Graves Yamaha's Josh Herrin (Photo: Brian J Nelson)
2008 was supposed to be the season in which Josh Herrin finally unlocked the secret to unleashing his sublime talent. And while things didn't exactly go to plan, ultimately, it might have done the trick.
Herrin entered his second full season of AMA competition fresh off his first career victory in the '07 finale and he came out swinging. The opening of the Supersport season turned out to be a Graves Yamaha benefit, with Herrin and teammate Ben Bostrom running 1-2 in just about every practice, qualifying session, and race during the opening two rounds of the year, all the while looking very much like a threat to turn the championship into a two-man affair.
Things were so good for Herrin that his biggest worry following three races (all podiums finishes, including a hard-earned win over Bostrom at Barber Motorsports Park) was finding a way to nab those bonus points given out for winning pole position more frequently, fearing otherwise it might ultimately cost him the championship.
However, his season then went into a free fall, as he strung together five consecutive races outside the top five, including 26th, 19th, and 14th place finishes.
Paddock politics hit Herrin hard and some behind the scenes clashes with his teammate after the two scrapped at Barber and Fontana knocked the youngster well off his game.
Late last season Bostrom, who ultimately ran off with the Supersport title, explained what had caused Herrin's slump with some rather blunt words, claiming, "Starting out the season with Josh there, I was going to work with him to help the team finish 1-2 and I figured I'd win every race. At Barber I kept looking behind me and letting him follow along. What I should have done is just left because we were quite a bit faster than everybody there, probably a second a lap. I didn't. I figured I'd help the kid get up to speed and we'd finish 1-2. Unfortunately we came into traffic in the last corner and Josh took a really big chance to pass me and was this close to taking me out. From that point on out I said, 'you won't win again.'
"After that race I took him aside and said, 'Josh, don't ever pull that (stuff) again because I'm trying to help you so we can finish first and second.' That risky move could have taken both of us out of the title.
"At the next race he pulled the same (stuff) again so at Fontana I had to sit him down again and he just didn't get it. So I said, 'Josh you're on your own. Best of luck to you.'
