M4 Suzuki's Martin Cardenas (Photo: Evan Williams)

M4 Suzuki's Martin Cardenas had a bite-sized version of former teammate Young's NJMP weekend. Mysteriously off the pace, struggling to remember his way around a track he won at a year ago, Cardenas qualified in 12th, but raced his way up to Hayes' wheel tracks and fourth place at the checkered flag on Sunday.

The transition to Superbike is more difficult than ever these days with no Superstock or open-class FX bikes to cut one's teeth on, but Cardenas showcased his world-class skills in '10 by landing on the podium three times, including a breakthrough first win notched up at BMP. He also gave the fans on the fence plenty of thrills, as his middleweight-derived riding resulted in '90s-style broadslides at racetracks all over the nation. More seat time on the Superbike will refine his riding to better suit the 1000 and once that happens, his late-race heroics could make him the man every other Superbike racer fears when the laps wind down in 2012.

And there's new blood on the horizon as well. Josh Herrin, the winningest SportBike rider of '11, will graduate to the Superbike class and join Hayes at Monster Energy Graves Yamaha on a works R1 in '12. Two-time SportBike champ Danny Eslick is said to be angling for a big bike ride as well with little left for him to prove in DSB.

As if the 2011 AMA Pro Superbike Championship wasn't intriguing enough, 2012 is shaping up to be even more compelling.

A repeat of '11 might be too much to ask for -- the drama, the quality of the racing, a title fight that came down the season's final lap -- but the pieces are in place.

However, despite everything that is right, the sport remains in a difficult position. Some have even suggested it's teetering on the edge of collapse. Such cries of negatively are generally later proven as exaggerated, but there is no denying the championship needs increased support -- support from the manufacturers, from sponsors, from television, and from the organization. But all of this support is fueled and driven by the fanbase and the desire to reach them.

It's time for the fans to wake up, take note of what's going on, and come back in droves. If you decide to pass on the most thrilling form of motorcycle sport currently raging, and it ultimately sinks rather than rebounds in the manner in which it deserves, well, that's on you.

How long until March again?

SPEED.com Motorcycle Racing Editor Chris Martin saw Eddie Lawson win aboard a Kawasaki the first time he attended an AMA Superbike race and witnessed Ben Bostrom win a World Superbike race aboard a V&H Ducati the first time he worked one. He has written about AMA SBK, WSBK, and MotoGP for SPEED.com since 2003. Chris is now on Twitter.