Just two races into the 2008 AMA Superbike season, the YZF-R6 is already proving the merits of its exclusive Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake – with the help of a very talented pair of riders. At the April 19-20 round at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL., Graves Motorsports’ teenager Josh Herrin used his R6’s terrific powerband to win the Supersport race over teammate Ben Bostrom on Sunday while Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jason DiSalvo also grabbed a second and a fourth on his YZF-R1 in the weekend’s premier Superbike-class doubleheader. Bostrom now leads Herrin by two points in the Supersport class while DiSalvo rides in second in Superbike points.
Supersport... The Supersport contest between Herrin and Bostrom was an absolute barnburner. Bostrom couldn’t capitalize on his pole position at the start and was only fourth in the early going, while Herrin got up front quickly and tried to run away with the show. Yet Bostrom used his R6’s power and his own experience to move up field and overtake Herrin for the lead on lap seven. The pair steadily gapped all pursuers and in the closing laps the only question was which Yamaha would win. Herrin re-passed Bostrom on the penultimate lap but couldn’t make it stick, and “B Boz” appeared to have the race under control until the last corner, where he was blocked by back-markers and Herrin swept underneath for the win. “That was the craziest pass I think I’ve ever done in my life!” Josh exclaimed. “I’m sorry to stick it to my teammate like that but it’s something I’ve got to do if I want to win the championship this year.”
“You never know where your fortunes are going to fall, and the biggest compliment I can give is to Josh for hanging on and capitalizing on those lappers,” Bostrom said. “It’s going to be a great racing season. The 600 class is amazing and the R6 is a little too amazing for the other bikes!” Yamaha road racing team manager Tom Halverson added, “Josh and Ben were racing a little harder this time for sure. Josh is aggressive and hungry right now, and it’s going to get intense pretty soon because Josh wants to win races – and he knows he can. But Ben also knows he can win. It’s good for Yamaha that they’re driving each other.” |
