AMA Pro Superbike Race One came down to a thrilling duel between Monster Energy Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Roger Hayden, who were fighting each other for the lead while struggling to find traction on the very wet Thunderbolt Course at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
After several passes, Hayes finally overtook Hayden on the drive from the final corner to the checkered flag to take what appeared to be his seventh win of the season and clinch the 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship.
But three hours and 10 minutes after the race was finished, AMA Pro Racing Communications Manager Patrick Buganski came into the media center and announced: “After reviewing all the information [including video footage] available and interviewing officials and corner marshals it was deemed that Josh Hayes made a pass on Roger Hayden under a waving yellow flag condition in Turn One related to the Frankie Babuska incident [crash]. Hayes has been assessed a 20-second time penalty, resulting in Roger Hayden winning the race and Hayes finishing second. Hayes still clinches the 2014 Superbike Championship.”
Buganski said, after consulting with AMA Pro Road Racing Director David McGrath, that Hayes cannot appeal the decision.
The following results and Championship point standings have been revised to reflect this development.
Kawasaki Devil’s Showdown/AMA Pro Road Racing
AMA Pro SuperBike
New Jersey Motorsports Park
Millville, New Jersey
September 13, 2014
Revised Provisional Race One Results (wet conditions, all on Dunlop tires):
1. Roger Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), 23 laps
2. Josh Hayes (Yam YZF-R1), -19.734 seconds*
3. Larry Pegram (EBR 1190RS), -93.092 seconds
4. Sean Dwyer (Suz GSX-R1000), -1 lap
5. Cameron Beaubier (Yam YZF-R1), -1 lap, 69.826 seconds, crash
6. Marcel Irnie (BMW S1000RR), -1 lap, 73.328
7. Chris Clark (Suz GSX-R1000), -1 lap, 77.842
8. Cory West (EBR 1190RS), -1 lap, 79.788
9. Chris Ulrich (Hon CBR1000RR), -1 lap, 80.686, ran off track
10. Taylor Knapp (Suz GSX-R1000), -1 lap, 87.849
11. Johnny Rock Page (Suz GSX-R1000), -4 laps
12. Jake Holden (Duc 1199 Panigale R), -7 laps, DNF, retired
13. Bernat Martinez (Yam YZF-R1), -13 laps, DNF, crash
14. Frankie Babuska (Suz GSX-R1000), -13 laps, DNF, crash
15. Martin Cardenas (Suz GSX-R1000), -15 laps, DNF, crash
16. David Anthony (Suz GSX-R1000), -17 laps, DNF, crash
17. Chris Fillmore (KTM RC8R), -19 laps, DNF, crash
18. Jodi Christie (Hon CBR1000RR), -22 laps, DNF, crash
19. Jon Couch (Suz GSX-R1000), -23 laps, DNS
20. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R1000), -23 laps, DNS
21. Tony Leong (Suz GSX-R1000), -23 laps, DNS
* assessed a 20-second penalty for passing under a waving yellow flag
Revised Championship Point Standings (after 10 of 11 races):
1. Hayes, 255 points
2. TIE, Beaubier/Hayden, 206
4. Clark, 162
5. Anthony, 159
6. Cardenas, 126
7. Fillmore, 119
8. West, 114
9. Pegram, 92
10. Ulrich, 83
11. Martinez, 80
12. TIE, Page/Babuska, 61
14. Knapp, 60
15. Trent Gibson, 55
16. Dwyer, 48
17. Diego Pierluigi, 28
18. Reese Wacker, 27
19. TIE, Jason Farrell/Stefano Mesa, 20
More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:
Four for Four: Josh Hayes claims another AMA Pro SuperBike title at New Jersey as Roger Hayden wins the race
MILLVILLE, N.J. (Sept. 13, 2014) – Monster Energy Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes added to his legend today at the Kawasaki Devil’s Showdown, securing his fourth AMA Pro SuperBike Championship in five seasons at New Jersey Motorsports Park while Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s Roger Hayden was awarded his first win of the season.
Faced with treacherous wet conditions, what seemed like a relatively simple task for a rider of Hayes’ caliber – third or better to clinch the crown – became significantly more complicated.
However, rather than go the conservative route, Hayes waged an intense duel for victory with Hayden.
The slick conditions caught several riders out. Hayden’s teammate, Martin Cardenas, crashed from the lead on lap 7 of 23. Proto-Tech Spain’s Bernat Martinez challenged for first himself before the Spaniard crashed out of contention as well on lap 10. Newly-crowned Canadian Superbike champion Jodi Christie crashed out of third on his Honda Canada/Accelerated Technologies CBR1000RR on the race’s second lap. And Hayes’ teammate and title rival, Cameron Beaubier, fell in the opening laps while running in the top five, leaving just Hayes and Hayden to decide the victor.
The two lapped their way through the field, ultimately putting every rider not on the podium a lap down as they challenged each other’s skill and bravery.
The two traded the top spot multiple times on the final laps. Hayden, who came into the race dinged up after injuring his shoulder in a testing crash, looked to hold the advantage with just a single corner to go. However, a single mistake was all Hayes needed and the Mississippian pounced. Hayes blasted past Hayden, who spun up the rear while trying to get on the power, just feet ahead of the checkered flag.
However, Hayes was later hit with a penalty for passing under yellow during their shootout, dropping him to second in the final results and elevating Hayden to first.
Hayes is just the second rider in AMA Pro SuperBike history to earn four titles, joining seven-time champ Mat Mladin in that accomplishment. Throughout the season Hayes demonstrated his superiority in multiple conditions and will be reunited with the No. 1 plate.
“I had so much fun riding today,” the champ said. “We don’t get to go splish-splashing that often. Roger was riding so good, I was throwing everything I had at him. Unfortunately he spun up on the front straight away. I was able to get the R1 hooked up and across the line. I’m really proud of my team. Four championships in six years ain’t so bad.
“I feel so lucky that I’m 39 years old and have a place that I call home. These guys are so good to me. If I’m riding motorcycles and winning races I’m a pretty happy guy. All the other things that come along with that are bonuses. I’m excited that I can be a four-time AMA SuperBike Champion and I will do everything in my power to continue that.”
Hayden was happy with the race and the show he and Hayes put on.
“It’s not really the way I’d like to win them but I do remember at that point in the race the waving yellow when he came by me in Turn 1,” Hayden said. “I rode hard enough and good enough to win so I feel good for me and team. We didn’t want to let Yamaha sweep the whole series this year so we’re excited about that. Hopefully we’ll get one without any controversy tomorrow.”
Foremost Insurance Pegram Racing’s Larry Pegram was the last rider on the lead lap and that was good enough to earn him third on the day.
“I don’t think I’ve ever went that slow and got third in my life,” Pegram joked. “Once I got up to third and I was running a fairly good pace, they showed me plus-20 and my guys were telling me to slow down, but I couldn’t go any slower! That was one of the most treacherous rain races I’ve ever ridden. There just wasn’t any grip. It was a good day for us. When the rain came, I knew we could be competitive.”
Vicious Cycle Racing’s Sean Dwyer came home in fourth while Beaubier remounted and worked his way back up to fifth.
Mobibuff/Irnie Racing’s Macel Irnie finished sixth on his BMW S1000RR, followed by Yoshimura Suzuki’s Chris Clark, Team AMSOIL Hero EBR’s Cory West and GEICO Motorcycle Racing Honda’s Chris Ulrich.
TOBC Racing II’s Taylor Knapp rounded out the top ten.
With the championship in the books, Hayes will be free to let it rip on Sunday in the 2014 season finale.
AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike
Dane Westby won his third AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race of the year on Saturday. The Yamalube/Westby Racing pilot outlasted his rivals and the weather to take the victory after he’d earned his first career pole earlier in the day. Jake Gagne finished second and clinched the championship for the RoadRace Factory/Red Bull team, taking the checkers in front of Jake Zemke.
Westby zipped to the lead in the restarted race and motored away, even as the rain increased during the 16 laps.
“I am ecstatic … over the moon,” said Westby after his third win of the year. “I knew that Jake was going to be big competition. It was pretty hairy. The rear end came around on me two corners from the end of the race. It was extremely treacherous. Someone was saying I have won more races in Daytona SportBike than anyone else in the class this year, so that was interesting. I am really looking forward to getting one more chance at things tomorrow.”
Westby’s third win of the year is more than any other rider in the class.
Gagne earned the title when he finished second and rival Jake Lewis retired from the race with electrical problems. Gagne charged up through the field and held second after passing Zemke.
“It’s incredible and the last thing I thought was to have this thing wrapped up today. I saw (Lewis) wasn’t on the grid. The race was tough,” said Gagne, “and the year was great. It was my third year on the team and they are the hardest working group of guys I have seen. I don’t really know what to say … I am ready to get on with it and race again tomorrow.”
Zemke, on the GEICO Motorcycle Racing entry, earned his first podium of the year.
Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha’s Garrett Gerloff and Danny Eslick of Riders Discount Racing Triumph earned top fives in some of the most challenging race conditions in recent memory.
Only nine riders finished the event as heavy attrition made the 16 laps seem longer – at least for Westby and Gagne.
AMA Pro SuperSport
TOBC Racing’s Hayden Gillim won Saturday’s shortened AMA Pro SuperSport race and increased his points lead to seven with one race to go. Gillim took a bold approach to the difficult conditions at the beginning of the race, taking the holeshot over fast local ace Mar Del Racing’s Mark Miller, Jr. and the polesitter, HSBK’s Dustin Dominguez.
Gillim did relent the first position for a time, but the points leader rallied to take back the lead before the rain increased and the race was stopped after a crash.
“I wasn’t worried about the weather too much. I was worried about the gap back to Dustin,” said Gillim. “The red flag was out and it must have been pretty bad. I know tomorrow is going to be hard because Dustin is so quick and this being a wet race, it didn’t help our dry setup t all. We’re going to be fighting as hard as we can for these precious points.”
Dominguez took second place on the day, having run down Miller before the stoppage as he continued to build his pace after what the Oklahoman described as a too-cautious start.
Gillim and Dominguez will settle their championship battle with tomorrow’s finale.
Wyatt Farris was classified fourth even though he had fallen on his Celtic Racing/HVMC-backed Suzuki as did several members of the group fighting for those positions. Justin Jones (Showtime Inc.) and Richie Escalante (Escalante Racing) also fought for the position.
AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series
With no rain expected tomorrow, only three riders chose to take part in Saturday’s provisional qualifying session. Jupiter Cycle Racing’s Jon Foy earned provisional pole, followed by the Chili Pepper Racing duo of Hayden Schultz and Shelina Moreda.
AMA Pro SuperBike Race 1: Top 5 Finishers
1. Roger Hayden (Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing/Suzuki)
2. Josh Hayes (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha/ Yamaha)
3. Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance/ Pegram Racing/ EBR)
4. Sean Dwyer (Vicious Cycle Racing/ Suzuki)
5. Cameron Beaubier (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha/ Yamaha)
AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Race 1: Top 5 Finishers
1. Dane Westby (Yamalube Westby Racing/ Yamaha)
2. Jake Gagne (RoadRace Factory/Red Bull/ Yamaha)
3. Jake Zemke (GEICO Motorcycle Racing/ Honda)
4. Garrett Gerloff (Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy Graves/ Yamaha)
5. Danny Eslick (Riders Discount Triumph/ Triumph Daytona)
AMA Pro SuperSport Race 1: Top 5 Finishers
1. Hayden Gillim (TOBC Racing/ Suzuki)
2. Dustin Dominguez (Houston Superbikes/ Yamaha)
3. Mark Miller Jr. (Mar Del Auto Wholesalers/ Yamaha)
4. Wyatt Farris (Celtic/HVMC Racing/ Suzuki)
5. Justin Jones (Showtime Inc./ Suzuki)
How to Watch
FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Road Racing and AMA Pro Flat Track events in 2014. The site also provides coverage of IMSA’s development and single-make series, and NASCAR’s touring and weekly series.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
SuperBike Championship Four For #4, As Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha’s Josh Hayes Wins The 2014 Season Championship
Millville, NJ – September 13, 2014 – At the beginning of the season, when Josh Hayes traded in the #1 on his Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1 SuperBike for his trademark #4, it was also an omen. And, in Saturday’s AMA Pro SuperBike Race 1 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, that omen became reality when the #4 on Josh’s bike became a tally of the number of SuperBike Championships that the “Mississippi Madman” has won in his amazing career. For Yamaha, it marked the fifth consecutive AMA Pro SuperBike Championship.
What made Josh’s Championship even more special is that he also earned the pole for the race–his fifth of the season–and he followed that up by crossing the finish line first in one of the best SuperBike races of his career. Ultimately, he wasn’t credited with the win because AMA Pro Racing deemed that one of Josh’s multiple passes on Roger Hayden was made under a waving yellow flag. As a result of AMA Pro’s decision, a 20-second time penalty was assessed on Josh, which only moved him back one spot in the official final results and still netted him the Championship with one round still remaining.
“I wanted to win the race, and I gave it everything I had,” Josh commented. “I didn’t want to come here and have anyone feel that I was riding around for the Championship. In fact, I wasn’t even really thinking about the Championship too much. I was confident out there despite the (rainy) conditions. I knew that I just had to ride my race and I’d be OK.I had fun today.”
Josh’s teammate Cameron Beaubier–riding the #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1–finished 5th in the race, which was an excellent result considering that he had a tipover early on in the wet and very treacherous track conditions.
With a better weather forecast for Sunday, both Cameron and Josh are looking forward to racing hard for the win in SuperBike Race 2, which will go green on Sunday at 4:00 PM ET.
For more Yamaha racing news, results, photos, and videos, check out www.YamahaMotorsports.com/Racingor your favorite Yamaha social media channel.