Suzuki Superbike Report
Rockstar Makita Suzuki and Yoshimura are looking forward to defending the AMA American Superbike title in 2010. The entire team is ready to carry its championship-winning momentum into the new season with their arsenal of the championship GSX-R1000, talented riders, and arguably the best crew in Superbike history.
The Yoshimura personnel are masters at getting the most out of both the motorcycle and riders; the fact that they’ve won seven consecutive Superbike championships is a testament to the team’s dedication to winning.
Yoshimura Senior V.P. Don Sakakura is optimistic about the upcoming season. "The Suzuki GSX-R1000 is an impressive bike, of course," Sakakura said. "After our tests in Fontana, it is clear that we will be very competitive. Last year’s championship was great, and we have a fair amount of momentum moving forward. Things are going smoothly."
The riders, Tommy Hayden and Blake Young, are strong and ready to race for the title in 2010. Two-time AMA Supersport Champion Hayden returns to Rockstar Makita Suzuki in the Pro American Superbike class. The 31-year-old Hayden won the AMA Supersport Championship two years in a row, in 2004 and 2005. In 2009, Hayden had his best showing in the AMA Pro Superbike class, finishing third overall and making it to the podium in half the races of the season.
Blake Young will start his second year on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki racing team following a great 2009 rookie season in which he proved his position among the top road racers in the nation in the AMA Pro Superbike series. Young was on the podium four times in 2009, taking the second spot three times. In 2009, he showed the world the speed and talent he possesses and now is ready to step it up. The 22-year-old Young is working with 2009 Superbike Champion Mat Mladin’s Crew Chief Peter Doyle, and together they’re aiming for the top spot.
Doyle feels good about the season as well. "We’ve been testing engine parts, suspension, linkages…all the usual stuff," Doyle said. "So far things have been going great. We are building off our base from last year, and the base package seems to be working very well. We are making good improvements in all areas every day."
Suzuki is also going to on the track with its support programs.
Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki will be pushing for wins at every round in the AMA American Superbike class. M4 Monster Energy Suzuki will be home to John Hopkins on his #21 GSX-R1000, and Martin Cardenas who’ll be piloting the #36 GSX-R600 in the Daytona Sportbike class.
Michael Jordan Motorsports will be taking to the track on their race-ready GSX-R1000s with Jake Zemke running the #54 bike for National Guard Jordan Suzuki in the Superbike class, and Aaron Yates returning to the Jordan Brand Suzuki team on the #23 bike in the Superbike class.
Vesrah Suzuki, another great team, will be competing in the Daytona Sportbike class. Cory West will be taking to the track on the #57 bike, while teammate Jeff Wood will be aboard the #75 bike.
