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AMA Pro Superbike
AMA SBK: Infineon Raceway Review
Josh Hayes and Blake Young left Infineon Raceway with another win apiece and even closer in the points chase.
(Photo: Brian J Nelson)
The Great Clips West Coast Moto Jam delivered and then some. The AMA Pro National Guard Superbike class action at Infineon Raceway in particular was heavy on the drama and potentially pivotal championship shifts. However, in the end it came around pretty close to full circle, as the title fight left Sonoma, Calif. every bit as evenly matched and numerically tighter than when the weekend began.
Yoshimura Racing Suzuki's Blake Young and Monster Energy Graves Yamaha's Josh Hayes were once again the men in the headlines. They split the wins for a third consecutive weekend in 2012 to up their season record to three apiece and with just four points separating new leader Young from reigning double champ Hayes in the championship tally.
However, on more than one occasion the points race looked as if it might get blown wide open -- and in both directions.
Hayes continued to demonstrate his mastery around the undulating 2.32-mile circuit and was untouchable from a sheer speed standpoint all weekend long. The Mississippian's Yamaha YZF-R1 has long been recognized as the tool of choice around Infineon Raceway and Hayes put it to good use, repeatedly lapping in the neighborhood of a second stronger than his nearest competitors could manage.
Young struggled to equal his rival's form and found himself on the second row after crashing in qualifying in an attempt to make up ground. Infineon Raceway can be a difficult place to pass, and Hayes' hope was that the Wisconsin native would get mired down the order while he ran away at the front to put some distance between the two in the points race.
It didn't work out that way as Young immediately guided his #79 Suzuki GSX-R1000 from the second row to second position off the stripe. However, even with his stunning start, he still didn't have the pace to present a genuine threat to the champ.
Hayes cruised around to a double-digit victory while Young had to work hard to secure the runner-up position.
"Honestly, the race went to plan," Hayes said. "I was excited to get a good start -- I've been getting beaten up pretty bad on the starts it seems for the first couple of races. I got a pretty good run off the line and had some clear track and hoped I could string together a pretty good first lap and try to get myself a bit of cushion and see where I could go from there. I settled into a rhythm and kept plugging away... All-in-all, just a good day."
A Sunday repeat and resultant perfect points haul weekend seemed inevitable -- until it wasn't. Hayes again ripped free at the front and assembled an advantage of more than a second on just the opening lap of Sunday's race, however, the race and championship picture was thrown on its side along with Hayes' R1 when the champ crashed on the race's second lap.
"I was pushing hard, and sometimes things like this happen," said Hayes, who was upbeat after the race. "I hate it for the team more than anything."
Young was moving into second at the time (which became the lead with Hayes' mistake) and proceeded to show a new aspect to his game; the Yoshimura star controlled the race from the front, first fending off some hungry riders in search of their maiden AMA Pro National Guard Superbike win, before slowly breaking free and claiming a dominating victory of his own.
Hayes was able to pick his fallen R1 back up and diligently worked his way forward from 17th position and some 18 seconds back. In the end he crossed the line in seventh position, less than a half-second removed from fifth.
But thanks to the Yamaha man's prior bonus point bounty of seven points, he remains very much within striking distance, just four points back of Young (166-162).
Yoshimura Racing Suzuki's Blake Young and Monster Energy Graves Yamaha's Josh Hayes were once again the men in the headlines. They split the wins for a third consecutive weekend in 2012 to up their season record to three apiece and with just four points separating new leader Young from reigning double champ Hayes in the championship tally.
However, on more than one occasion the points race looked as if it might get blown wide open -- and in both directions.
Hayes continued to demonstrate his mastery around the undulating 2.32-mile circuit and was untouchable from a sheer speed standpoint all weekend long. The Mississippian's Yamaha YZF-R1 has long been recognized as the tool of choice around Infineon Raceway and Hayes put it to good use, repeatedly lapping in the neighborhood of a second stronger than his nearest competitors could manage.
Young struggled to equal his rival's form and found himself on the second row after crashing in qualifying in an attempt to make up ground. Infineon Raceway can be a difficult place to pass, and Hayes' hope was that the Wisconsin native would get mired down the order while he ran away at the front to put some distance between the two in the points race.
It didn't work out that way as Young immediately guided his #79 Suzuki GSX-R1000 from the second row to second position off the stripe. However, even with his stunning start, he still didn't have the pace to present a genuine threat to the champ.
Hayes cruised around to a double-digit victory while Young had to work hard to secure the runner-up position.
"Honestly, the race went to plan," Hayes said. "I was excited to get a good start -- I've been getting beaten up pretty bad on the starts it seems for the first couple of races. I got a pretty good run off the line and had some clear track and hoped I could string together a pretty good first lap and try to get myself a bit of cushion and see where I could go from there. I settled into a rhythm and kept plugging away... All-in-all, just a good day."
A Sunday repeat and resultant perfect points haul weekend seemed inevitable -- until it wasn't. Hayes again ripped free at the front and assembled an advantage of more than a second on just the opening lap of Sunday's race, however, the race and championship picture was thrown on its side along with Hayes' R1 when the champ crashed on the race's second lap.
"I was pushing hard, and sometimes things like this happen," said Hayes, who was upbeat after the race. "I hate it for the team more than anything."
Young was moving into second at the time (which became the lead with Hayes' mistake) and proceeded to show a new aspect to his game; the Yoshimura star controlled the race from the front, first fending off some hungry riders in search of their maiden AMA Pro National Guard Superbike win, before slowly breaking free and claiming a dominating victory of his own.
Hayes was able to pick his fallen R1 back up and diligently worked his way forward from 17th position and some 18 seconds back. In the end he crossed the line in seventh position, less than a half-second removed from fifth.
But thanks to the Yamaha man's prior bonus point bounty of seven points, he remains very much within striking distance, just four points back of Young (166-162).
AMA SBK Homestead-Miami
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