Four-time Superbike Champion Josh Hayes earned the provisional pole position during MotoAmerica Motul Superbike/Bazzaz Superstock 1000 Qualifying Practice Two Friday afternoon at New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey.
Riding his Monster Energy/Yamalube Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike on Dunlop control tires, Hayes lapped the 12-turn, 2.25-mile course in 1:21.130. Not only did Hayes’ lap top a very tightly bunched field, it nearly eclipsed his own pole position time from last season, a 1:21.100.
“It was a good day,” said 42-year-old Hayes. “The boys and I did good work today. We made some progress at Sonoma [Raceway] and Pittsburgh [International Race Complex], so I showed up here with a sense of us heading in the right direction. I don’t know if I have any more outright speed on the race tire, so we worked on setting up our bike to do that pace over race distance.”
MotoAmerica Superbike Championship point leader Toni Elias finished the day second-best with a lap of 1:21.229 on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, but the Spaniard lamented the fact that two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier would not be racing at NJMP due to the injury he suffered during a race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
“Today was very good, and I am happy,” said Elias. “I think our base setup works and we are always near the top. Then in the afternoon we modify something and we find the best setup of the season. Cameron [Beaubier] has been very strong the last few races, and I think with this setup we could fight with Cameron. I’m sad for Cameron and that he’s not here. We could have a good battle and make a good show. I spoke to him on Thursday and told him I hope his surgery goes well. I look forward to have another good fight with him next season.”
Kyle Wyman made the most of riding at his home track and posted the third-fastest lap time, a 1:21.391, on his YCRS/Cambr/Lucas Oil/KWR Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike. Wyman has struggled recently to replicate his early-season speed and race success, so he said he was happy to regain his form on Friday.
South African Mathew Scholtz was fourth overall and the quickest Superstock 1000 rider with a 1:21.648 on his Yamalube/Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. Scholtz, the Superstock 1000 Championship point leader, said he sent his time Friday trying to be as consistent as possible in preparation for this weekend’s 23-lap races.
Elias’ teammate Roger Hayden ended up fifth with a 1:21.815 in spite of struggling with front-end feel on his GSX-R1000. Hayden said that no matter what he tried he could go much faster than 1:22.0, but he was hopeful his crew could come up with some solutions to try on Saturday.
Jake Gagne’s weekend started off with him turning the sixth-best lap time, a 1:21.903, and his temperamental Genuine Broaster Chicken Honda CBR1000RR SP2 Superbike performing well.
Bobby Fong was seventh-best overall and second in the Superstock 1000 class with a time of 1:22.174 on his Quicksilver Latus Motors Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R. Fong said he was working on normal setup stuff, trying to manage the delivery of engine power and to dial in his chassis to suit recent changes.
Danny Eslick finished the day eighth overall and third among Superstock 1000 competitors with a lap of 1:22.343 on his TOBC Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 in spite of an on-track incident with Sylvain Barrier that resulted in Barrier crashing.
Barrier rode back to pit lane after the crash and initiated a physical confrontation with Eslick on pit lane, according to witnesses, and for that confrontation Race Direction assessed a penalty against Barrier that will force him to start Race One from the back of the grid.
Josh Herrin, who is filling in for the injured Cameron Beaubier this weekend, was ninth-fastest overall with a best lap time of 1:22.466, but Herrin said he was happy with his performance considering he was still trying to get comfortable on a Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike that was brand new to him.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Jake Lewis lost a lot of time dealing with a mysterious front-end vibration during the second Qualifying Practice, but at the end of the session, Lewis was able to put together a lap at 1:22.488 (10th overall and fourth in Superstock 1000) to secure a spot in Superpole.
Barrier was 11th in the second Qualifying Practice with a lap of 1:22.623 on his Brixx Performance BMW S1000RR. According to Race Director Doug Chandler, Barrier will be allowed to participate in Superpole on Saturday and whatever grid spot he earns he will be allowed to use for Race Two.
Jason DiSalvo claimed the 12th and final spot in the Superpole qualifying session with a time of 1:22.676 on his Team WD-40/Scheibe Racing BMW S1000RR.
MotoAmerica Championship of New Jersey
MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series
New Jersey Motorsports Park
Millville, New Jersey
September 8, 2017
Motul Superbike/Bazzaz Superstock 1000 Qualifying Practice Two Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Josh Hayes (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:21.130
2. Toni Elias (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike, 1:21.229
3. Kyle Wyman (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:21.391
4. Mathew Scholtz (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:21.648
5. Roger Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), Superbike, 1:21.815
6. Jake Gagne (Hon CBR1000RR SP), Superbike, 1:21.903
7. Bobby Fong (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, 1:22.174
8. Danny Eslick (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:22.343
9. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:22.466
10. Jake Lewis (Suz GSX-R1000), Superstock 1000, 1:22.488
11. Sylvain Barrier (BMW S1000RR), Superbike, 1:22.623, crash
12. Jason DiSalvo (BMW S1000RR), Superbike, 1:22.676
13. Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R1000), Superstock 1000, 1:22.709
14. Bryce Prince (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:23.167
15. Frankie Babuska (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:23.897
16. Anthony West (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, 1:24.420
17. Alan Nelson (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, 1:24.906
18. Alastair Hoogenboezem (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, 1:25.692
19. Max Flinders (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:26.315
20. Felipe MacLean (Kaw ZX-10R), Superbike, 1:27.639
21. Steven Zoumaras (Kaw ZX-10R), Superstock 1000, 1:28.155
22. Jeremy Cook (BMW S1000RR), Superstock 1000, 1:28.525
23. Roi Holster (Yam YZF-R1), Superstock 1000, 1:28.588