The AMA Pro season is over but the silly season is just getting underway.
There are still more unknowns than knowns at this point. Some of the major pieces are falling into place while others remain unresolved.
AMA Pro Superbike champ Josh Hayes will race for Yamaha once again in 2012, but this time around Josh Herrin will join him on a Superbike.
At Yoshimura, runner-up Blake Young looks to return in, but it sounds like he'll be joined by Chris Clark.
Amazingly, Tommy Hayden appears to be out of a ride for the moment. Budget cuts at Suzuki have forced the team to downsize and the three-time 2011 winner seems to be the victim as his seat turns into a pay ride. No one could fault Suzuki keeping Young after his breakthrough season, but Hayden did nothing to lose his seat.
However, what is bad for Yoshimura could be a huge opportunity for another squad.
At worst, Hayden is a close third as the best Superbike rider in the series. On days like race day at Laguna Seca and Sunday at Barber, Sonoma, and Mid-Ohio, he was the best. Tom also has a unique skill set and offers more than just a guy who can win races.
Hayden finished on the podium 11 times last season. The only races Hayden did not make the box? The first Barber race (which Hayden led before it was stopped for rain), the second Barber race when Tommy's engine blew while he was leading, and the season finale at New Jersey when he crashed while making a pass for the lead in a race which had no effect on his championship placing.
