Superbike rookie Cameron Beaubier took a dominant victory in the RaceFuelZ Pro Superbike race Sunday at the Arai Pacific Nationals, Round Two of the GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout Presented by Yamaha series, at Sonoma Raceway.
Beaubier, the pole-sitter, got pinched off at the start and finished the first lap in fifth place, but the 21-year-old from Roseville, California, charged forward, took the lead from his teammate Josh Hayes on lap eight and pulled away to win the 20-lap race by 9.8 seconds.
Beaubier now leads the Championship point standings by four heading into the third and final round May 24-25 at Miller Motorsports Park.
Hayes, a three-time Pro Superbike Champion, had nothing for his rookie teammate on the day and had to settle for the runner-up position on his YZF-R1.
Yoshimura Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas overtook privateer David Anthony early on, but from there the Colombian rode a lonely race to third on his GSX-R1000. Cardenas, the Round One race winner, now sits second in the point standings.
Anthony said his rear Dunlop was out of balance, causing an unsettling vibration, but the Australian was still able to take fourth in his SIC/Motul/Fly Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Cardenas’ teammate Roger Hayden ran off the track on the second lap and dropped back to 16th. He then spent the remainder of the event pushing forward and was eventually rewarded with fifth place.
Chris Fillmore got the holeshot at the start, led a portion of the first lap and raced for the lead for four laps. But on lap five, he suffered a low-speed crash. Fillmore was able to pick up his KTM/HMC Racing RC8R, get going again in 16th place and knife his way back up to sixth before he took the checkered flag.
Cory West fought off Chris Clark, Tyler O’Hara and Chris Ulrich to score seventh place on his Team AMSOIL/Hero/K&L Supply EBR 1190RS. Clark, the third Yoshimura Suzuki rider, got eighth. O’Hara, who rode a Meen Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1, placed ninth in his debut Pro Superbike race. Ulrich rounded out the top 10 finishers on his GEICO Motorcycle Honda CBR1000RR.
Arai Pacific Nationals hosted by AFM
GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout Presented by Yamaha
Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California
May 4, 2014
RaceFuelZ Pro Superbike Provisional Race Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Cameron Beaubier (Yam YZF-R1), 20 laps
2. Josh Hayes (Yam YZF-R1), -9.803 seconds
3. Martin Cardenas (Suz GSX-R1000), -20.536
4. David Anthony (Suz GSX-R1000), -27.213
5. Roger Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), -56.388
6. Chris Fillmore (KTM RC8R), -59.087, crash
7. Cory West (EBR 1190RS), -63.400
8. Chris Clark (Suz GSX-R1000), -66.671
9. Tyler O’Hara (Yam YZF-R1), -71.756
10. Chris Ulrich (Hon CBR1000RR), -75.714
11. Mathew Orange (BMW S1000RR), -78.153
12. Sebastiao Ferreira (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap
13. Daytona Anderson (Suz GSX-R1000), -1 lap
14. Marcel Irnie (BMW S1000RR), -1 lap
15. Jeffrey Tigert (Duc 1199 Panigale S), -1 lap
16. Steve Metz (Duc 1199 Panigale S), -1 lap
17. Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap
18. Joy Higa (Suz GSX-R1000), -13 laps, DNF, retired
19. Lenny Hale (Suz GSX-R1000), -19 laps, DNF
20. Johnny Rock Page (Suz GSX-R1000), -20 laps, DNF, retired
Championship Point Standings (After 2 of 3 events):
1. Beaubier, 45 points
2. Cardenas, 41
3. Hayes, 36
4. TIE, Hayden/Anthony, 24
6. Fillmore, 20
7. Clark, 17
8. Ulrich, 14
9. Orange, 11
10. Anderson, 10
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
There’s No Place Like Sonoma As Local Rider Cameron Beaubier Wins Pacific Nationals Pro Superbike Race; Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Teammate Hayes Finishes Second
Sonoma, CA – May 4, 2014 – Everything came up smelling like roses for Roseville, CA, resident Cameron Beaubier as he started from the pole and won Round Two of the GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout Presented By Yamaha at his home track, Sonoma Raceway. Cameron’s teammate and three-time Superbike Champion Josh Hayes came in second in Sunday’s Pro Superbike race to make it a 1-2 finish for the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team.
Cameron, who was last year’s AMA Pro Racing Daytona Sportbike Champion, is having a phenomenal rookie season on his #2 Yamaha YZF-R1. Already a winner at Daytona in March in the AMA Pro SuperBike series, the northern Californian has now added a victory to his resume in the Superbike Shootout, as well.
When the race went green, Cameron got off to a good start, but he got balked on the inside in turn one, which shuffled him back to fifth. Undaunted, he went to work and began to make rapid and smooth move progress back to the front. He managed to pass Josh who was, as always, his toughest competitor on track, and then he managed to stretch out a fairly comfortable lead.
Following his win, Cameron commented, “I started on the pole, which is on the inside here at Sonoma Raceway, so I kind of got pinched off in the first turn, which shuffled me back to fifth. This track is very technical, and I’m glad I’ve upped my training this year because it’s helped me handle the big R1. I was able to work myself back up to Josh, who was in the lead, and it wasn’t easy to get around him. It’s great to get this win on my home track and in front of my family and friends.”
After Cameron got balked at the start, Josh was able to work himself into the lead where he stayed for a number of laps until he made a little mistake with Cameron right behind him. That brief lapse enabled Cameron to take the lead where he stayed all the way to the checkers.
“I don’t feel like I can be unhappy with my race after the way the weekend started,” Josh said. I was riding smooth, putting together the best race I could. I made a little mistake, and it really cost me. I rode hard to try to catch back up to Cameron. He rode a great race. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten beaten like that, so congrats to my teammate. He’s riding really well.”
After two rounds of the Superbike Shootout, Cameron is leading the championship and Josh is currently third. The final round of the Shootout will be May 24 and 25 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT.
Tune In To MAVTV For The Yamaha SoCal Nationals Pro Superbike Race
Today’s Pro Superbike race was taped for airing later on MAVTV. Log on to www.MAVTV.com for the exact time and channel, and don’t miss it!
For more racing news, results, photos, videos, and more, be sure to check out:
“Like” us on Facebook: YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, U.S.A.
https://www.facebook.com/yamahamotorusa
Follow us on Twitter: @YamahaMotorUSA
https://twitter.com/YamahaMotorUSA
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: YamahaMotorUSA
https://www.youtube.com/user/YamahaMotorUSA
Follow us on Instagram: yamahamotorusa
http://instagram.com/yamahamotorusa
More, from a press release issued by Sonoma Raceway:
Roseville’s Cameron Beaubier Claims Pro Superbike Win in Sonoma
SONOMA, Calif. (May 4, 2014) – Roseville native and Superbike rookie Cameron Beaubier claimed a dominant victory at Sonoma Raceway, his home track, in the RaceFuelZ Pro Superbike race on Sunday
Beaubier, the pole-sitter, got pinched off at the start and finished the first lap in fifth place, but the 21-year-old charged forward, took the lead from his Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha teammate, Josh Hayes, on lap eight and pulled away to win the 20-lap race by 9.8 seconds.
The event marked the return of professional motorcycle racing to the 12-turn circuit, as a full field of Pro Superbike and Pro Sportbike professional riders joined the American Federation of Motorcycles (AFM) weekend for the Arai Pacific Nationals, Round Two of the GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout Presented by Yamaha Series.
Hayes, a three-time Pro Superbike champion, and Martin Cardenas (Yoshimura Suzuki) rounded out the top three. Beaubier now leads the Championship point standings by four heading into the third and final round at Miller Motorsports Park (May 24-25). Cardenas, the Round One race winner, now sits second in the point standings.
In other pro racing action, Garrett Gerloff came from behind to capture his career-first Dynojet Pro Sportbike race win. Gerloff took the race lead on his Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha YZF-R6 shortly before the halfway point and held it until lap 17. That’s when Stockton’s Bobby Fong and his Triumph Daytona 675R slipped past Gerloff in the Carousel to take over first place.
Gerloff shadowed Fong for the next two laps before making his move to retake the lead in the Carousel on lap 19 of 20. Gerloff then sealed his victory by turning his fastest lap time of the race – and the weekend — on the final lap.
Fong said he was struggling for grip at the end of the race and cruised across the finish line 1.8 seconds behind Gerloff. Gerloff and Fong are now tied for the Dynojet Pro Superbike Championship lead with 45 points each, setting up a dramatic title showdown at the third and final round at Miller Motorsports Park.
Four riders – Jake Zemke, Joe Roberts, Benny Solis and Bryce Prince – were contesting third place, but on lap 13 Zemke lost traction and crashed in Turn 3A. Roberts and Solis each crashed trying to avoid Zemke, but none of the three riders were seriously injured in the incident. Prince was able to escape the pile-up and rode on to finish third on his Tuned Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.
For more information on the GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout Presented by Yamaha Series, visit www.superbikeshootout.com.