AMA Pro SuperSport heads to Road America for Subway SuperBike Doubleheader
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (May 29, 2014) – The AMA Pro SuperSport class is the place for up-and-coming riders and fast locals to show what they’ve got at the premier American road racing events. The large grids reflect racers’ eagerness to compete at the top tracks in the country on a big stage. Next up for SuperSport is this weekend’s doubleheader at Road America for which 45 riders have pre-entered the doubleheader event.
Road America is a horsepower track, but the braking zones reward aggressive racers. The turns often work as a series of bends, with each influencing the next, so cornering precision is equally important.
Corey Alexander aboard the No. 5 Celtic/HVMC Racing Suzuki GSX-R600 took full advantage of his season-opening opportunities at Daytona, winning both races in fine fashion. The reigning East champion was able to slip to the front and claim runaway victories you don’t often see at Daytona.
The New Yorker, who returned to the class in hopes of claiming the overall championship, is leading the point standings after AMA Pro revamped the class and will now crown a sole champion in 2014 rather than two regional title winners.
Alexander has made steady progress during his time in SuperSport, and over the last calendar year, he’s has taken full advantage of his competitiveness. Last season’s trip to Road America saw him affirm his capabilities. Alexander won both races and jump-started his championship run in Wisconsin. It wasn’t easy, though. In Sunday’s race, he won by just 0.013 seconds in a three-rider slugfest. He’d like nothing more than a repeat performance to extend his points lead.
One rider looking to defeat Alexander is Hayden Gillim, pilot of the No. 69 TOBC Racing Suzuki GSX-R600. A class stalwart like Alexander, Gillim has a history of battling his rival for AMA Pro SuperSport glory. Switching to the TOBC Racing team for 2014, Gillim earned the podium in his first outing at Daytona.
Gillim, a cousin to the riders of the famous racing family of Haydens, is from the rider hotbed near Owensboro, Ky., which has produced the Hayden brothers, as well as GoPro Daytona SportBike pilot Jake Lewis.
Gillim is a rider capable of running an incredible pace when he gets the machine to his liking, as evidenced by runaway victories at Utah and New Orleans in past seasons. Wisconsin would be a perfect place for him to bag victories and make up some points on Alexander.
Wyatt Farris on the No. 19 Celtic/HVMC Racing Suzuki GSX-R600finished second both times out in Daytona and sits second in points coming to Wisconsin. Over the last half of 2013, Farris became a regular podium contender and the talented Californian has moved himself into contention for race wins. Farris will be looking to take that first AMA Pro victory this weekend in Elkhart Lake.
Another contender is Dustin Dominguez on board the No. 68 HSBK Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Dominguez, with six AMA Pro SuperSport wins to his name, has returned to the class after a one-year stint in the premier AMA Pro SuperBike class. After being shuffled back in the pack on the last lap of Race 1 in Daytona and finishing sixth, Dominguez stormed back to the podium for Race 2.
Venezuela’s Armando Ferrer on the No. 78 DMS Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 has been a fixture in the AMA Pro SuperSport top ten. Ferrer, however, is yet to stand on the podium, and owns a career-best finish of fourth. After placing fifth and fourth at Daytona in March, reaching the top three seems within reach.
Cody Wyman aboard the No. 3 Harv’s Harley-Davidson Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 is tied with Ferrer for fifth in points. The youngest of the racing Wyman brothers from New York, Cody was able to run in the pack battling for second each race at Daytona, showing he’s progressed in his skills and is ready to challenge at the front.
Jason Aguilar riding the No. 96 Tuned Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 is a 17-year-old Californian who won championships in his home state before moving up to AMA Pro SuperSport this season. Aguilar earned two top tens at Daytona and looks to be an up-and-coming rider quickly advancing his career in the class.
Aguilar leads JC Camacho and his No. 623 Camacho Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 for the eighth spot in pointsby just two heading into Elkhart Lake. Camacho’s cushion over 10th-place rider Mario Alvarez on the No. 59 RickDiculous Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 is just three points. Alvarez, out of Tacoma, Wash., sits a point in front of Mexico’s Erick Sanchez aboard the No. 64 EYK Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R6.
Kaleb De Keyrel on the No. 51 De Keyrel Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 won’t turn 17 until three days after the doubleheader wraps up, but getting back into the top ten would be a nice early present for the youngster out of Minnesota.
Class stalwart Miles Thornton, pilot of the No. 7 D&D Castrol Triumph Daytona 675 had a disappointing outing at Daytona but the Georgian will look to bounce back in Wisconsin.
The SuperSport class is always in a state of flux, with top riders moving up, opening up chances for other racers to take their places. The second round of 2014 will reveal more about this year’s crop of racers.
Qualifying for AMA Pro SuperSport at the Subway Superbike Doubleheader will be held Friday and Saturday. Saturday’s 10-lap, 40-mile race begins at 1 p.m. (2 p.m. EST) and the green flag for Sunday’s contest also drops at 1 p.m. local time (2 p.m. EST).
How to Watch:
FansChoice.tv will be the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track and AMA Pro Road Racing events in 2014. The site will also provide coverage of IMSA’s development and single-make series, and NASCAR’s touring and weekly series.
About AMA Pro Road Racing:
AMA Pro Road Racing is the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America and is universally regarded as one of the most competitive road racing organizations in the world. The series is comprised of four production-based classes: AMA Pro SuperBike, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro SuperSport and the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series. Learn more about AMA Pro Road Racing at www.amaproracing.com/rr/.
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.