2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion
The battle for the debut MotoAmerica Superbike Championship came down to the final round at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Sunday.
All season only two riders were victorious in America’s new road-racing series spearheaded by three-time MotoGP Champion Wayne Rainey – Team Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes and Cameron Beaubier.
Hayes (#1) and Beaubier (#6) entered MotoAmerica SBK at New Jersey Motorsports Park with eight race wins each, though Beaubier had the upper hand due to higher finishes all season when Hayes had lost.
Hayes – a four-time AMA SuperBike Champion – did what was needed, sweeping the MotoAmerica Superbike finale for a total of 10 wins aboard his YZF-R1. But Beaubier’s second- and third-place finishes allowed him to clinch the title, becoming the 2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion. When combined with the former AMA SuperBike class, Beaubier is now the 20th different rider to earn the SBK title in America.
“I was doing everything I could to not risk crashing in that race! I was definitely riding pretty timid. I got out there in the beginning of the race, and I made a couple of mistakes, so I decided to focus on not making any mistakes,” Beaubier says.
“It’s a dream come true for me to win the Championship in my second year on a Superbike and my first year with this brand-new R1. Josh is an awesome teammate and a great Champion. He’s helped me so much.”
Hayes also spoke about his performances at NJMP: “This was one of the hardest races I’ve ever had here, and I gave it all I had. Congratulations to Cam. My bad days were just a little worse than his bad days this season and, over the course of 9 rounds and 18 races, those are the things that cost you the Championship. Cam rode well all year long, and I’m proud of what he accomplished. If someone other than me is going to win the Championship, I’m glad it’s my teammate.”
Earning third overall in MotoAmerica Superbike was the biggest threat to the Team Graves Yamaha duo all season – Yoshimura Suzuki’s Roger Lee Hayden. The brother of 2006 MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden finished on the podium 15 times, earning third overall with 281 points.
2015 New Jersey Motorsports Park MotoAmerica Superbike on TV
The ninth and final round of 2015 MotoAmerica Superbike will be broadcast at 5 p.m. EST Sunday, September 20, on CBS Sports Network.
2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Final Points
1. Cameron Beaubier – Yamaha, 372
2. Josh Hayes – Yamaha, 368
3. Roger Hayden – Suzuki, 281
4. Jake Lewis – Suzuki, 223
5. Elena Myers – Suzuki, 152