MILLVILLE, NJ, SEPT 9 – Monster Energy Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes set the single season AMA Superbike win record with yet another dominant victory in Sunday’s race at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
As he’s done all season, Hayes set sail from the start, though not at Saturday’s blistering pace. Still, his lead was no less assailable and grew consistently to the seven-plus second mark before stalling for a few laps. Then, at the end of the race, Hayes again wicked it up to win by 8.640 secs. over teammate Josh Herrin. National Guard Jordan Suzuki’s Roger Lee Hayden was third.
The win was Hayes’ 13th of the year, breaking a tie he’d held with Mat Mladin, the seven-time AMA Superbike champ who won 12 races in 2007. It was also Hayes’ 30th career win, putting him two down on Miguel Duhamel for second all-time. And the win also increased his points lead over Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Young, today’s fourth place finisher, to 98 points. If Hayes takes the pole for the next round in Homestead in two weeks, he’ll need to finish only 15th or better in the first of the two races to clinch his third consecutive crown.
Herrin had his hands full with Team Amsoil Hero’s Geoff May until the 13th lap when May fell behind by a second. Starting the 17th lap May fell in Turn 1, though the circumstances were unclear. It appeared Young may have been involved.
Regardless, it gave Herrin a clear path to second, giving Yamaha their third one-two finish of the season.
National Guard Jordan Suzuki’s Hayden earned his sixth podium of the year and strengthened his fourth place in the championship.
Young had to pass Jordan Suzuki’s Ben Bostrom on the final lap to take back fourth. Bostrom had run off the track on the first lap, dropping to last, before making a spirited run through the field.
MotorcycleSuperstore.com/Attack Racing’s Steve Rapp was three seconds back in sixth and just in front of Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki’s Taylor Knapp, who had his best weekend of the season. He’d finished fourth on Saturday.
AMA Superbike Results:
1. Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
2. Josh Herrin (Yamaha)
3. Roger Hayden (Suzuki)
4. Blake Young (Suzuki)
5. Ben Bostrom (Suzuki)
6. Steve Rapp (Kawasaki)
7. Taylor Knapp (Suzuki)
8. Danny Eslick (EBR)
9. Larry Pegram (BMW)
10. Chris Fillmore (KTM)
