ROGER HAYDEN TWICE RUNNER UP AT INDIANAPOLIS
GSX-R 30th Anniversary Livery Popular with the Fans
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Once again Roger Hayden led many laps on his Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing GSX-R1000 and came oh so close to winning, but ultimately it was close runner-up finishes in both legs of the historic MotoAmerica AMA Superbike races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the races part of the combined MotoGP/MotoAmerica weekend. It marked the first Superbike races ever at the fabled 106-year-old racing facility and Hayden, teammate Jake Lewis and the entire Yoshimura Suzuki squad were major players in the momentous occasion.
In addition to the great racing on the track, fans had their phones and cameras out in force all weekend taking photos of the special red and black 30th anniversary color scheme used on Hayden’s Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike. The color scheme was nearly identical to the one used by Kevin Schwantz when he first introduced the Suzuki GSX-R750 to AMA Superbike racing in 1986 with Yoshimura Suzuki.
Hayden opened the weekend strong with a special Thursday practice session where he topped the charts. In Friday’s qualifying Hayden finishes second with a time of 1:37.949. Lewis was a bit off in the session, only managing sixth in the combined Superbike/Superstock 1000 qualifying, but he would find speed later in the weekend.
“We were excited to qualify on the front row,” Hayden said. “We need to make a few changes and hopefully get the bike better for the race, but so far everything’s going good here in Indianapolis.”
In Saturday’s race one it was Hayden leading the way for many laps on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 and battling back and forth with Cameron Beaubier. On the last lap Hayden was trying to get a great drive out of the final turn to attempt to set up a draft move, but he spun up just a little bit and lost drive. He gathered it back and mounted a last gasp charge and came up just .040 of a second short at the finish line. Lewis meanwhile had an excellent race and caught and then battled defending champ Josh Hayes for much of the race, ending up fourth.
Sunday’s race, held in front of an estimated 67,648 fans, was another great scrap between Hayden and his two rivals Beaubier and Hayes. Unfortunately an epic finish was somewhat diminished when rain began falling and the race was red flagged two laps early. Scoring reverted back a lap and that again placed Hayden second behind Beaubier, just .015 of a second from the win.
“It’s a little disappointing to keep getting second by point zero something,” Hayden said. “But the whole Yoshimura Suzuki team has given me a great bike. It’s fun fighting with the two leaders. We want to win and we only have two races left to try to get one. I’m looking forward to New Jersey already and we’ll try to get a win there.”
For Lewis, Indianapolis was especially sweet, not only because he battled Hayes for so long in Saturday’s race, but like Hayden he had many friends and family on hand to watch him at Indy since he lives in neighboring Kentucky.
“This was probably my best week on a Superbike so far even though it was two fourth places,” said Lewis, the outstanding series rookie. “On Saturday I got a bad start, but was able to reel Josh (Hayes) in and had a great battle with him. In race one I was about six seconds back from the winner and today only five seconds. I really wanted to get a podium, especially here at Indy, and I came up just short, but I’m still pretty happy with the weekend. I’m looking forward to New Jersey.”
Next up for Yoshimura Suzuki is the MotoAmerica season finale event at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ on September 11-13.
Indianapolis Superbike Race 1:
1. Cameron Beaubier (Yam)
2. Roger Hayden (Suzuki)
3. Josh Hayes (Yam)
4. Jake Lewis (Suzuki)
5. Elena Myers (Suzuki)
6. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki)
Indianapolis Superbike Race 2:
1. Cameron Beaubier (Yam)
2. Roger Hayden (Suzuki)
3. Josh Hayes (Yam)
4. Jake Lewis (Suzuki)
5. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki)
6. Elena Myers (Suzuki)
2015 Superbike Championship Points:
1. Cameron Beaubier (Yam), 336
2. Josh Hayes (Yam), 318
3. Roger Hayden (Suzuki), 245
4. Jake Lewis (Suzuki), 223
5. Elena Myers (Suzuki), 133
6. Bernat Martinez (Yam), 127
7. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki), 124
8. Danny Eslick (Hon), 92
9. Chris Fillmore (KTM), 82
10. Mathew Orange (Hon), 40
Team Yoshimura Suzuki is grateful for the support of their sponsors: Yoshimura R&D, Suzuki Motor of America, Motorex, Parts Unlimited, Dunlop, Shorai, Sunstar, K&N Performance Filters, NGK Spark Plugs, RK Racing Chain, Genmark Automation, Pilot, Chicken Hawk Racing and Zeta.
About Yoshimura R&D of America: Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com.
About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Outboard Motors and Automotive Parts and Accessories via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. SMAI’s supplier, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles and Outboard Motors. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has 147 distributors in 201 countries. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com
More, from a press release issued by TOBC Racing:
TOBC Racing’s Taylor Knapp Finishes Fifth At Indy To Notch His 13th Top-Five Result In MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 This Season
Indianapolis, IN – Finishing fifth at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Sunday’s Superstock 1000 race, Taylor Knapp’s string of 12 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 podiums in a row may have been snapped, but his consecutive top-five streak is still going strong at 13 races in a row with two more left to go in the season.
Riding his #44 Yamaha YZF-R1 under threatening skies that ultimately produced rain and red-flagged the race due to the wet track, Taylor rode a solid race throughout the tricky conditions to finish fifth in class and ninth overall. On Saturday, Taylor finished on the Superstock 1000 podium.
“We struggled with rear grip pretty bad in the race,” Taylor commented. “It was a bummer because, if we’d been able to build on what we learned from Saturday’s race, I feel like we could have challenged for the win. Unfortunately, I think the cooler temperatures right before the race caught us a little bit off-guard. On the bright side, we still got a top-five finish, and we’re heading to New Jersey next, which is one of my favorite tracks. I’ll be pushing as hard as I can to get TOBC racing and our team sponsors some more wins.”
TOBC racing’s next MotoAmerica event will be the season finale, which will take place on the weekend of September 11-13 at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Watch Round 8 Of The MotoAmerica Championship on CBS Sports
MotoAmerica Round 8 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway will air on Saturday, August 15 at 10:30 AM EST, with a re-air on Wednesday, August 19 at 10:00 PM EST. For the complete MotoAmerica TV broadcast schedule on CBS Sports Network, visit http://www.motoamerica.com/motoamerica-tv-schedul…
For live, online streaming during the race weekend, go to www.MotoAmerica.com and click on “Streaming” under the “LIVE” header in the top-left corner of the page.
More, from a press release issued Kyle Wyman Racing:
Wild weekend for Millennium Technologies/KWR riders at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
MACEDON, N.Y. (Aug. 11) — It was a wild weekend for Millennium Technologies/KWR team at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the eighth round of the MotoAmerica road racing series. Travis earned an impressive 6th place finish in the Supersport category, while older brother Kyle suffered two crashes in each of his Saturday races, ending his weekend early.
The event started on Thursday with rainy practice sessions for the brothers. They both kept it upright, and for Kyle, he shook down his brand new Superstock 1000-spec Yamaha YZF-R1 in full-wet conditions.
“I was a little nervous,” said Kyle, who rode the bike for the first time on Thursday. “It’s rare that I have to shake down a brand new motorcycle during a race weekend, let alone in the full wet. Luckily I’ve hired the best crew I know, and they put together an amazing motorcycle for me. It ran great.”
Friday’s dry sessions would prove much more important than Saturday, as their qualifying times would set the grid positions for the weekend. Kyle’s challenge was to secure himself a spot in ‘Superpole,’ which is a second qualifying privilege reserved for only the top-12 fastest riders in qualifying one of the combined Superbike/Superstock 1000 class. On his final lap of the session, he jumped from 14th fastest up to 12th to bump his rivals down the order.
“Getting into Superpole in our first weekend on the big bike was a huge accomplishment,” Kyle said. “We went into the weekend with no expectations, but having that small victory was big for us as a team, because without it we would miss out on a whole 25-minute session. The extra session was pivotal in our ability to develop the bike.”
Wyman then knocked one more rider down the order during Superpole to qualify one spot better, for 11th position overall, only 1.4 seconds off of Superstock 1000 pole.
For the Supersport class, Kyle jumped on his YZF-R6 alongside Travis for a two-brother assault on qualifying. Travis found himself in front of his older brother with a fast lap early on, ending the session seventh on the grid. Kyle was 11th again.
“I did my best to get right out there with the fast guys to see if I could hang with them,” Travis said. “Sure enough I was able to tag along and I felt comfortable doing it.”
In Saturday’s sole Supersport race, Travis would finally line up against the ‘fast guys.’ He fought his way to a strong 6th place finish.
“I’m really happy with how the weekend went,” said Travis, who will return to Superstock 600 competition after Indianapolis. “We found a good setup on my K-Tech suspension and just went for it. I pushed really hard in the beginning of the race to keep up with the leaders but started losing grip mid-race, but I’m happy to finish sixth. Also happy for this opportunity to come out here and race at such a historic track with the fast guys. Big thanks to the whole KWR team for making it happen.”
Kyle’s race didn’t turn out quite as good, as he found himself tangled up with another rider and ended his race with a high-speed crash, destroying his Millennium Technologies YZF-R6 in the process.
“I was just making a routine out-braking pass down into turn ten, and he just kind of closed his line on me,” Kyle said. “I had nowhere to go, ended up hitting him and going over the high-side. I was lucky not to get tangled up with the bike too bad, but I came down pretty hard.”
Kyle then gridded up for his Superstock 1000 debut immediately following his crash. He strapped on a brand new pair of Sidi boots, Cortech leathers and a fresh Shoei helmet for the race. With a great start off the line, he found himself sixth in turn one, only to be hit by another rider from behind and knocked on the ground yet again.
“It was one of the best starts of my life, and everything was going to plan in turn one,” Kyle said. “I just tried to put the last crash out of my mind, and I was able to do that. It just sucks to have been taken out like that, only 45 minutes or so after the last crash. It was a tough day at the track for sure.”
The KWR team reassembled Wyman’s #33 Excelsus Solutions YZF-R1 for Sunday’s Superstock 1000 warm-up, and Kyle mounted it once again, only to find out that he was not cleared by medical to ride the bike. After an evaluation in the on-site care center, Kyle was deemed to have concussion-like symptoms and wouldn’t be cleared to race.
“While I’m disappointed to have missed out on Sunday’s race, I sure don’t want to push the limits when it comes to concussions,” Kyle said. “I respect and support the doctor’s decision to declare me unfit. I’m just grateful that I was able to walk away relatively unscathed from the weekend, and healthy enough to take a few weeks off and get ready for the final round at New Jersey.”
Up next is the final round of the 2015 MotoAmerica series at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ September 11-13, 2015. All three Wyman brothers will compete once again.
Stay up to date with KWR by visiting www.kylewymanracing.com
More, from a press release issued by McGraw Powersportse/Team21Motosport:
McGraw Powersports Racing and Team21Motosport’s Elena Myers Scores Season Best Finishes At Indy
(Indianapolis, IN) – McGraw Powersports Superbike Pilot, Elena Myers, scored an impressive set of finishes at MotoAmerica’s inaugural visit to the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Piggybacking with MotoGP for the second time this season, this event marked the first time that MotoAmerica Superbikes would race at this historic venue. Myers netted her season best with fifth place in Saturday’s race one and then followed that up with a sixth place in Sunday’s race two.
“Wow, it was another roller coaster weekend for my McGraw Powersports/Team21Motosport Suzuki, but we came away with some pretty solid results, my best so far this season,” Myers said. “It seems like every weekend we roll into town for an event we’re battling intermittent weather, some minor bike issues and a few other things, but my team always puts it all together for me when it counts and gives me the bike I need to do my job. The track took a bit to get used to, being so flat, and I struggled with rear grip quite a bit but other than that, I had a blast and the layout was really fun! I’m slowly inching my way closer towards the front and that’s been the plan all along, just try and improve week in and week out. The fans were great as always and it’s a real treat to race in front of the MotoGP crowds and riders. I really hope we come back next year!”
Myers now moves up to fifth place in the Superbike championship standings with just one round remaining, the finale at new Jersey Motorsports Park in September.
“With just one round remaining and a long break, it’s gonna be nice to get some more training in and prepare for our finale at Jersey,” said Myers. “I’ve got some fun things planned like doing a couple schools and also taking a trip over to the Isle of Man for the ManxGP. I’m just going as a spectator but I’m really looking forward to some R&R for our summer break.”
Team21Motosport would like to thank the following partners for supporting us during the 2015 season: McGraw Powersports, Suzuki, Woodcraft CFM, Armour Bodies, Yoshimura, Maxima Racing Oils, DynoJet, SpeedCell, Spiegler, Arai Helmets, GiMoto, NPMoto, and Freewheeling Suzuki.
More, from a press release issued by Speedcell:
SPEEDCELL EQUIPPED RIDER CLINCHES ANOTHER MOTOAMERICA TITLE
August 11, 2015 (Las Cruces, New Mexico)—Speedcell equipped rider JD Beach secures inaugural MotoAmerica Supersport title at Indianapolis. After the restart of the red flagged race, JD rode a smart six lap race to finish third place and secure the 2015 MotoAmerica Supersport title. JD’s Yamalube Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha team mate Garret Gerloff secured the race victory giving the team plenty to celebrate.
The MotoAmerica Superbike races saw Speedcell equipped Cameron Beaubier achieve the double after Sunday’s race was red flag shortened due to rain.
Speedcell equipped Jake Gagne’s run of form continued on his RoadRace Factory RedBull Yamaha R1, winning both Superstock 1000 races.
Superbike Race 1
1) Cameron Beaubier, Yamaha R1
3) Josh Hayes, Yamaha R1
5) Elena Myers, GSXR100
Superbike Race 2
1) Cameron Beaubier, Yamaha R1
3) Josh Hayes, Yamaha R1
6) Elena Myers, Suzuki GSXR1000
1000 Superstock Race 1
1) Jake Gagne, Yamaha R1
2) Josh Day, Yamaha R1
3) Taylor Knapp, Yamaha R1
5) Steve Rapp, BMW S1000RR
1000 Superstock Race 2
1) Jake Gagne, Yamaha R1
2) Josh Day, Yamaha R1
5) Taylor Knapp, Yamaha R1
Supersport
1) Garret Gerloff, Yamaha R6
3) JD Beach, Yamaha R6
4) Joe Roberts, Yamaha R6
5) Cameron Peterson, Yamaha R6
10) Benny Solis, Honda CBR600
12) Tomas Puerta, Yamaha R6
13) Josh Herrin, Yamaha R6
2015 Champions
600 Superstock Champion
Joe Roberts, Wheels in Motion/ Meen Motorsports, Yamaha R6
600 Supersport Champion
JD Beach, Yamalube Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha R6
About Speedcell Technologies
Speedcell Technologies, a division of ATAG, was established in 2008 to create a lightweight lithium battery alternative to original equipment lead acid batteries. Speedcell engineers design and build all batteries in-house, in the USA. Speedcell builds OEM battery replacement and custom battery solutions for specific applications. Speedcell also works with various cell chemistries and builds battery management systems. Speedcell designs and builds wiring solutions and harnesses in both RACE-SPEC and MIL-SPEC, depending on client needs and budget, utilizing the best connectors from leading companies such as Molex, Deutsch, LEMO. Speedcell supplies batteries to the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. Speedcell is a proud supplier to Monster Energy Graves Yamaha, Yamalube Westby Racing, 21 Motorsports, Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha, Roadrace Factory RedBull Yamaha, Meen Motorsports, TOBC Racing, Benny Solis. Speedcell also supplies batteries to the Factory Yamaha Snowmobile team.
Dealer inquiries
575-915-2265