COMPETITION GEARING UP FOR TRIUMPH SUPERBIKE CLASSIC AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (May 3) The date for the Triumph Superbike Classic at Barber Motorsports Park is rapidly approaching, and the highly anticipated return of the AMA Pro Road Racing series couldn’t come at a better time for race fans. So far, the battle at the front in AMA Pro National Guard Superbike has been one of the closest and most exciting of any motorsports discipline in 2012. The June 22-24 weekend will be a “can’t miss” event for race fans to see an epic championship battle in person at the beautiful 2.38-mile circuit in Birmingham. After last year’s title fight was in doubt up to the checkered flag of the final race of the season, Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha’s Josh Hayes and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Young have upped their games even more for 2012. So far, the two have split the four Superbike wins this year. The veteran Hayes, boosted by off-season development by Yamaha for his R1 and a specified training program that saw him enter the season lighter than ever before, jumped out of the gate at Daytona to win Yamaha’s first Superbike race there since 1998. It was a decisive victory and an excellent way to start his title defense. Young, whose “never quit” approach and exciting style have earned him a large fan base, regrouped to take a narrow victory the next day in Florida. Young won the race by just 0.002. Young skillfully managed to hold the lead to the stripe on the last lap, even though it looked like Hayes had him covered for most of the event. At the next race at Road Atlanta, Young took the most exciting win yet. After jockeying with Hayes for the lead, the two touched, and Young went down. The Suzuki GSX-R1000 pilot was able to get his machine back to the pits and repairs were made, but Young was gridded last on the restart. What was to follow will become legend: Young charged through the field in a lap and a half to challenge for the lead. He was able to hold off a last-turn pass attempt from Hayes to win an unforgettable race. Not to be outshone by his rival, Hayes found even more speed for Sunday’s Road Atlanta race. When he was able to make it out front, Hayes completed laps under his qualifying time to take his second win of the year. Headed into the Infineon Raceway round, Hayes leads the points standings by six on virtue of winning all the bonus points awarded for pole position and leading the most laps. Last year’s Barber Motorsports Park races were thrillers, with M4 Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas barely holding off Michael Jordan Motorsports’ Ben Bostrom for the Saturday win on a drying track. Young was able to hold off Hayes and win by less than a second at the scenic 2.38-mile circuit. One challenge for Gulfport, MS, native Hayes will be to topple the Suzuki winning streak at Barber Motorsports Park that extends to 2005. It will be a challenge, but Hayes was able to end Yamaha’s long win drought at Daytona and capture the brand’s first-ever Superbike race victory at Road Atlanta in 2012. “The season is going well so far, but Blake was able to control me and my races there last year. With the improved performance of the R1, I’m hoping to turn that around this time,” said Hayes. Hayes has fond thoughts of the track and encourages fans to come check out the action. “I won my first AMA Pro National Championship in Superstock the first time we raced at Barber Motorsports Park in 2003,” said Hayes. “Atlanta had been the closest national-caliber track to home up until that time. I always have a ton of family and friends there at Barber, so it’s always a great event for me.” While the tenth AMA Pro event at Barber Motorsports Park will be another crucial point in the fight between Hayes and Young, other riders also threaten to complicate matters. Michael Jordan Motorsports pilot Roger Hayden finished third in both Daytona races on the National Guard Suzuki GSX-R1000. Josh Herrin, Hayes’ teammate at Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha, led both Road Atlanta races before finishing third each time. With the Superbike rookie already having reached the podium twice, when will he earn his first Superbike win? The Superbike field has plenty of top-caliber racers and brands. Ben Bostrom will race for Michael Jordan Motorsports after nearly winning race one at Barber Motorsports Park last year. Veteran Larry Pegram will campaign his Foremost Insurance Pegram Racing BMW S1000RR. Promising young rider Chris Fillmore will race the bright orange HMC KTM RC8R. Young’s teammate, Chris Clark will ride the second Yoshimura Suzuki after showing his progress in the early races. Steve Rapp will race at Barber Motorsports Park on his Motorcycle Superstore Attack Performance Kawasaki ZX-10R that has been dubbed the “Black Ops” machine. Chris Ulrich will race his M4 Suzuki GSX-R1000. Two-time Daytona SportBike champ Danny Eslick and Geoff May, coming off a strong weekend in Atlanta, will race the Hero MotoCorp Erick Buell Racing EBR1190RS machines. In addition, the Triumph Superbike Classic will feature the GoPro Daytona SportBike class, Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport, and the Vance & Hines XR1200 Series. Tickets for the Triumph Superbike Classic start at just $15 and can be purchased at www.barbermotorsports.com. Kids 15 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. More, from another press release issued by Zoom Motorsports/Barber Motorsports Park: MOTORCYCLE SUPER SAVER TICKET PACKAGE ANNOUNCED FOR BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK Birmingham, Ala. (May 3) ZOOM Motorsports announced today the creation of the “Motorcycle Super Saver” ticket package, geared towards value-minded, two-wheel racing fans of Barber Motorsports Park. The Motorcycle Super Saver will allow general admission entry and paddock access to all four (4) bike races at Barber Motorsports Park during the 2012 season, as well as a courtesy trip around the famed 2.38 mile, 17-turn circuit located in Birmingham, Alabama. Included in the Motorcycle Super Saver package are the following events: Pirelli / WERA Sportsman Series (May 12 13): Racers from the Southeast and North Florida divisions of the Sportsman Series will compete in several different classes over this three-day event, including Solo 16 and Vintage. Triumph Superbike Classic (June 22 24): 10th consecutive AMA Pro Road Racing event at Barber will highlight 7 races over 3 days, a Fan Walk on Pit Lane, autograph sessions and a Friday Track Walk with several of the racing stars of AMA Pro. Barber Vintage Festival presented by Triumph Dealers (Oct 12 14): The fastest growing celebration of vintage motorcycles returns to the Park with on and off-track racing, the ever popular Barber Swap Meet, an expanded vendor midway, bike shows, club gatherings and much more. WERA Grand National Finals (Oct 26 28): WERA brings their season-ending, championship-culminating event to Barber for the first time in 2012. With a $180 value, the Motorcycle Super Saver is economically priced for Barber fans at only $125, and also includes the opportunity to participate in complimentary motorcycle parade laps during the upcoming Triumph Superbike Classic. “Many of our fans already plan to attend all of the motorcycle events at Barber Motorsports Park,” says Rick Humphrey, Vice President of ZOOM Motorsports, the exclusive promoter and management team for Barber Motorsports Park. “This is simply a way for us to thank them for their patronage, help them save money and take a few laps around what we feel is the best circuit in the world. For fans of bikes and Barber, it’s the best we have to offer.” The Motorcycle Super Saver package will be available until June 21st and can be purchased at www.barbermotorsports.com. While at Barber Motorsports Park, fans are encouraged to visit the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, a 144,000 square foot home to the largest private collection of motorcycles, representing 20 countries and over 200 manufacturers. Tickets to the Museum are available for an additional fee and can be purchased at the door. Tickets for the Triumph Superbike Classic start at just $15 and can be purchased at www.barbermotorsports.com. Kids 15 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult.