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AMA Pro Superbike
AMA SBK: 2013 Championship Prediction Countdown - #5
With the Daytona season opener just days away, we place our bets on the 2013 AMA Pro Superbike Championship, starting at #5.
Danny Eslick (Photo: Brian J Nelson/AMA Pro Racing)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The AMA Pro Superbike season opener will air on SPEED on Friday, March 15 at 6:00pm ET with Race 2 airing Sunday evening at 9:00pm. The Daytona 200 will air on SPEED at 1:30pm ET on Sunday, March 17. The Vance & Hines HD race and the twin SuperSport races will air LIVE on SPEED2.
The AMA Pro Superbike season is just days away, and with that, we're kicking off our annual top five title picks. But before that, here's a quick review of our 2011 and 2012 predictions along with the seasons' actual standings to provide you with a bit of context -- and us with a degree of credibility… or lack thereof.
2011
Evan Williams
5. Roger Hayden (National Guard Jordan Suzuki)
4. Ben Bostrom (Jordan Suzuki)
3. Blake Young (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki)
2. Josh Hayes (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
1. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki)
Chris Martin
5. Roger Hayden (National Guard Jordan Suzuki)
4. Martin Cardenas (M4 Suzuki)
3. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki)
2. Blake Young (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki)
1. Josh Hayes (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
2011 Actual Final Standings
6. Roger Hayden (202)
5. Ben Bostrom (209)
4. Martin Cardenas (231)
3. Tommy Hayden (288)
2. Blake Young (358)
1. Josh Hayes (363)
2012
Evan Williams
5. Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance Pegram Racing BMW)
4. Josh Herrin (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
3. Roger Hayden (National Guard Jordan Suzuki)
2. Blake Young (Yoshimura Suzuki)
1. Josh Hayes (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
Chris Martin
5. Josh Herrin (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
4. Ben Bostrom (Jordan Suzuki)
3. Roger Hayden (National Guard Jordan Suzuki)
2. Josh Hayes (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
1. Blake Young (Yoshimura Suzuki)
2012 Actual Final Standings
7. Larry Pegram (260)
6. Ben Bostrom (271)
5. Geoff May (277)
4. Josh Herrin (307)
3. Roger Hayden (314)
2. Blake Young (426)
1. Josh Hayes (580)
In other words, I took it to Evan in '11 and he returned the favor in '12. It sort of reminds me of my stint as a fantasy football GM in Junior High when my powerhouse team of Dan Marino, Warren Moon, Barry Sanders, Neal Anderson, Andre Rison, Mark Clayton, etc. led me to believe I was a budding Bobby Beathard. My ego-induced roster the following season featured Vinny Testaverde, Rodney Hampton, and Ricky Irvins as its cornerstones. It was a painful return to earth.
Anyway… moving forward, starting with our picks for #5 in 2013:
Evan Williams: Danny Eslick - Jordan Suzuki
After a season on the Buell, Eslick has switched to Michael Jordan's team for 2012. Eslick has a lot going for him, including a remarkable amount of skill developed on the dirt tracks of his native Oklahoma as a youth. Danny can ride it sideways, always a helpful trait with 200-horsepower Superbikes.
Eslick has two DSB crowns to his credit, so he knows how to finish races and earn points, too. Combine that with his aggression and the ceiling is very high.
When Roger Hayden won on the team's bike at Miami last year after being competitive the previous summer, it raised expectations. Eslick has already been on the Superbike podium, so a win is the next goal.
For Danny, the first challenge is about to the Suzuki, learning what the bike can do and how to make it suit his style. The biggest challenge is with the team. Can they close the gap to Yamaha this year?
Chris Martin: Danny Eslick - Jordan Suzuki
From Suzuki to Buell to Suzuki to EBR and back to Suzuki (while dabbling on H-Ds now and then)... Danny Eslick has shown remarkable adaptability in recent seasons, consistently rapid no matter what class or configuration he's armed with.
The Oklahoman is being presented with his best opportunity for genuine AMA Pro Superbike stardom in 2013 as he hooks up with Michael Jordan's squad while brandishing the famed #23 on his racebike.
Eslick is a promoter's dream incarnate: He arguably boasts the most exciting riding style in the field and is heavy on the charisma off the bike as well, always quick with a smile and a quip. However, there have long been whispers questioning whether or not he has the sort of 24/7/365 focus required to develop from a two-wheeled human highlight film into a legitimate Hayes hunter.
Due to his natural gifts and major league potential, Danny gets the nod at #5 over a handful of contenders worthy of consideration for the spot -- including his former EBR teammate, Geoff May, who was considerably more consistent a year ago and ranked fifth in the final points compared with Eslick's eighth-place standing.
SPEED.com Motorcycle Racing Editor Chris Martin saw Eddie Lawson win aboard a Kawasaki the first time he attended an AMA Superbike race and witnessed Ben Bostrom win a World Superbike race aboard a V&H Ducati the first time he worked one. He has written about AMA SBK, WSBK, and MotoGP for SPEED.com since 2003. Chris is now on Twitter.
The AMA Pro Superbike season is just days away, and with that, we're kicking off our annual top five title picks. But before that, here's a quick review of our 2011 and 2012 predictions along with the seasons' actual standings to provide you with a bit of context -- and us with a degree of credibility… or lack thereof.
2011
Evan Williams
5. Roger Hayden (National Guard Jordan Suzuki)
4. Ben Bostrom (Jordan Suzuki)
3. Blake Young (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki)
2. Josh Hayes (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
1. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki)
Chris Martin
5. Roger Hayden (National Guard Jordan Suzuki)
4. Martin Cardenas (M4 Suzuki)
3. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki)
2. Blake Young (Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki)
1. Josh Hayes (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
2011 Actual Final Standings
6. Roger Hayden (202)
5. Ben Bostrom (209)
4. Martin Cardenas (231)
3. Tommy Hayden (288)
2. Blake Young (358)
1. Josh Hayes (363)
2012
Evan Williams
5. Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance Pegram Racing BMW)
4. Josh Herrin (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
3. Roger Hayden (National Guard Jordan Suzuki)
2. Blake Young (Yoshimura Suzuki)
1. Josh Hayes (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
Chris Martin
5. Josh Herrin (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
4. Ben Bostrom (Jordan Suzuki)
3. Roger Hayden (National Guard Jordan Suzuki)
2. Josh Hayes (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha)
1. Blake Young (Yoshimura Suzuki)
2012 Actual Final Standings
7. Larry Pegram (260)
6. Ben Bostrom (271)
5. Geoff May (277)
4. Josh Herrin (307)
3. Roger Hayden (314)
2. Blake Young (426)
1. Josh Hayes (580)
In other words, I took it to Evan in '11 and he returned the favor in '12. It sort of reminds me of my stint as a fantasy football GM in Junior High when my powerhouse team of Dan Marino, Warren Moon, Barry Sanders, Neal Anderson, Andre Rison, Mark Clayton, etc. led me to believe I was a budding Bobby Beathard. My ego-induced roster the following season featured Vinny Testaverde, Rodney Hampton, and Ricky Irvins as its cornerstones. It was a painful return to earth.
Anyway… moving forward, starting with our picks for #5 in 2013:
Evan Williams: Danny Eslick - Jordan Suzuki
After a season on the Buell, Eslick has switched to Michael Jordan's team for 2012. Eslick has a lot going for him, including a remarkable amount of skill developed on the dirt tracks of his native Oklahoma as a youth. Danny can ride it sideways, always a helpful trait with 200-horsepower Superbikes.
Eslick has two DSB crowns to his credit, so he knows how to finish races and earn points, too. Combine that with his aggression and the ceiling is very high.
When Roger Hayden won on the team's bike at Miami last year after being competitive the previous summer, it raised expectations. Eslick has already been on the Superbike podium, so a win is the next goal.
For Danny, the first challenge is about to the Suzuki, learning what the bike can do and how to make it suit his style. The biggest challenge is with the team. Can they close the gap to Yamaha this year?
Chris Martin: Danny Eslick - Jordan Suzuki
From Suzuki to Buell to Suzuki to EBR and back to Suzuki (while dabbling on H-Ds now and then)... Danny Eslick has shown remarkable adaptability in recent seasons, consistently rapid no matter what class or configuration he's armed with.
The Oklahoman is being presented with his best opportunity for genuine AMA Pro Superbike stardom in 2013 as he hooks up with Michael Jordan's squad while brandishing the famed #23 on his racebike.
Eslick is a promoter's dream incarnate: He arguably boasts the most exciting riding style in the field and is heavy on the charisma off the bike as well, always quick with a smile and a quip. However, there have long been whispers questioning whether or not he has the sort of 24/7/365 focus required to develop from a two-wheeled human highlight film into a legitimate Hayes hunter.
Due to his natural gifts and major league potential, Danny gets the nod at #5 over a handful of contenders worthy of consideration for the spot -- including his former EBR teammate, Geoff May, who was considerably more consistent a year ago and ranked fifth in the final points compared with Eslick's eighth-place standing.
SPEED.com Motorcycle Racing Editor Chris Martin saw Eddie Lawson win aboard a Kawasaki the first time he attended an AMA Superbike race and witnessed Ben Bostrom win a World Superbike race aboard a V&H Ducati the first time he worked one. He has written about AMA SBK, WSBK, and MotoGP for SPEED.com since 2003. Chris is now on Twitter.
AMA SBK Homestead-Miami
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