Blake Young (Photo: Evan Williams)

Last year, Blake could get away with playing catch up in the races. Latch on, make some moves, and slow down the pace.

Hayes won every pole, save one, but it didn’t usually pay off for him (at least in terms of individual race outcomes). Young and Tommy Hayden combined to win ten races, the same number Hayes said was his goal for himself and Yamaha. Hayes would never say it, but he was outgunned to an extent. His bike was good but he had a hard time in straight up fights. If he could get away and cut clean laps, he was fine. Otherwise…

Rather than get frustrated, Hayes kept working and still managed to win the championship anyway.

Yamaha improved the R1 over the offseason (which was the biggest step) and Hayes continued to improve his riding as well. He’s pushed very hard in practice and qualifying like he always has but there’s been a real sense of urgency. At Road America Hayes went over a second faster in the first practice than Young did all weekend.

Young admits he’s been in a funk the last few races. Throughout the Elkhart Lake weekend, he was slower than last year.

Hayes is in good shape with six rounds left and 20 point in hand. We have to figure it’s really more since his pole-point proclivities mean he’ll probably win most of those.

For Young, it might be rough times right now but it’s the best thing possible for his career. Hayes will make Blake improve the weakest points in his game. Having someone who can challenge Young is important. Who racing in the US right now can push Blake right now? Only Hayes, really. Josh Herrin on occasion, but that’s been more of Young struggling a little bit.

So what’s the problem? The Suzuki camp isn’t happy about the technical allowances AMA Pro has given Yamaha. That’s valid, but you have to go faster than last year.

There’s a line of thinking that Yoshimura losing Tommy Hayden has hampered Young. With Tommy under the tent, you had another guy at the front and if things get sideways, Blake’s guys could always check out Tommy’s setup.

If Blake’s going to turn this around this year, there’s no place better to start than Barber. He’s always been really good there and Josh has never won in Superbike in Alabama. He needs to hit it early.