.687 secs. Herrin recovered to finish 11th and wound up third in the championship with 377 points, 28 behind Cardenas and 20 behind Eslick. 

"I have to thank my M4 Monster Energy Suzuki team," Cardenas said. "They work so hard and are the best team I have ever worked with, I feel so good for them."

Another rider who thanked his team was Dane Westby. After he went down, his Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha team and also the Pat Clark Motorsports team all pitched in to fix his Yamaha in record time so that he was able to re-start the race and end up third.

Chronic Motorsports Yamaha rider Paul Allison featured after the restart and he took fourth ahead of Vesrah Suzuki teammates Chris Fillmore and Cory West. Team Latus Motors Ducati rider Steve Rapp finished seventh ahead of Tommy Aquino, Clinton Seller and Kyle Wyman, all riding Yamahas. 

In SuperSport, Austin DeHaven captured the title of AMA Pro SuperSport Young Gun champion as he took a second place finish in addition to his fourth place from Saturday. Tyler O'Hara took a well deserved Top Gun national championship after finishing ninth and seventh respectively in the weekend's races.

Sunday's race was won by East Division champion J.D. Beach, who didn't figure into the combined race for the Young Gun championship after crashing out of Saturday's race. Early challengers for the title, Huntley Nash and Joey Pascarella, crashed out of Sunday's race that was run in wet conditions.

Raphael Archambault of St-Colomban, QC was classified 17th on the Archambault Racing / Centre Hamel Honda CBR600RR.

The first race of the day was run in the most difficult conditions. The Vance & Hines XR1200 series lined up with the visiting British champion Jeremy McWilliams taking the win over veteran Michael Barnes and New Jersey winner P.J. Jacobson. McWilliams, over thanks to Warr's and Roadracingworld.com and HOG Racing, showed the way from start to finish with Barnes riding the Jones Brothers XR1200 shadowing his every move.

Due to his three early season wins Eslick, riding the RMR Bruce Rossmeyer Daytona Racing XR1200 with valuable support from GIECO Powersports and Lucas Oil captured the initial Vance & Hines XR1200 championship and the number one plate that goes with it.

Superbike Race Results
1. Blake Young (Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 21 Laps
2. John Hopkins (M4 Monster Energy Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1.305
3. Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance ·Pegram Racing) Ducati 1098R +1.551
4. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1.616
5. Jake Zemke (National Guard Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +7.458
6. Geoff May (Erik Buell Racing) Buell 1125RR +8.602
7. Josh Hayes (Team Graves Yamaha) Yamaha YZF-R1 +49.669
8. Taylor Knapp (RidersDiscount.com) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1:08.659
9. Trent Gibson (Gibson Motorsports) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1:15.134
10. Jeff Wood (Vesrah Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1:22.141
11. Shane Narbonne (Celtic Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1:22.150
12. Chris Peris (Team Iron Horse BMW ·ESP) BMW S1000RR 20 Laps
13. Ricky Corey (RCR Yamaha) Yamaha YZF-R1 +16.538
14. Sean Dwyer (Vicious Cycle Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +38.001
15. Skip Salenius (Run 1 Racing Motorsports) Yamaha YZF-R1 19 Laps
16. Johnny Rock Page (Aussie Dave Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +26.351
17. Eric Haugo (Cycledivaonoline.com) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +43.361
18. Brett McCormick (Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 10 Laps
19. Chris Clark (Pat Clark Motorsports) Yamaha YZF-R1 1 Lap
Did Not Start
Jake Holden (Pat Clark Motorsports) Yamaha YZF-R1
Chris Ulrich (M4 Monster Energy Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000
Race Time: 31:18.655
Margin of Victory: 1.305
Best Race Lap: Blake Young (1:27.282)

Superbike Point Standings
(Top 15 plus Canadians)
1. Josh Hayes 466
2. Tommy Hayden 452
3. Jake Zemke 332
4. Larry Pegram 297
5. Ben Bostrom 295
6. Blake Young 283
7. Taylor Knapp 227
8. Chris Ulrich 188
9. Brett McCormick 180
10. John Hopkins 151
11. Geoff May 143
12. Chris Clark 129
13. Shane Narbonne 120
14. Jake Holden 107
15. Chris Peris 69
23. Jordan Szoke 33