Beau’tiful Pass By Beaubier To Win Daytona SportBike Race At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca For Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha; Hayden Also Podiums

Monterey, CA July 29, 2012 – In a display of awesome racecraft belying his 19 years of age, Cameron Beaubier made a deft pass on the final lap of today’s AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race at Mazda Raceway Laguna to take the win. It was Cameron’s fourth victory out of the past five races aboard his #6 Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6.

Cameron’s teammate Tommy Hayden was also in the lead pack and very much in contention for the win. The eldest Hayden brother, who won last year’s SuperBike race at Laguna Seca, finished a close third today and earned his fifth podium of the season

After his victory, Cameron said, “I was trying to be patient during the race, but I wanted so bad to lead it! On the last lap, I tried to go around the outside in turn one, and that got me set up to make an inside pass in turn two. That pass stuck, and I brought it home for the win. It’s been a tricky weekend for us here at Laguna Seca, with not as much track time as I’d like. My entire crew worked hard, and I’m really glad to get the win for them.”

Even though Cameron missed some races earlier in the season due to injury, he has now moved up another notch in the Daytona SportBike Championship points standings and shares third place with Tommy.

After a well-earned summer break, the Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha team will travel coast to coast for the next GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing round on September 7 through 9 at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Turn It Up To 11 For Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha As Josh Hayes Wins SuperBike Race At U.S. Grand Prix; Herrin Battles For Podium

 

Monterey, OH July 29, 2012 – If 10′s good, then 11 is even better for Josh Hayes as he won his 11th AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike race of the season. His victory today at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was that much sweeter, since it was a career first in SuperBike for Josh at the famed 2.238-mile, 11-turn natural road course. And, as icing on the cake, it was Josh’s 28th career SuperBike win, tying him with Ben Spies for third on the all-time wins list.

Right from his starting position on the pole, Josh put his #1 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1 up front and stayed there from flag to flag, eventually building a lead of more than nine seconds by the time he took the checkered flag.

“I want to be the fastest guy in every session,” Josh said after his win. “Practice, qualifying, every lap all builds up to the race. That’s why I want the pole every time out…and, of course, the wins. I’ve built up a cushion with the points now, so it’s all about the wins now. We’ve got a good head of steam going, and I just want to keep it going.”

Josh Hayes is now leading his third consecutive SuperBike Championship by 74 points with six races and three rounds remaining on the season.

Josh’s identically first-named teammate Josh Herrin spent most of the race in second behind the two-time defending SuperBike Champ. As the laps wound down, Josh got caught in the clutches of a pack of rapidly advancing riders. He was passed by one rider and went back to third, but Josh and his #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1 were not about to take things lying down. On the final lap, Josh made his pass for second, only to be passed again. With nary a corner left to the finish line, Josh made a pass into second once again, but he ultimately got passed at the stripe and finished in third by a scant .023 of a second.

Today’s third-place finish was Josh Herrin’s ninth podium of the season, and he remains in third place in the season points standings.

The AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike series will take a month break, but the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team will remain hard at work getting ready for the remainder of the season. They’ll travel coast to coast for the next GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing round on September 7 through 9 at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

www.gravesport.com

 

Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Rider Beaubier Podiums At Mid-Ohio; Teammate Hayden Finishes Fourth

Lexington, OH July 14, 2012 – Racing in the lead group throughout nearly the entirety of today’s AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race, Cameron Beaubier had a tense moment coming into the esses at Mid-Ohio as he missed a gearshift aboard his #6 Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6, ran slightly wide, and momentarily lost rear grip. The moment essentially sealed Cameron’s fate and cemented his third-place finish.

“I downshifted one gear too many before entering the esses,” Cameron said. “I would have been OK, but there’s a little bit of sealer just off the race line in that corner, and that’s unfortunately where I was. I was able to make the turn, even though the back-end of the bike got pretty loose, but it really messed up my lap. And, with only a couple of laps left to go in the race, I had to settle for third today.”

Cameron’s Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha teammate Tommy Hayden rode a smooth race aboard his #22 R6, which netted him a solid, fourth-place finish. Both riders will consult with their teams, and make plans to come back stronger for tomorrow’s race.

 

Buckeye Blitz For Josh Hayes As Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Rider Wins Saturday SuperBike Race At Mid-Ohio

Lexington, OH July 14, 2012 – Showing himself to be the class of the field once again, two-time reigning AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes raced his #1 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1 to another convincing victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Josh, who earlier today, earned another bonus point for winning his seventh consecutive pole position in seven SuperBike rounds thus far, also earned a bonus point for leading the most laps in today’s race, along with the lion’s share of the points for notching his 9th win of the season.

After Josh’s convincing victory, he wanted to give due credit to his team. He said, “I kept my wits about me and focused on running good, clean laps. All in all, our bike worked really well. Every time I show up at the track, my Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha crew gives me a great bike, for qualifying and for the races. It’s a pleasure to ride for them.”

Josh Herrin, who started from third position on the grid, was Josh Hayes’ closest competition for the majority of the race…until disaster struck. Coming into the Carousel, which is a circuitous turn that leads onto the front straight, Josh uncharacteristically tucked the front-end on his #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1 and took a tumble into the grass. He remounted unhurt, but he had to make a pitstop so his crew could make repairs to his bike. Despite being five laps down, Josh returned to the track determined to finish the race, which he did. It was an admirable job by the SuperBike rookie, and he’ll regroup, undoubtedly using that same determination to come back stronger for tomorrow’s race.

 

Beau’ Coup For Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Rider Beaubier Who Wins Daytona SportBike Race 2 At Mid-Ohio; Teammate Hayden Finishes Fifth

Lexington, OH July 15, 2012 – 19-year-old Cameron Beaubier showed, once again, that he’s a rider to be reckoned with in AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike competition as he notched another win on the season, this time in Sunday’s Race 2 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha rider expertly raced himself to the front of the field and held onto the position with steely determination as the laps wound down, ultimately finishing the race with a comfortable lead as he took the checkered flag.

Cameron, who has won three of the last four DSB races, said, “I knew I had the pace to win, and I was just trying to get out front. Once I got in the lead, I put together some fast laps, and I was able to pull away from the pack. It was a great day, and I can’t thank my entire Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha crew enough.”

Cameron’s Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha teammate Tommy Hayden was also in the lead pack throughout the majority of the race and finished fifth. Tommy is currently in third place in the Daytona SportBike Championship points standings, and Cameron has now moved up to fourth place, despite missing some races earlier in the season due to injury.
Monster Energy To The 10th Power As Josh Hayes Wins SuperBike Race 2 At Mid-Ohio; Teammate Herrin Leads Race, Ultimately Settles For Third

Lexington, OH July 15, 2012 – The two Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha riders, Josh Hayes and Josh Herrin, raced in formation, as well as back and forth, in today’s AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Two-time reigning SuperBike Champion and current points leader Josh Hayes notched his 10th SuperBike victory of the season aboard his #1 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1.

After Josh Hayes passed his teammate Josh Herrin for the lead, Roger Lee Hayden got past Herrin and set out for Hayes. Hayden made a couple of passes on Hayes and the lead seesawed, but Hayes ultimately prevailed in one of the most exciting SuperBike races so far this season. It was the kind of close racing that the fans and the riders really enjoy, which made it an extra-special win for Josh Hayes and his crew.

“It was a lot of fun,” Josh said in victory circle. “Josh (Herrin) got a good start, which he usually does. The first few laps up there, he was really kicking my butt. Once I got by him, which wasn’t easy, I was able to put together some really clean laps. After a few laps, I saw on the pit board that Roger (Hayden) was in second. Rog got by me, and I really had to work hard to pass him. But, once I did, I wasn’t going to let him by me again. I kept the inside line and concentrated on running strong laps. That did the trick. I’m really happy with this win. It wasn’t easy, and that makes the win even sweeter.”

Josh Hayes is now leading his third consecutive SuperBike Championship by 67 points with seven races remaining on the season.

The SuperBike Champ’s rapidly rising teammate, Josh Herrin, had an eventful day in this, his rookie season racing the #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1. Josh stayed stuck to Josh Hayes’ back wheel in the first part of the race, and he got around the Mississippi Madman to lead the contest. Hayes then passed Herrin, and the younger Josh had used up his tires a bit, so he eventually had to settle for third.

Commenting on his time in the lead, Josh said, “I wanted to see what it was like to lead one of these things.”

After an uncharacteristic tip-over in yesterday’s SuperBike Race 1, Josh was pleased with today’s result. “We put in a lot of work this weekend and, after yesterday’s fall, I’m glad to be up here on the podium,” Josh said. “This is my first year in SuperBike, so I’m happy with how things are going so far. I’m not quite able to hang with Josh yet, but I’m going to keep trying.”

Today’s third-place finish was Josh Herrin’s eighth podium of the season, and he sits solidly in third place in the season points standings.

The Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team will travel back to California and get ready for the next race, which will be the weekend after next at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on July 27-29 for Round 8 of the AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Championship.

www.gravesport.com