Hayes scores lucky New Jersey win

From AMA Pro Racing

MILLVILLE, NJ - A full day of racing took place at the 2.2-mile New Jersey Motorsports Park at the AMA Pro SuperBike Weekend on Saturday. 

The AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike race had a surprise ending that may have major ramifications for the overall season championship. Josh Hayes and his Team Graves Yamaha took a fortunate victory over Tommy Hayden with Ben Bostrom third.

Hayes grabbed the lead early and basically rode off into the distance. Behind him, first Jake Zemke on his National Guard Jordan Suzuki grabbed second from Hayden and his Rockstar Makita Suzuki with Bostrom on his Pat Clark Motorsports Palms Casino Yamaha having his own battle with John Hopkins on his M4 Monster Energy Suzuki. 

Bostrom was able to get by Zemke and set off after Hayes but the gap stabilized at around two seconds as Hayes rode the perfect race, very similar to his last win at VIR. 

As the race neared its conclusion, Hayden once again dug deep and began a charge to the front. First, he passed Bostrom and then as quick as that, he and Ben caught Hayes, who had a moment that threw his concentration off and allowed Hayden and Bostrom to catch up. By lap 20 of 23 they were less than a second behind Josh and closing fast. 

As the three started the last lap, Hayden was right on Hayes' tail and they were side by side as they went over the start/finish line. Going into turn one, Hayden was able to make a solid pass for the lead and even though there were about two miles to go and Hayes had not conceded victory, Hayden looked liked he had stolen this race from Hayes with a perfectly judged last minute pass for the win. 

But it was not to be. Brett McCormick had a big fall at turn 13 as he was coming up to begin his final lap and he went down with his Jordan Suzuki ricocheting back into the middle of the racetrack. Officials had no choice but to immediately red flag the race. By rule, the scoring reverted to the previous completed lap, therefore Hayes took the win and the valuable points that went with it. 

Hayden began the race 10 points back, having taken his career first pole position. He now trails Hayes by 16 points heading into the second race of the New Jersey Motorsports Park SuperBike weekend. 

Hayes is a perfect three for three at this racetrack.

In the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race, the championship battle tightened up even closer as Martin Cardenas, on his M4 Monster Energy Suzuki won for the seventh time this year. Team Graves Yamaha rider Josh Herrin took a hard fought second place from a resurgent Dane Westby on his Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha. 

Championship points leader Danny Eslick led the early stages of the race and also the second stage of the race following a red flag period on lap six for an accident involving Tommy Aquino and his Team Graves Yamaha. Aquino had a fall on the front straight and although it looked worse than it was, the race was stopped to insure safe removal of his motorcycle and to attend to a quickly recovered Aquino. 

On the restart, Eslick really extended his lead over Cory West, Westby and Martin Cardenas with Herrin in close pursuit. Slowly but surely, the group reeled Eslick in and in a flash, Herrin was by and then Cardenas made a big move and the order was reshuffled with Cardenas taking the lead from Herrin with Bobby Fong moving into third as Herrin fell to fifth.

West, on his Vesrah Suzuki ended up sixth ahead of P.J. Jacobson, again having a good result with his Celtic Racing Suzuki. Fong ended up fourth on his DNA Energy Drink Ducati ahead of Eslick on his GEICO Powersports Suzuki. Eslick maintains a two-point lead over Cardenas, who is only three points ahead of Herrin.

Sunday will be race two for the Daytona SportBikes.

The AMA Pro SuperSport race was dominated by East Division Young Gun Champion Joey Pascarella on his DNA Energy Drink Yamaha. Pascarella took the lead from Huntley Nash before the end of the first lap and disappeared off into the distance. Nash, riding his LTD Racing Yamaha battled to stay with Pascarella and then had his hands full fighting off a fired up Eric Stump but persevered to take his seventh podium finish of the 2010 season.

Granby, QC's Jeremie Hade Precourt finished 17th on his JHP Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 and Raphael Archambault of St-Colomban, QC retired after one lap aboard the Archambault Racing Honda CBR600RR.

SuperBike Race Results
1. Josh Hayes (Team Graves Yamaha) Yamaha YZF-R1 21 Laps
2. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +0.105
3. Ben Bostrom (Pat Clark Motorsports) Yamaha YZF-R1 +0.812
4. Blake Young (Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +10.466
5. John Hopkins (M4 Monster Energy Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +10.903
6. Jake Zemke (National Guard Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +14.260
7. Brett McCormick (Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +14.363*
8. Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance ·Pegram Racing) Ducati 1098R +24.721
9. Geoff May (Erik Buell Racing) Buell 1125RR +27.149
10. Taylor Knapp (RidersDiscount.com) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +27.244
11. Chris Peris (Team Iron Horse BMW ·ESP) BMW S1000RR +31.234
12. Shane Narbonne (Celtic Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1:02.955
13. Tim J. Bemisderfer (Bio Weapon) BMW S1000RR +1:03.122
14. Chris Clark (Pat Clark Motorsports) Yamaha YZF-R1 20 Laps
15. Chris Trounson (Aussie Dave Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 19 Laps
16. Tim Hunt (Hooters ·Apex) Suzuki GSX-R1000 15 Laps
17. Chris Ulrich (M4 Monster Energy Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 8 Laps
* - Position moved due to being cause of red flag
Race Time: 28:43.005
Margin of Victory: 0.105
Best Race Lap: Josh Hayes (1:21.210)