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AMA Pro Superbike
AMA SBK: Hayes Takes Point, Looks To Make Point
Josh Hayes claimed the first pole position of the AMA Pro Superbike season, but he won't have a chance to really make a statement until this afternoon's race.
Monster Energy Graves Yamaha's Josh Hayes (Photo: Brian J Nelson)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The AMA Pro Road Racing season opener will air back-to-back-to-back in a three-race block (Superbike Race 1, Daytona 200, Superbike Race 2) on Saturday, March 17 starting at 1:30pm ET on SPEED.
It was no real surprise when defending double AMA Pro Superbike champ Josh Hayes claimed the first available pole position of season with relative ease this morning at Daytona International Speedway.
After all, Hayes picked up the pole here last season as well. And at every other round save one in '11. However, way too frequently for his tastes, those prime starting positions were the launching point for podium finishes on a step other than the one at the top.
Seven poles, three wins. Meanwhile, title rival Blake Young only beat Hayes in QP once, but racked up seven victories, typically after victimizing Hayes on the final lap.
Like he did here at Daytona last year. Twice.
In other words, Josh Hayes may have earned a point already at DIS, but he has yet to make his point.
That doesn't mean everything will be the same when they line up on the grid this afternoon. In '11 Hayes typically had superior pace but couldn't take full advantage because the Suzukis could out accelerate his Yamaha, preventing him from running his prime lines and leaving him vulnerable to attack.
Hayes was a sitting duck on the banking at Daytona last year, as the powerful GSX-R with the light and compact Young sailed by him to storm to the checkered flag twice (once around the outside just to add a little insult to injury).
Hayes left the weekend saying he was satisfied that he did all that he could. Even if he felt that was the case, he's done more to prepare for the rematch. Hayes is lighter and fitter than ever before, claiming he made a special effort to prepare for this weekend in a way he hadn't previously.
"I've never prepared so much for Daytona," he explained, "Daytona has really been where I kicked off my training and got better as the season went on. Last year's races kind of rang in my ear for a long time and I wanted to show up ready to go and try to start off the season better than we did last year even though we rode strong last year."
It was no real surprise when defending double AMA Pro Superbike champ Josh Hayes claimed the first available pole position of season with relative ease this morning at Daytona International Speedway.
After all, Hayes picked up the pole here last season as well. And at every other round save one in '11. However, way too frequently for his tastes, those prime starting positions were the launching point for podium finishes on a step other than the one at the top.
Seven poles, three wins. Meanwhile, title rival Blake Young only beat Hayes in QP once, but racked up seven victories, typically after victimizing Hayes on the final lap.
Like he did here at Daytona last year. Twice.
In other words, Josh Hayes may have earned a point already at DIS, but he has yet to make his point.
That doesn't mean everything will be the same when they line up on the grid this afternoon. In '11 Hayes typically had superior pace but couldn't take full advantage because the Suzukis could out accelerate his Yamaha, preventing him from running his prime lines and leaving him vulnerable to attack.
Hayes was a sitting duck on the banking at Daytona last year, as the powerful GSX-R with the light and compact Young sailed by him to storm to the checkered flag twice (once around the outside just to add a little insult to injury).
Hayes left the weekend saying he was satisfied that he did all that he could. Even if he felt that was the case, he's done more to prepare for the rematch. Hayes is lighter and fitter than ever before, claiming he made a special effort to prepare for this weekend in a way he hadn't previously.
"I've never prepared so much for Daytona," he explained, "Daytona has really been where I kicked off my training and got better as the season went on. Last year's races kind of rang in my ear for a long time and I wanted to show up ready to go and try to start off the season better than we did last year even though we rode strong last year."
AMA SBK Miller Motorsports Park
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