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AMA Pro Superbike
AMA SBK: Geaux Beau!
Cameron Beaubier might be the fastest rising star in the paddock, but Yamaha has more talent in its ranks than Superbike seats to go around.
Y.E.S./Graves Yamaha's Cameron Beaubier (Photo: Evan Williams)
When word came down that Josh Herrin's rookie AMA Pro Superbike season had come to an early conclusion due to a training crash, the first thought that popped in my head was, 'Yamaha should throw Cameron Beaubier on the #2 bike this weekend.'
It wasn't a genuine consideration; I immediately understood the scenario was not only unlikely but arguably a flat-out bad idea (220 horsepower combined with no preparation could make for a painful offseason). Beaubier also still has a shot at securing runner-up in the DSB title chase (although in the grand scheme of things, what's the difference between second and third… or sixth?).
That said, that flickering light bulb did lead down a wandering mental path pondering what Yamaha USA should do with Beaubier for 2013.
The word around the paddock is that, after securing a second AMA Pro Daytona SportBike crown, Martin Cardenas is a hot commodity and likely to return to the premier class next season. However, as talented as the Colombian is, his aura of invincibility was dented due to the stunning second-half effort mounted by teenager Beaubier (although the GEICO-backed champ will be licking his chops at the opportunity of taking some measure of revenge this weekend with his title concerns put to bed).
The Y.E.S./Graves Yamaha pilot has not only won six of nine races, he did so by beating Cardenas at his own game on more than one occasion. And as quickly as he's progressing, what exactly is there be left for him to prove or learn in SportBike next year, particularly if Cardenas isn't around to challenge him?
Looking to 2013, who's interests should be served -- the manufacturer/team or the rider?
Already locked up for next season, Beaubier would be considered a favorite to not only win, but roll through the SportBike championship if he remains on the undercard. Assuming Josh Hayes is retained, the Mississippian should be more than capable of holding down the fort in Superbike, giving Yamaha a very strong possibility of winning both championships in 2013 (and despite fielding big-budget, big-talent teams, Yamaha has yet to win a SportBike crown).
It seems obvious that it's in Yamaha's best interest to keep Beaubier in SportBike. But is it in Beaubier's? A SportBike title would certainly look nice on the resume, but Cameron seems destined for bigger and better things, and allowing him to advance now, with SportBike seemingly already mastered, may be the best thing for his continued development.
Another year in 600s wouldn't only potentially stall his progress but reinforce 'bad' middleweight habits that are hard to unlearn when a rider makes the tricky transition from SportBike to Superbike.
Cardenas never really did alter his style during his one-off year in Superbike in '11. While that made for a seamless transition back to SportBike (unlike that of Tommy Hayden, who had worked hard to turn himself into a true Superbike rider), it also made for an uneven year on the big bike. Cardenas was very fast and impressively courageous on the #36 GSX-R1000, but he also suffered his share of crashes and scared the bejeezus out of his rivals every now and then. He'll also still have the difficult style transition standing in front of him in his Superbike return next year if he wants to become a genuine Josh Hayes challenger.
It wasn't a genuine consideration; I immediately understood the scenario was not only unlikely but arguably a flat-out bad idea (220 horsepower combined with no preparation could make for a painful offseason). Beaubier also still has a shot at securing runner-up in the DSB title chase (although in the grand scheme of things, what's the difference between second and third… or sixth?).
That said, that flickering light bulb did lead down a wandering mental path pondering what Yamaha USA should do with Beaubier for 2013.
The word around the paddock is that, after securing a second AMA Pro Daytona SportBike crown, Martin Cardenas is a hot commodity and likely to return to the premier class next season. However, as talented as the Colombian is, his aura of invincibility was dented due to the stunning second-half effort mounted by teenager Beaubier (although the GEICO-backed champ will be licking his chops at the opportunity of taking some measure of revenge this weekend with his title concerns put to bed).
The Y.E.S./Graves Yamaha pilot has not only won six of nine races, he did so by beating Cardenas at his own game on more than one occasion. And as quickly as he's progressing, what exactly is there be left for him to prove or learn in SportBike next year, particularly if Cardenas isn't around to challenge him?
Looking to 2013, who's interests should be served -- the manufacturer/team or the rider?
Already locked up for next season, Beaubier would be considered a favorite to not only win, but roll through the SportBike championship if he remains on the undercard. Assuming Josh Hayes is retained, the Mississippian should be more than capable of holding down the fort in Superbike, giving Yamaha a very strong possibility of winning both championships in 2013 (and despite fielding big-budget, big-talent teams, Yamaha has yet to win a SportBike crown).
It seems obvious that it's in Yamaha's best interest to keep Beaubier in SportBike. But is it in Beaubier's? A SportBike title would certainly look nice on the resume, but Cameron seems destined for bigger and better things, and allowing him to advance now, with SportBike seemingly already mastered, may be the best thing for his continued development.
Another year in 600s wouldn't only potentially stall his progress but reinforce 'bad' middleweight habits that are hard to unlearn when a rider makes the tricky transition from SportBike to Superbike.
Cardenas never really did alter his style during his one-off year in Superbike in '11. While that made for a seamless transition back to SportBike (unlike that of Tommy Hayden, who had worked hard to turn himself into a true Superbike rider), it also made for an uneven year on the big bike. Cardenas was very fast and impressively courageous on the #36 GSX-R1000, but he also suffered his share of crashes and scared the bejeezus out of his rivals every now and then. He'll also still have the difficult style transition standing in front of him in his Superbike return next year if he wants to become a genuine Josh Hayes challenger.
AMA SBK Miller Motorsports Park
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