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AMA Pro Superbike
AMA SBK: ‘13 Grid Finally Taking Shape
A handful of big names have announced their '13 intentions, others are tipping their hand, and a few big question marks remain.
(Photo: Evan Williams)
With Josh Hayes announcing he’s returning to race with Yamaha in America for two more years at the recent International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, the 2013 AMA Pro Superbike season is starting to shape up.
Hayes returning was no surprise. Maybe the “two years” part is, though. The three-time champ has talked about looking for new challenges and there was even some World Superbike talk this year.
There’s been no official announcement but everyone expects Josh Herrin to return as his teammate. Herrin was fourth in points despite missing New Orleans and had 10 podiums. Herrin had a chance to go Moto2 racing in 2013 but decided to stay in the US. An opportunity like that could be a once-in-a-lifetime shot, or it could reappear should Herrin whip Hayes some in ’13.
It looks like Michael Jordan Motorsports will be Roger Hayden and Danny Eslick. Hayden won at Miami and has been solid in his two years with the team. He and the team did not make the leap in competitiveness that seemed possible in late-’11, but the Homestead victory plus the Mid-Ohio race that Josh Hayes categorized as the toughest he was challenged all year stand for a lot.
Hayden felt a little outgunned in '12 and there were races like at Daytona that saw him battle for extended periods with Josh Herrin where Rog might have been riding better but he couldn’t shake the fast Yamaha. If there was some consolation, it’s that Hayden ultimately earned third in series points behind Hayes and Blake Young.
The Jordan organization has always been fond of Eslick and had shown interest in the Oklahoman in the past. Eslick put the EBR on the podium three times last year. The Jordan ride is a prime seat.
The rumor going around these days claims that Martin Cardenas has signed a letter of intent with Yoshimura Suzuki to ride their Superbike. Cardenas is one of the top talents in America, a two-time DSB champion, and had a good learning year on the Team Hammer bike two years ago in which he won a race as a Superbike rookie at Barber.
The feeling amongst the Yoshimura team last year was frustration when Blake Young struggled. They thought they were going to fight for a championship, not spend the season congratulating the winners in victory circle as the second place trophies piled up.
Cardenas will ride hard for whichever team he races for in 2013. If it is Yosh, the expectation is race wins.
Geoff May had a good year in 2012 for EBR and was the more consistent of the team’s riders. May will be back in 2013. He was joined by Cory West as EBR raced a CCS weekend at Homestead.
Good news for the brand is they have lined up floor plan financing for their dealer network.
KTM/HMC has Chris Fillmore and Taylor Knapp for 2013.
Everyone expects Larry Pegram back. In fact, you can watch season 2 of his reality show on SPEED starting up in early January.
Hayes returning was no surprise. Maybe the “two years” part is, though. The three-time champ has talked about looking for new challenges and there was even some World Superbike talk this year.
There’s been no official announcement but everyone expects Josh Herrin to return as his teammate. Herrin was fourth in points despite missing New Orleans and had 10 podiums. Herrin had a chance to go Moto2 racing in 2013 but decided to stay in the US. An opportunity like that could be a once-in-a-lifetime shot, or it could reappear should Herrin whip Hayes some in ’13.
It looks like Michael Jordan Motorsports will be Roger Hayden and Danny Eslick. Hayden won at Miami and has been solid in his two years with the team. He and the team did not make the leap in competitiveness that seemed possible in late-’11, but the Homestead victory plus the Mid-Ohio race that Josh Hayes categorized as the toughest he was challenged all year stand for a lot.
Hayden felt a little outgunned in '12 and there were races like at Daytona that saw him battle for extended periods with Josh Herrin where Rog might have been riding better but he couldn’t shake the fast Yamaha. If there was some consolation, it’s that Hayden ultimately earned third in series points behind Hayes and Blake Young.
The Jordan organization has always been fond of Eslick and had shown interest in the Oklahoman in the past. Eslick put the EBR on the podium three times last year. The Jordan ride is a prime seat.
The rumor going around these days claims that Martin Cardenas has signed a letter of intent with Yoshimura Suzuki to ride their Superbike. Cardenas is one of the top talents in America, a two-time DSB champion, and had a good learning year on the Team Hammer bike two years ago in which he won a race as a Superbike rookie at Barber.
The feeling amongst the Yoshimura team last year was frustration when Blake Young struggled. They thought they were going to fight for a championship, not spend the season congratulating the winners in victory circle as the second place trophies piled up.
Cardenas will ride hard for whichever team he races for in 2013. If it is Yosh, the expectation is race wins.
Geoff May had a good year in 2012 for EBR and was the more consistent of the team’s riders. May will be back in 2013. He was joined by Cory West as EBR raced a CCS weekend at Homestead.
Good news for the brand is they have lined up floor plan financing for their dealer network.
KTM/HMC has Chris Fillmore and Taylor Knapp for 2013.
Everyone expects Larry Pegram back. In fact, you can watch season 2 of his reality show on SPEED starting up in early January.
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