Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Riders Go One-Two In Final Qualifying For Daytona 200
Daytona, FL March 15, 2012 – The two young riders who make up the Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Daytona SportBike Team were the class of the field in final qualifying for the 72nd running of the Daytona 200, as Cameron Beaubier earned the pole, and his teammate Garrett Gerloff will start right next to him in second position on the grid.
Cameron earned the coveted Rolex wristwatch for winning the pole, and the 20-year-old from Roseville, CA, continues to earn the utmost respect from his fellow riders for his talent, racecraft, and sportsmanship.
Commenting on his pole-qualifying effort, Cameron Beaubier said, “The track temp came up, and I got a good draft on the last straightaway to the finish. I felt pretty good, and thought I might get a faster lap at the end, but I’m obviously happy to win the pole. The Rolex watch is such a cool thing, and to join guys like Scott Russell and all the other legends who have won the pole and gotten the Rolex, it’s a great feeling.”
Garrett Gerloff, the 17-year-old phenom from Spring, TX, said, “Conditions were a lot better this afternoon, for sure. This was my first Daytona 200 qualifying, so I’m thrilled and I can’t wait for the race tomorrow.”
The Daytona 200 field is set, and the start of the 57-lap event is scheduled for Saturday, March 16 at 1:00 PM. Check your local TV listings for Speed TV’s telecast of the race.
Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Rider Josh Herrin Scores His First Career SuperBike Victory With A Race 1 Win At Daytona
Daytona, FL March 15, 2012 – Last year’s National Guard AMA Pro SuperBike Rookie of the Year Josh Herrin stepped up big in the first race of his sophomore SuperBike season as he won Race 1 at Daytona International Speedway.
Early race leader Josh Hayes, who is Josh Herrin’s Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha teammate and three-time and defending SuperBike Champion, suffered a rare mechanical issue with his #1 Yamaha YZF-R1, and he was unfortunately unable to finish the race. That left Josh Herrin, who was shadowing Josh Hayes at the front of the pack, to take up the charge for the team.
Josh Herrin kept his bike in the lead for the remainder of the race and took the well-earned checkered flag at the same track where he won the Daytona 200 in 2010.
After his breakthrough victory, Josh said, “It feels really good to win my first SuperBike race. I did all I could to keep my #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1 in the lead, and it all worked out great. I can’t wait till tomorrow’s Race 2.”
Finishing third on the day, in his debut race aboard his Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing/ Yamaha R1, was veteran rider and Ohio native Larry Pegram. After earning the podium finish, Larry said, “My guys really stepped up for me and got my R1 ready. I got a good start and kept myself in third. I tried to push to close up the gap to second place, but I finally had to settle for third. It was a great start to the season for our team, and my new R1.”
SuperBike Race 2 from Daytona is set for Saturday, March 16 at 11:00 AM. Check your local TV listings for Speed TV’s telecast of the race.
Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Rider Josh Herrin Finishes Second In Daytona SuperBike Race 2
Daytona, FL March 16, 2012 – Following up his first career AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike win in yesterday’s race, Josh Herrin finished second in Sunday’s SuperBike Race 2 at Daytona International Speedway.
Unfortunately for Josh Herrin’s teammate, three-time defending SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes, adversity struck the Mississippi Madman when his #1 Yamaha YZF-R1 expired at the beginning of Lap 12 with a mechanical issue.
Josh Herrin took up the charge for the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team and battled with Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing/Yamaha R1 rider Larry Pegram for second place all the way to the finish line, with Josh finishing just ahead of Larry, who was third at the checkered flag.
After the race, Josh Herrin said, “I felt comfortable with the pace while I was sitting behind Josh, and it was unfortunate for him that he was unable to finish the race. I’m happy to get second today after my win yesterday and really happy to be leading in the Championship points.”
“Josh and I had a good battle to the finish line,” Larry said. “And I did all I could to draft past him at the line…but it wasn’t to be. Still, I’m happy to get two podium finishes on my Yamaha R1. It’s a great start to the season for our Foremost Insurance/Pegram Racing/Yamaha team.
On the strength of his win and second-place finish, Josh Herrin leaves Daytona with the points lead in the 2013 AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Championship.
Cameron Beaubier Wins Daytona 200 For Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha
Daytona, FL March 16, 2012 – In dominating fashion, Cameron Beaubier won the 72nd running of the Daytona 200 aboard his #6 Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6. Meanwhile, Garrett Gerloff, who is Cameron’s teammate in the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class, finished in a strong second place. The top-five finishers in the Daytona 200 were all Yamaha R6-mounted, and they lapped the rest of the field in a remarkable show of strength for the Yamaha brand.
During the race, Cameron, who earned the coveted Rolex Daytona Cosmograph wristwatch for winning the pole for the Daytona 200, continued his dominance of the 3.51-mile Daytona International Speedway road course. Cameron clicked off consistently fast lap after lap and took advantage of flawless pitstops by his Y.E.S./Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha crew to keep his advantage throughout the 57-lap event.
After the win, Cameron said, “What a day. My crew gave me an awesome R6, and our pitstops were just fantastic. The guys gave me a couple of seconds every time in the pits, and I was able to run quick laps the whole day long. It went great.”
“It was just awesome being in the front group, Garrett said. “I’m proud that our team went 1-2 in the race. It was a long race, and I’m really happy with the result. The team gave me amazing pitstops.”
Photo Credits Brian J. Nelson Photos = http://www.gravesport.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2176
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.
It’s Not The Heat, It’s The…Yamaha U.S. Road Racing Teams Who Stifle The Competition On Friday At Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, FL September 21, 2012 – The first day was a good one for the Yamaha U.S. Road Racing Teams as the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha and Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha riders got things started at the 12-turn, 2.21-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway in GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing competition.
In AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, Cameron Beaubier was in a class of his own in Friday’s first qualifying session as he earned the provisional pole position by more than a second over his closest competitor. That’s a remarkable feat, considering how tight and twisty the infield road course is at Homestead-Miami.
Commenting on his provisional-pole-winning day, Cameron said, “From the get-go, in practice, my R6 felt awesome. I just felt really good in both sessions. I was pretty sore for the first week after my New Jersey crash, but I’m good to go now, and I’m ready to race.”
In AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, two-time reigning series champion Josh Hayes led the late-morning practice session aboard his #1 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1, which was a better gauge of how things might progress through the weekend. That’s because the afternoon’s provisional qualifying session was fraught with rain and wet track conditions that were not conducive to the fast lap times to which Josh is accustomed. Despite the less-than ideal conditions, Josh still qualified in third position, with final qualifying set for tomorrow morning.
“We only got five laps in the dry, and then it started raining,” Josh said. “We talked to the AMA, and we weren’t sure about riding in the wet, but I couldn’t really evaluate the situation without actually riding on the wet track. So, I went back out in the rain and did three or four laps. The track still had a lot of grip in the wet, but the concrete patches were sketchy, and there were a lot of puddles. The wet grass in the runoff areas is a big concern because you slide forever on wet grass, and the walls are right there. I told the AMA that we really can’t race safely in the rain, so I’m hoping tomorrow and Sunday are dry. We want to put on a good show for the fans, and I hope Mother Nature lets us.”
Josh’s teammate, Josh Herrin, who rides the #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1, cut short his qualifying effort and chose not to go out on the wet track. “I’m hoping the weather is a little better for tomorrow morning’s final qualifying, and we can focus on working ourselves a lot further up in the field.” Right now, Josh sits in ninth place on the grid.
In AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport, Garrett Gerloff spent most of the first day acclimating to a track that he’s never set a tire on before. Garrett was ninth-fastest in the early-afternoon first-practice session, and he followed that up by being tenth-fastest in provisional qualifying. The 17-year-old rider will be looking to move up as he gets more lap time on the new-for-him track in tomorrow morning’s final qualifying.
SuperSport Race 1 will go green at 1:00 PM on Saturday, Daytona SportBike Race 1 will start at 2:00 PM, and SuperBike Race 1 is scheduled for 3:15 PM. All times are Eastern.
If you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action from Homestead-Miami Speedway on Speed TV. For the exact days and times of the telecasts, check your local listings, or go to www.SpeedTV.com for more information.
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It’s Home, Sweet, Homestead For Cameron Beaubier As He Wins Saturday Daytona SportBike Race In Miami
Homestead, FL September 22, 2012 – Starting from the pole, Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha star Cameron Beaubier won Saturday’s AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Race One at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and he stretched out a comfortable lead by the time he took the checkered flag after 23 circulations of the technical 2.21-mile infield road course.
The victory was the sixth out of the past eight races for Cameron, who has been on the podium in 11 out of the 14 races he’s started this season.
After his decisive win, Cameron said, “At the beginning of the race, I felt really comfortable, so I put my head down and concentrated on pulling a gap. I went with the soft tire, and that helped in the beginning, but I really had to conserve towards the end. It all worked out, though, and I’m happy to get the win for my team, and for Yamaha.”
In Saturday’s AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport Race One, Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha rider Garrett Gerloff finished 8th aboard his #96 YZF-R6, which was two spots closer to the front than his Friday provisional qualifying position in 10th. It was a tough race for Garrett, in his first time ever at the tight and twisty Homestead track, and he suffered from a lack of dry track time due to the morning’s qualifying session being wet.
SuperSport Race Two will go green on Sunday at 1:15 PM, and Daytona SportBike Race Two will start at 2:15 PM. All times are Eastern.
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Homestead Is Not Where The Heart Is For Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha
Homestead, FL September 22, 2012 – On the cusp of winning his third AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike championship, fate dealt Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha rider Josh Hayes a cruel blow in Saturday’s Race One at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
On lap 3 of the 23-lap race, Josh suffered an ultra-rare lowside and crashed out. He was able to remount his #1 Yamaha YZF-R1 and rejoin the race, albeit in 20th place. From there, he worked on moving up as many positions as he could before the checkered flag, and he crossed the finish line in 12th. It was Josh’s first race loss since way back in April, and his remarkable streak of consecutive SuperBike wins ends at 10.
Despite the setback, Josh still holds a commanding 86-point lead in the championship standings, with tomorrow’s SuperBike Race Two yet to come tomorrow.
Meanwhile, it looked for a while like Josh’s teammate and rider of the #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1, Josh Herrin, was in third position and ready to take up the mantle for the team…until adversity struck him, as well. He ran off the track, got in the mud, and fell down. He was able to pick his R1 back up, and he managed to finish the race, but it was unfortunately back in 19th place.
Both Joshes were understandably gutted after the win, but they’re tough competitors and will certainly be back in a big way in tomorrow’s SuperBike Race Two.
That second SuperBike race of the weekend is scheduled to go green on Sunday at 3:30 PM EST.
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Surf’s Up For R6 Rainmaster Cameron Beaubier Who Podiums In The Wet And Wins “Big Kahuna” At Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, FL September 23, 2012 – Sunday’s AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Race Two at Homestead-Miami Speedway was declared wet from the start due to thundershowers in the area. In those kinds of conditions, it takes a smooth rider to negotiate the questionable grip encountered while racing in the rain.
There’s arguably no one smoother in the AMA Pro Road Racing paddock than rapidly rising Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha star Cameron Beaubier, who put his #6 Yamaha YZF-R6 on the podium for the 12th time this season. That’s a total of 12 podiums in the 12 races that Cameron has finished in the DSB class this season.
On the strength of his dominant win in Saturday’s DSB Race One, followed by his super-smooth third-place finish in the rain on Sunday, Cameron won the surfboard as the Big Kahuna at the South Florida event. It was an appropriate trophy for the rider who hails from northern California.
After the race, Cameron said, “It took me a little bit to get going in the rain, and I was a little tense, but I just concentrated on riding smooth and not making any mistakes. When I raced 125s in Europe, I had some wet races, but those tracks have quite a bit more runoff than here. Still, the experience helped me, and I’m grateful for it. I’m proud to win the Big Kahuna trophy for my team, who gave me an R6 that’s always fast in any track condition.”
In Sunday’s AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport Race Two, Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha rider Garrett Gerloff finished in 7th place aboard his #96 YZF-R6. His laptimes were consistent with the leaders, and he was moving towards the front, but the race was red-flagged by a rider incident.
During the race stoppage, dark clouds moved over the track, and there was lightning in the vicinity, so AMA Pro Racing called the race final after only 10 laps, which was just past the halfway point in the contest. Throughout the weekend, Garrett consistently lowered his laptimes the more he rode on the track, so he showed a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the dodgy weather conditions conspired against the 17-year-old rider at his first visit to Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha team will be back in action the weekend after next for the final round of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season. The event is the weekend of October 5th through 7th at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, LA. Don’t miss it!
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Who’ll Stop The Reign? NO ONE, As Josh Hayes Wins His Third Consecutive SuperBike Championship
Homestead, FL September 23, 2012 – Dark skies, thunder, lightning, and rain couldn’t curtail the friendly Hurricane from winning the race and the title. Josh “Hurricane” Hayes won his third AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike championship, while also winning Sunday’s SuperBike Race Two at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
As it turned out, Josh actually won the championship before the race even started, since his closest competitor Blake Young decided to sit out the race due to the wet-but-drying track. That wasn’t going to deter Josh from trying to win the race for his Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team and his army of fans across the country and around the world.
While some riders chose full rain tires, Josh decided to go out on the grooved intermediate Dunlops on both the front and rear, and it proved to be the right choice. After the start, Josh was able to click off faster laps than the riders ahead of him, and he caught up in short fashion, then put his #1 Yamaha YZF-R1 in its rightful place at the front. From there, Josh was able to pull a gap, which he stretched out to a lead of nearly five second by the time he took the checkered flag.
Reflecting on his 14th race win of the season and his third championship in a row, Josh said, “Today, there was a lot of talk about how to handle the wet conditions. I stuck to my plan of going out on the track so the fans could see the #1 R1 at speed. I pretty much rode around without a slip, and I started thinking that I could make it to the front on the setup we chose. I’m really glad it worked out. It’s great to get a win in the same race that I won the championship.”
Josh’s teammate and rider of the #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1, Josh Herrin, battled back from his lower finishing position in yesterday’s race and, today, he finished in a solid, drama-free fourth place.
The Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team will be back in action during the weekend of October 5th through 7th for the final round of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, LA. Don’t miss it!
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.
Jersey? Sure! Josh Hayes Ties Record For Consecutive Poles In AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike
Millville, NJ September 8, 2012 – After setting provisional pole in yesterday’s first qualifying session, two-time defending SuperBike Champion and Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha rider Josh Hayes kept his #1 crossplane-crankshaft YZF-R1 at the top of the lap charts and earned his 11th consecutive pole position, which ties him for the AMA Pro Road Racing record in the SuperBike class.
The series has been to nine venues so far this season, including this weekend’s round at the 14-turn, 2.2-mile New Jersey Motorsports Park road course, and Josh has won the pole at every round this year. His record of 11 poles in a row extends back to the final two rounds last season
“I was kind of surprised to see the laptimes as fast as yesterday because of the rain last night, and there were a few damp patches on the track,” Josh commented. “I’ve had four years on my R1, and that’s a big benefit. We know what we have to do to win, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.” Josh has won a total of 11 races so far this season, including eight wins in a row.
Garrett Gerloff Puts The “G” In “Garden State” And Finishes Second At New Jersey In First Race Back From Daytona Injury
Millville, NJ September 8, 2012 – After six months of recuperation, rehabbing, training, waiting, waiting, and more waiting, Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha rider Garrett Gerloff raced hard and finished in a remarkable second place in AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport Race One at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
His Daytona 200 first-practice injury this past March set Garrett back, but he showed steely determination and racecraft belying his 17 years of age in coming back so strong at NJMP, the site of his professional debut last year, in which he won Saturday’s SuperSport race.
Commenting on his first race back, Garrett said, “It feels so good to be on the podium here. It’s not a win but, for me to get second, I couldn’t be happier. Thanks goes to my entire Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha team, my family, and everyone who has been encouraging me all these months. I’m looking forward to getting back out there for tomorrow’s race.”
Devil On A Blue Bike, As Cameron Beaubier Wins Saturday Daytona SportBike Race At New Jersey Motorsports Park
Millville, NJ September 8, 2012 – The American Red Cross Devil’s Showdown saw a devil on a blue bike blitz the field in AMA Pro Go Pro Daytona SportBike, as Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha phenom Cameron Beaubier worked himself to the front, and then into the lead, on the final lap, winning DSB Race One at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
The victory was the fifth out of the past six races for Cameron, who has been on the podium in 10 out of the 12 races he’s started this season.
After his victory, Cameron said, “After the restart, I got shuffled back a little bit, but I just kept working and got myself back up in the front group where I could try to get to the front. I usually like to make my move sooner than the last lap, but these guys race hard, and I had to wait till the end. It all worked out, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Cameron’s teammate and rider of the #22 Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6, Tommy Hayden, finished fifth in today’s DSB Race One, with Race Two set to go green on Sunday at 2:15 PM EST.
Big Hit Records For Josh Hayes As He Wins Saturday SuperBike Race At New Jersey Motorsports Park
Millville, NJ September 8, 2012 – On the track where he holds the overall lap record and had won five of the past six SuperBike races, Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha rider Josh Hayes made it six wins out of the past seven at New Jersey Motorsports Park where he led today’s American Red Cross Devil’s Showdown SuperBike Race One from start to finish.
The result of the race was never in doubt as Josh got the holeshot and immediately pulled a sizeable gap on the rest of the field. When he took the checkered flag after 23 blistering laps, he won the race by more than 22 seconds. It was truly a display of epic dominance by the “Mississippi Madman.”
Josh is also starting to dominate the record books. He’s re-writing history in several categories of the AMA Pro SuperBike series. His nine wins in a row is a new AMA Pro SuperBike single-season, consecutive-win record, and his 12 race wins so far this season moves Josh into a tie for most wins in a single season. Also, Josh takes over sole possession of third place for total career AMA SuperBike victories, with 29.
Following his win, Josh said, “The bike is an incredible machine. The R1 lets me put down fast lap after fast lap, and it never complains.” When asked about his 29 career SuperBike victories, Josh said, “And, all those wins are on a Yamaha. I’m pretty awe-struck by it myself, to tell you the truth. My team, my training program, and my R1… they’re all just the best, and I’m so happy to be where I am.”
Josh’s teammate and rider of the #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1, Josh Herrin, finished sixth in today’s SuperBike Race One. He was still feeling the effects of his hard crash in Friday’s first practice session and hopes to regroup and come back stronger in tomorrow’s SuperBike Race Two.
That second SuperBike race of the weekend is scheduled to start on Sunday at 3:30 PM EST.
Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha’s Garrett Gerloff Hammers New Jersey With A Two By Five
Millville, NJ September 9, 2012 – Following up on his second-place finish in Saturday’s AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport Race One at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha rider Garrett Gerloff finished fifth aboard his #96 Yamaha YZF-R6 in Sunday’s SuperSport Race Two.
Garrett, who started in sixth position on the grid, was shuffled back in the early going, but he went to work moving towards the front as the laps wound down. He was in fifth place with three laps to go and about to move into fourth when the race was unfortunately red-flagged and made official on lap 16 of the 19 laps that were supposed to have run.
All in all, it was a very successful comeback for Garrett, who returned to racing six months after breaking his femur in a crash during the first practice session for the Daytona 200 this past March.
The Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha team will be back in action the weekend after next as they travel to South Florida for the Big Kahuna Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway for Round 11 of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing series on September 21 through 23. Tommy Hayden and Cameron Beaubier Have An Unfortunate Dance With The Devil In Daytona SportBike Race Two At New Jersey Motorsports Park
Millville, NJ September 9, 2012 – The American Red Cross Devil’s Showdown at New Jersey Motorsports Park was appropriately named, as Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha teammates Tommy Hayden and Cameron Beaubier had an unfortunate showdown with the devil that didn’t end well for either rider.
On lap three of Sunday’s 19-lap AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Race, Tommy was in second-place, with Cameron close behind in third. Unfortunately, water and dirt on the track in turn 7 caused both Y.E.S/Graves/Yamaha R6 riders to go down.
And, they went down hard. Tommy’s bike went completely sideways, tossing the veteran rider towards the sky, with his #22 R6 also cartwheeling in the air. Cameron, right behind Tommy, also hit the water and dirt, and he and his #8 R6 went tumbling, as well. In addition, two other riders were caught up in the melee.
Tommy was down for a while, as his brother, SuperBike rider Roger Hayden, quickly came to his aid. Cameron got up fairly quickly and went to check on his teammate. Once both Yamaha riders got to their feet, Tommy took a ride in the ambulance, while Cameron went back to the pit area to get ready for the restart.
While virtually every Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha and Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha crew member worked feverishly to get Cameron’s bike rebuilt and race ready, SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes spent time in the pit are with Cameron helping him regain his focus.
Unfortunately, time ran out before the team could get Cameron’s bike ready, and he was unable to restart in third place on the grid. His day was done.
Meanwhile, Tommy was transported to the hospital for further evaluation, and he was obviously unable to restart the race.
When asked about the situation, Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha, said, “It’s a terribly unfortunate situation that just shouldn’t have happened. We all knew that it rained hard last night, and that corner has been problematic in the past. Whether it’s a low spot or just susceptible to seepage, there’s been dampness in that turn in previous years. I’ve got two riders banged up, including one in the hospital, and that shouldn’t have happened. Cameron’s bike was so badly damaged that, try as hard as we could, we just couldn’t get it ready for the restart.”
With the Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha team back in action the weekend after next, Tommy’s condition will be closely monitored and more information will be forthcoming later this week. Round 11 of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing series, the Big Kahuna Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be on September 21 through 23. Lucky 13 For Josh Hayes As He Wins Sunday SuperBike Race At New Jersey Motorsports Park; Teammate Herrin Finishes Second
Millville, NJ September 9, 2012 – Two-time reigning AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion and Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha rider Josh Hayes set yet another SuperBike record at New Jersey Motorsports Park where, just like yesterday, he led today’s American Red Cross Devil’s Showdown SuperBike Race Two from start to finish.
Once again, Josh got the holeshot and immediately pulled a gap on the rest of the field. Today, his closest competitor was his teammate Josh Herrin, aboard the #2 Yamaha YZF-R1.
Josh Hayes has now won nine races in a row to extend the AMA Pro SuperBike single-season, consecutive-win record that he set yesterday, and his 13 victories so far this season are a brand-new AMA Pro SuperBike record for most wins in a single season. Josh’s 30 career wins bring him to within two victories of tying for second place in total career AMA SuperBike wins.
After lucky win number 13, Josh said, “I’m not superstitious. I’ll take every race win I get, no matter what number it is. Honestly, we don’t talk much about records on the team. We just want to keep winning as many as we can. If we break records and set new records, that’s great because it shows our success as a team. That’s what’s most important to me.”
After a slow start to the weekend, Josh Herrin acquitted himself well in SuperBike Race Two, as he finished in second place. It was the third one-two finish of the season for the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha duo.
Commenting on his resurgence, Josh said, “This has been a tough weekend for me, so I’m happy to be able to bounce back and get second today. I owed my team that after all their hard work.”
The Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team will be back in action the weekend after next as they travel to South Florida for the Big Kahuna Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway for Round 11 of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing series on September 21 through 23.
AMA Pro Racing New Jersey Round Graves Motorsports Yamaha
Cypress, CA September 5, 2012 – After a late-summer break in the action, the Yamaha U.S. Road Racing Teams are heading eastbound to south-central New Jersey for Round 10 of the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing season. The popular event is this weekend at the 14-turn, 2.25-mile New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey.
MONSTER ENERGY/GRAVES/YAMAHA/: HAYES & HERRIN
AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion and Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha lead rider Josh Hayes is returning to the track where he clinched his second consecutive title last year, and he’s looking to continue to build his considerable points lead towards his third SuperBike crown in a row.
Josh holds the track record at New Jersey Motorsports Park, and he’s won five of the past six SuperBike races at NJMP aboard his powerful, crossplane-crankshaft Yamaha YZF-R1. He’s won a total of 11 races so far this season, including eight wins in a row. Josh has also won the pole at every single track that the AMA Pro SuperBike riders have visited this year, which is a gaudy eight pole positions in a row. Is his going to ease off the throttle a little bit on his remarkable season? “Not on your life,” commented Josh. “I race to win and, in fact, with the points lead that I now have in the championship, I want to win just as badly as ever, if not even more so. I’m chasing destiny now, and building on my legacy in this sport that I love.”
Meanwhile, nipping at Josh’s heels more often than the champ would like is a rapidly rising SuperBike rookie who also goes by the name of “Josh.” Of course, it’s Josh Herrin, who is Josh Hayes’ teammate and rider of the #2 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1. Josh “Holeshot” Herrin has developed a knack for launching his R1 off the starting line and putting himself quickly into the lead or at least in contention for it.
Josh has been on the podium seven times in his past eight starts this season, and he is currently in third place in the SuperBike season points standings. The rookie SuperBike rider is highly experienced in AMA Pro Road Racing, however, and he currently owns the Daytona SportBike track record at New Jersey Motorsports Park, having won one of the two DSB races at NJMP last season and winning both races in 2009 aboard an R6. “I like the track at New Jersey,” Josh said. “The fans there are so awesome, and last year, I gave away my helmet to one of them in the podium crowd. We’ll see if I can have the same kind of celebration this weekend.”
YAMAHA EXTENDED SERVICE/GRAVES/YAMAHA: BEAUBIER, HAYDEN & GERLOFF
Cameron Beaubier’s stock is very much on the upswing. He’s won four of the past five AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike races aboard his #6 Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6, and he’s coming off the biggest DSB victory of his career on the world stage at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Cameron has been on the podium in 9 out of the 11 races he’s started and, like Josh Hayes, he’s got his eyes firmly fixed on the prize, which is, of course, race wins. “I want to win them all,” Cameron said. “I’m not being greedy, I’m just being realistic. People say I’m a nice guy, but this nice guy doesn’t like to finish anywhere except at the front. I’m healthy, and I’ve got the best team and the best bike out there. Let’s get after it.”
Well, “Y.E.S.,” by all means, get after it, but you’ve got a crafty veteran in your midst, Cameron, and he’s riding the same R6 as you, but with a familiar number. Of course, that’s the signature #22 and fan favorite Tommy Hayden, who is Cameron’s Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha teammate.
Tommy is currently tied for third place with Cameron in the DSB season points standings, having been on the podium five times this season, but it’s a win that he wants. He’ll have his ever-loyal friends and family from back home in Owensboro with him in attendance at New Jersey, and he’ll being trying hard to do them all proud by notching that elusive win. Tommy has been in contention and in the lead group on many an occasion this year, and no one’s got more experience on the track than the eldest Hayden brother, so don’t count him out just yet.
The third member of the Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha team, Garrett Gerloff, will get a hero’s welcome at New Jersey Motorsports Park, as he returns to action fully fit from the leg injury he suffered in the first practice session for the Daytona 200 this past March. Garrett is returning to the track where he notched his first professional career road racing victory last fall, at New Jersey in the Saturday SuperSport race.
To begin his comeback, Garrett will, once again, compete in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-SuperStore.com SuperSport series aboard his #96 Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6.
MEET THE YAMAHA ROAD RACING TEAM RIDERS AT DEPTFORD YAMAHA
On Friday night, September 7 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, be sure to stop by Deptford Yamaha at 1300 Clements Bridge Road in nearby Deptford, New Jersey. Josh Hayes, Josh Herrin, Cameron Beaubier, Tommy Hayden, and Garrett Gerloff will all be on hand to meet fans, sign autographs, and give away posters.
In addition, Josh Hayes will be giving away special commemorative Yamaha 2011 SuperBike Champion T-Shirts to fans who attend the event at Deptford Yamaha and correctly answer the Josh Hayes Trivia Question. To find out how to win, all you need to do is “like” Yamaha on Facebook or follow Josh on Twitter @hayes131.
TUNE INTO SPEED TV
Motorcycle road racing is the most exciting form of motorsports in the world, and there’s truly nothing like seeing it live and in person. But, if you can’t make it to the track, be sure to watch all the action from New Jersey Motorsports Park on Speed TV. For the exact days and times of the telecasts, be sure to check your local listings, or go to www.SpeedTV.com for more information.
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Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Rider Tommy Hayden Finishes Second In Daytona SportBike At Road Atlanta
Braselton, GA April 22, 2012 – After a third-place finish in Saturday’s AMA Pro Go Pro Daytona SportBike Race 1, Tommy Hayden moved up a notch on Sunday and finished second in Race 2 on his #8 Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6.
Just like in yesterday’s race, Tommy got another great start, which put him into second-place on the first lap.
“I’ve always been a pretty good starter,” said Tommy after the race. “It goes back to my flattrack days where, if you don”t get a good start, your race is lost. Good starts are obviously important in this class, too, so it”s something I focus on.”
As is a Tommy Hayden trademark, he rode smoothly in second place and maintained a gap of just 2/10s of a second throughout virtually the entire race, until he encountered a lapped rider on final go-around on the track and had to make the pass in a less-than-ideal spot. That slowed Tommy just enough that the win became out of reach.
“Over the past few years, I’ve been racing in SuperBike, so I’m still transitioning to the R6,” Tommy added. “It’s a fast bike, though, and really fun to ride. I”m happy with the progress we”re making, and I”m looking forward to Infineon.”
Tommy currently sits third in the championship points standings after two rounds and three races.
Tommy will, once again, be riding for the Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha team at the next race in just two weeks when AMA Pro Racing visits the wine country of Sonoma, CA, for the Great Clips West Coast Moto Jam at Infineon Raceway on May 4-6.
Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha’s Hayes “Rode” Atlanta To A Dominant Win; Teammate Herrin Finishes Third
Braselton, GA April 22, 2012 – Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha rider and two-time reigning AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes raced his crossplane-crankshaft YZF-R1 to a dominant win in Sunday’s SuperBike Race 2 at Road Atlanta. His teammate Josh Herrin also got on the podium with his #2 R1 for the second time in as many days, notching another well-earned third place.
Josh Hayes made up his mind to get to the front as quickly as possible and try to create a comfortable lead, which he did in short fashion. On Lap 6, Josh clicked off a lap of 1:24.922, which was nearly half a second faster than his pole-position-winning lap on Friday. He maintained a blistering pace throughout the race, pulled a sizeable gap on second-pace Blake Young, and continued to stretch out his lead to more than 5 seconds. As lapped riders came into play, the gap closed up just a bit in the closing laps of the race, but Josh spurred his R1 on and won by a dominant 5.214 seconds ahead of Young, who finished in second.
After accepting the stylish surfboard trophy for being the “Big Kahuna” at Road Atlanta, Josh commented, “I’m glad to put one together here today, and get the win. We changed a few things on the bike for today’s race, and we were able to put down some really good laps. It’s a lot easier on my ticker to get away a little bit and ride my own race. After yesterday, I didn’t expect it to go that way, but I’m happy that it did.”
Just as he did yesterday, Josh earned another valuable bonus point for leading the most laps in today”s race. With those two bonus points, the bonus points for his pole positions at Daytona and Road Atlanta, and his two race wins so far this season, Josh is, once again, leading the SuperBike season championship.
Josh Herrin, who lives in Dublin, GA, not far from Road Atlanta, ran in second place at the start of the race, narrowly missing out on his fourth holeshot in as many races. Josh got into third behind his Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha teammate and Young, and then he maintained his position all the way to the end of the 20-lap event. In just the second SuperBike round of his career, Josh had a memorable weekend in front of a throng of family and friends as he earned a pair of podium finishes and has clearly built momentum as AMA Pro Racing heads to the West Coast for the Infineon Raceway round.
Josh said, “It was a really good race, and I had fun. It was good keeping Josh and Blake in my sights at least for the first few laps. I’m happy to get on the podium twice here in front of my home crowd. The R1 is just an awesome bike to ride. I can’t wait to get to Infineon.”
The Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team”s next race is in just two weeks when AMA Pro Racing visits the wine country of Sonoma, CA, for the Great Clips West Coast Moto Jam at Infineon Raceway.
Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Riders Hayes & Herrin Both On SuperBike Podium At Road Atlanta; Hayden Also On Podium In Daytona SportBike
Braselton, GA April 21, 2012 – It was a day filled with podium finishes for the Yamaha U.S. Road Racing Teams in AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike and AMA Pro GoPro Daytona Sportbike.
Reigning two-time SuperBike champion and Road Atlanta polesitter Josh Hayes finished second on his Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1 in the hotly contested SuperBike race one. His teammate Josh Herrin, who lives in nearby Dublin, GA, earned his first podium in only the third SuperBike race of his career. Josh got the holeshot twice and led from the start in both legs of the race, which was red-flagged when race winner Blake Young took a spill on lap 14 of the 20-lap event. Blake, Josh Hayes, and Josh Herrin all battled for the win, and Blake ultimately notched the victory.
Along with the bonus point that he earned for qualifying in pole position, Josh Hayes also earned an additional bonus point for leading the most laps (13 of the 20) in the race. Josh and Blake are now tied for the lead in the championship.
After the race, Josh Hayes said, “Big congrats to Blake on the win. It was a hero ride for him, and my hat’s off to him. My team gave me a good, competitive bike today, and we led the most laps…but unfortunately not the final lap. So, we’ll look at things tonight to see what we can do to move up a position in tomorrow’s race.”
Josh Herrin said, “When the red flag came out, it gave me a second chance, and I gave it everything I had. I wanted to get on the podium here at my home race in front of my fans. So, I’m happy, and I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
HAYDEN THIRD IN JUST HIS SECOND DSB RACE FOR YAMAHA EXTENDED SERVICE/GRAVES/YAMAHA TEAM
Tommy Hayden, who is substituting for the injured Garrett Gerloff, rode Garrett’s #8 YZF-R6 to a remarkable third-place finish in just the second AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race of the young season.
About the race, Tommy said, “I got a great start, which was something I was focused on. My plan was to get up there with the front group and see what we could do. We’re getting there session by session. The bike’s really fun to ride, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s race.”
Tommy Hayden and his Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha R6 will start Daytona SportBike Race 2 tomorrow at 2:15 PM EST, and SuperBike Race 2, featuring Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha riders Josh Hayes and Josh Herrin, will go green at 3:30 PM EST. Check your local TV listings for Speed TV’s telecasts of both of tomorrow’s races.
Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Riders Hayes & Herrin Both Qualify On SuperBike Front Row At Road Atlanta; Hayden Fifth On Daytona SportBike Grid
Braselton, GA April 21, 2012 – In final qualifying for AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike at Road Atlanta, Josh Hayes won the pole position on his crossplane-crankshaft Yamaha YZF-R1. His teammate Josh Herrin will also start on the front row for this afternoon’s SuperBike race. And, in Daytona SportBike final qualifying, Tommy Hayden was fifth-fastest and will start on the inside of the front row, just behind the pole winner.
Josh Hayes, who captured seven poles last season on the way to his second AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Championship in a row actually earned the pole position and important bonus point based on his fastest time in Friday’s first qualifying session.
Josh Herrin, who lives in nearby Dublin, GA, improved on his qualifying time from yesterday, and he will start from third position on the grid in his first-ever Road Atlanta SuperBike race later today.
Commenting on his final qualifying session, Josh Hayes said, “Conditions were a little bit different this morning than they were yesterday, so I was glad to get in my fastest lap on Friday. I went out and practiced a couple of starts, too, so I’m ready for the race.”
Josh Herrin said, “I was pretty excited about my fast lap and being able to improve on my quickest time from yesterday. I like the way my R1 sounds at this track. I have 50 friends and family coming here, so I’m really looking forward to the race.”
HAYDEN MOVES UP IN DSB
In AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, Tommy Hayden and his crew worked diligently to improve on their position from Friday’s qualifying, and it paid off. Tommy, who is substituting for the injured Garrett Gerloff (also on hand at Road Atlanta to meet fans and sign autographs, but not quite ready yet to climb back aboard his #8 YZF-R6), moved up the chart around the middle of the final qualifying session and put himself comfortably in fifth.
Daytona SportBike Race 1 will go green later today at 2:00 PM EST, and SuperBike Race 1 will follow DSB at 3:15 PM EST. Check your local TV listings for Speed TV’s telecast of both of today’s races.
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Support your favorite Monster Energy Graves Yamaha / Y.E.S. Rider with BIG SAVINGS
From 4-21-2012 through 4-22-2012 use the following coupon codes to save 20% off retail purchase (not valid for dealer or WORKS customers). In the coupon section at the bottom of the page during the checkout process at Gravesport.com use the following coupon codes for a 20% discount savings! Save HUGE and support your favorite riders! CODES: “joshhayes” or “joshherrin” or “tommyhayden”
Introducing the 2012 Graves Motorsports race teams, riders and motorcycle “Profile Pages!” Featuring Monster Energy / Graves / Yamaha -and – Y.E.S. / Graves / Yamaha – Pro Racing Teams. Competing in the 2012 AMA Pro Racing Superbike and Daytona Sportbike championship series with riders Josh Hayes, Josh Herrin, Cameron Beaubier, Garrett Gerloff and Tommy Hayden (profile page coming soon).
For a limited time use coupon code “gravesracing” (in the coupon section of our checkout page for 15% off saving off retail purchases of $100 or more (not valid for dealer or WORKS customer sales).
AMA Monster Energy Graves Yamaha Y.E.S. Homestead Testing
Monster Energy Graves Yamaha / Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha rider comments provided from a recent AMA Pro Racing press release yesterday from the Homestead, Miami testing.
Quotes from Day 1:
Josh Hayes (No. 1 Monster Energy Graves Yamaha YZF-R1) – “I rode here in 1999 and in 2001, when I rode for John Ulrich, but I think the track has changed a little bit because the banking is different than when I rode it last. I can honestly tell you I didn’t remember too much of it; when I thought of the last turn I thought of Loudon; when I thought of the turn onto the back straight I think I was really thinking of Phoenix; and turn one I think I was thinking of Texas World Speedway. You know, it was like trying to put all of the pieces together as to where I really was. It felt like it was totally new to me, I don’t remember much about it. Things are going okay, we made some progress. As we’re making progress, those guys are moving forward too. We have a little bit of catching up to do but at some point they’re going to stall and hopefully we’ll just keep going until we catch up to them. All in all, I can’t complain.”
Cameron Beaubier (No. 6 Y.E.S./Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) – “We are just trying to get the suspension dialed in for when we come back for the race. My bike worked really well all day. The track is pretty cool, it flows really well and it was a lot of fun today. I really like the last section, the right-left, because you just throw the bike around and then drive it out, it’s pretty cool.”
Tommy Hayden (No. 8 Y.E.S./Graves Yamaha YZF-R6) – “The day went pretty well, I was happy with it. It nice to get out there and just get a little more relaxed, start trying to get used to a 600 a little bit and get used to the team a little more. We addressed a few small things to get me a little more comfortable. We steadily chipped away at everything today, chipped away at the lap time a little bit. I’m definitely a little more competitive than I was at Daytona. I’m feeling pretty good, I had a fun day. This is a pretty cool track, I hadn’t really ridden here before. I enjoyed myself.”
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.
Team Monster Energy – Graves Motorsports – Yamaha AMA Pro Racing Superbike Champion Josh Hayes explains how he uses his Yamaha R1 to pick up girls. Why Do You Ride? – YWeRide.com – Gravesport.com
