Cypress, CA October 30, 2012 – It’s always seems to be party time down on the bayou, so what better place for the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team to wrap up its historic SuperBike season than with local hero Josh Hayes strutting his stuff in front of friends and family at NOLA Motorsports Park?
With teammate Josh Herrin out of action due to a training injury, it was solely up to the Mississippi Madman to bring it with authority. And, bring it, Josh did. To the tune of earning both the provisional and overall pole positions, leading every lap in both races, winning both races, and winning the coveted surfboard trophy for being The Big Kahuna of the event.
It was the perfect weekend for Josh, who seemingly knew everyone in attendance by name. And, despite the obvious commitments and responsibilities, he was not the least bit distracted from his primary job: to win aboard his #1 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1.
Josh clinched the 2012 SuperBike championship–his third such title in a row–at the previous GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing round in Homestead-Miami Raceway, so the Gulfport, Mississippi, native was literally riding for pride at NOLA. And, with his father Kurt, his mother Marsha, a throng of aunts and uncles, his manager Gina, his neighbors, the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick-maker apparently all making the short 90-minute trip down from Gulfport to New Orleans, Josh did not disappoint anyone in attendance.
For a festive look back at the final weekend of the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team’s season, highlighted by Josh Hayes’ epic performance, check out the video:
You’ll meet Keith McCarty, who is the Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha and has been with the company for more than 35 years. Keith talks about the U.S. Road Racing Teams’ important relationship with Monster Energy. You’ll also meet Jeff Myers, who has been with Yamaha for over 15 years and is one of the masterful technicians responsible for the #1 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1. Jeff talks about Yamalube and how the racing team relies on Yamalube products to not only win races, but also three SuperBike championships in a row.
Cypress, CA October 24, 2012 – The final round of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing series was a memorable one for the Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha team, as 19-year-old Cameron Beaubier and 17-year-old Garrett Gerloff each piloted their Yamaha YZF-R6s to wins in their respective race classes at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, LA.
Cameron won Saturday’s AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Race One and finished second in Sunday’s Race Two and, on the strength of his one-two finish, he was named “The Big Kahuna” of the event and was awarded the coveted surfboard trophy. He was also The Big Kahuna at the previous DSB round at Homestead-Miami Speedway, so Cam and his girlfriend Kayla Weaver can now hit the waves together up in northern California where they both live.
Meanwhile, Garrett battled back from a technical issue with his #96 Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha R6 during Saturday’s AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport Race One, and he won Sunday’s Race Two to finish out the season on a high note.
Tommy Hayden returned to DSB action aboard his #22 R6, but he was still unfortunately feeling the effects of the multiple injuries that he suffered in a crash at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Tommy put in a yeoman’s effort at NOLA, and he finished 10th and 7th on the weekend.
For highlights of “The Y.E.S. Men” in New Orleans, check out this video:
You’ll also meet Kyle Guglielmetti, Skye Girard, and Geoff Cesmat, who are all crewmembers on the Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha team. The “three amigos” give you insights into their jobs, while also telling you about some of the parts and equipment that they rely on from the team’s sponsors, including Ringers Gloves, Dynojet Dynamometers, and Dynojet Power Commander Quick Shifters.
Look for more videos to come from both of the Yamaha U.S. Road Racing Teams: Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha and Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha.
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Cypress, CA October 4, 2012 – Round 11 of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing series saw 19-year-old Yamaha Extended Service/Graves Yamaha rider Cameron Beaubier pilot his #6 Yamaha YZF-R6 to yet another win in the hotly contested AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class.
Despite the changeable weather that brought rain, wind, thunder, and lightning to Homestead-Miami Speedway–along with track conditions that ranged from dry, to wet, to varying degrees of wet and dry–Cameron accepted the challenge with his usual calm demeanor and riding skills belying his young age. He earned the pole and won Saturday’s Race One–his sixth race win out of the past nine starts–and then, he finished third in Sunday’s Race Two to make it a perfect 12 for 12 in podium appearances in the DSB races that he has finished this season. And, to top it all off, on the strength of his 1-3 finishes, Cameron was named the Big Kahuna of the event and was awarded the coveted surfboard trophy, which is an appropriate prize for a guy who hails from northern California.
Seventeen-year-old Garrett Gerloff was also in action at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and he raced his #96 Yamaha YZF-R6 to solid eighth- and seventh-place finishes in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport class, at a track on which he’d never even seen in person, let alone, ridden.
For highlights of the Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha riders in South Florida–including an interview with Cameron–check out this video:
You’ll also meet Rick Williams, Team Manager of Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha, who talks about how the team relies so heavily on Yamaha Generators, both in the paddock and right out on the starting grid.
Look for more videos to come from both of the Yamaha U.S. Road Racing Teams: Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha and Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha.
Cypress, CA October 1, 2012 – At Round 11 of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing series, two-time defending AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes became the three-time SuperBike Champ, despite facing a rare bit of adversity over the weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The changeable South Florida weather made for a bit of extra drama as Josh crashed unhurt, remounted his #1 R1 and rejoined the race in 20th, and then finished 12th in SuperBike Race One, which delayed his title win by one more day. On Sunday, it all came good for Josh and his Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha crew as “Hurricane” Hayes won SuperBike Race Two and, in doing so, secured his third consecutive title.
Meanwhile, Josh Herrin, rider of the #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1, also battled adversity at Homestead-Miami. He finished 19th in Saturday’s Race One after running off the track and suffering a tipover, but then, he bounced back to finish 4th in Sunday’s Race Two.
For an up-close look at the two Joshes in action from Homestead-Miami, check out this video:
Also, in the video, you’ll get to meet Tom Halverson, who is the Team Manager for Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha and has worked for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., for more than 25 years. Tom talks about what a privilege it is to work for Yamaha, as well as with such a great group of team members and team sponsors.
Look for more videos to come from both of the Yamaha U.S. Road Racing Teams: Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha and Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha.
Cypress, CA September 20, 2012 – Round 10 of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing series was a big one for the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Two-time defending AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes “batted a thousand” once again on his #1 Yamaha YZF-R1 SuperBike as he earned his 9th pole position in a row, his 12th and 13th race wins on the season, and his 9th and 10th consecutive SuperBike victories this year, not to mention leading every lap from start to finish in both New Jersey races.
Meanwhile, Josh Herrin, rider of the #2 R1, battled back from the adversity of a practice-session crash early in the weekend to finish fifth in Saturday’s Race One and a strong second in Sunday’s Race Two.
For an up-close look at the two Joshes in action from NJMP, check out this video:
Also, in the video, you’ll get to meet Jim Roach, who is Josh Hayes’ crewchief. Jim talks about the Dunlop tires that have played a major part in Yamaha’s racing success all the way back to the days of Kenny Roberts and his Dunlop-shod Yamaha YZR500 GP machines.
Look for more videos to come from both of the Yamaha U.S. Road Racing Teams: Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha and Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha.
Say “Y.E.S.!” To The Latest Video From The Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Team
Cypress, CA September 15, 2012 – After a six-month absence from GEICO Motorcycle AMA Road Racing competition, 17-year-old Garrett Gerloff was back in action this past weekend during the American Red Cross Devil’s Showdown at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Garrett came back with a vengeance–or at least with as much vengeance as one of the nicest riders in the paddock can muster–and he piloted his #96 Yamaha YZF-R6 to second-place and fifth-place finishes in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport class.
Garrett Gerloff New Jersey Motorsports Park Graves Motorsports Video Review
For an inside look at Garrett’s return, along with other highlights of the Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha Team at New Jersey, take a look at this video:
You’ll also get to meet Colin Haugh, who heads up the Yamaha Extended Service program. He talks about what the benefits of Y.E.S. to Yamaha owners, as well as how sponsorship of a racing team benefits Y.E.S.
Look for more videos to come from both of the Yamaha U.S. Road Racing Teams: Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha and Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha.
Graves Motorsports suspension technician Kyle Gugliometti demonstrates the proper way to set and adjust your motorcycle’s rear suspension preload. Products demonstrated in this video can be found at www.gravesport.com
Graves Motorsports is a leading motorcycle sport bike parts and accessories manufacturer. Graves Motorsports produces exhaust systems, fender eliminator kits, frame sliders, velocity stacks, engine case covers, engine performance and the leading resource for Dynojet Power Commander + accessories. Graves Motorsports has two locations: Van Nuys, California and Kennesaw, Georgia. www.gravesport.com
