AMA Pro Racing Graves Motorsports Mid Ohio
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.
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