Monster Energy Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes captured the AMA Pro National Guard Superbike pole position today with a time of 2:11.333 around the 4.05-mile natural road course called Road America. Not only was Hayes’ time the fastest and 1.6 seconds faster than any other rider in the field, it was fast enough for a new AMA Pro Superbike lap record for the track. This marked the first time that a rider on a current-specification AMA Pro Superbike has broken an outright lap record from the previous era of AMA Pro Superbikes, which were more heavily modified and ridden by men like seven-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion Mat Mladin and three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion Ben Spies. Mladin held the previous Road America Superbike lap record at 2:11.541, which he did in 2007. The now-retired racer went faster, 2:11.208, during Race Two at Road America in 2006, but AMA Pro Racing only counts laps turned during qualifying as lap records. Subway Superbike Doubleheader/AMA Pro Road Racing National Guard Superbike Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin June 2, 2012 Provisional Combined Qualifying Results (all on Dunlop tires): 1. Josh Hayes (Yam YZF-R1), 2:11.333 2. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:12.908 3. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R1), 2:13.079 4. Ben Bostrom (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:13.537 5. Roger Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:13.698, crash 6. Geoff May (EBR 1190RS), 2:13.844 7. Steve Rapp (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:13.866 8. Larry Pegram (BMW S1000RR), 2:14.070 9. Danny Eslick (EBR 1190RS), 2:14.153 10. Chris Clark (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:14.667 11. Chris Fillmore (KTM RC8 R), 2:14.770 12. David Anthony (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:14.914 13. Jason Farrell (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:15.723 14. Robertino Pietri (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:15.812 15. Stefan Nebel (KTM RC8 R), 2:15.932 16. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:16.623 17. Jordan Burgess (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:19.141 18. Reese Wacker (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:19.886 107% of Fast Time: 2:20.526 19. Trent Gibson (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:20.550 20. Greg Fryer (Yam YZF-R1), 2:23.825 21. Tony Porter (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:27.045 22. Johnny Rock Page (Suz GSX-R1000), no times recorded More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Blue Hayes: Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha’s Josh Hayes Vaporizes Five-Year-Old SuperBike Lap Record At Road America; Fourth Pole In A Row For Mississippi Madman Elkhart Lake, WI June 2, 2012 After flirting with the track record in earning the provisional pole yesterday, Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha rider Josh Hayes broke the all-time SuperBike track record at Road America and earned a valuable bonus point for winning the pole. It was the fourth pole position in as many tries this season for the two-time reigning SuperBike Champion. Hinting that he thought he had a realistic shot at the record after yesterday’s provisional qualifying, Josh proved to be prophetic as he clicked off the record-breaking lap of 2:11.33 on lap 8, which was at about the halfway point of the laps he ran in this morning’s final qualifying session aboard his #1 crossplane-crankshaft Yamaha YZF-R1. “I’m obviously happy to break the track record because it speaks well of what we’re doing out there,” Josh said. “But, the most important thing is the race, so my focus, as always, is on winning.” Josh Herrin, rider of the #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1, kept himself in the top three in final qualifying and will also start on the front row for this afternoon’s and tomorrow afternoon’s races. “We’ve got a good race setup, and I’m ready to go,” commented Josh. The SuperBike rookie’s confidence is pinned right now, coming off the momentum he gained by finishing second in last weekend’s SuperBike race at Miller Motorsports Park. SuperBike Race 1 is scheduled for this afternoon at 3:15 CST, and SuperBike Race 2 will go green on Sunday at 3:30 PM CST. For news, results, and other team info, be sure to check out Yamaha’s Facebook page.
Hayes Takes AMA Pro Superbike Pole Position With New Lap Record At Road America
Hayes Takes AMA Pro Superbike Pole Position With New Lap Record At Road America
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