AMA Superbike Report
Exactly one year after posting his first-career National Guard American SuperBike victory, Yamaha’s Josh Hayes returned to the Wine Country Winner’s Circle at Infineon Raceway on Saturday at the West Coast Moto Jam.
Hayes led the 28-lap main event from flag-to-flag, outpacing second-place finisher and Redding native Ben Bostrom (Yamaha) by 3.665 seconds. Ducati’s Larry Pegram was third.
Josh Hayes says: "This year I’m much more proud of the race I rode and I feel pretty good and confident about tomorrow. I know the time gap doesn’t always tell the story of the whole race, but I feel pretty good about my machine," Hayes said.
Bostrom, a Petaluma High School graduate, posted his second consecutive second-place finish in Sonoma, and looks forward to the second round of SuperBike competition on his home track on Sunday.
Ben Bostom says: "My bike was fantastic, and I love this track," said Bostrom. "There are good fans and it’s always a good atmosphere. Kind of lifts you up every time you come here."
San Francisco native Jake Zemke (Suzuki) maintains the American SuperBike points lead in AMA Pro Road Racing by just seven points over Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden (163-156). Blake Young is third (Suzuki, 146) and Hayes remains fourth (139).
Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas claimed his third consecutive Daytona SportBike victory by just .841 seconds over Suzuki’s Danny Eslick after a 28-lap, hotly-contested battle. Pole-sitter Tommy Aquino (Yamaha) was third.
Martin Cardenas says: "In the beginning I was struggling a little with the grip of the bike, so I was trying to hang on, and as the race went on I felt better and I started to try to pass them," said Cardenas, who swept both SportBike events at Infineon Raceway last year. "At the end, to be able to win, was good for me. Hopefully tomorrow will be the same, and I’ll try as hard as I can."
Shawn Higbee (Zero Motorcycle-Agni) earned the pole for the TTXGP U.S. Championships main event on Sunday. The event will mark the first zero-carbon motorcycle race on U.S. soil and is slated to take the green flag at 11 a.m.
Action continues on Sunday at Infineon Raceway with main events scheduled in American SuperBike, Daytona SportBike, SuperSport and the first zero-carbon motorcycle race on U.S. soil with the TTXGP U.S. Championships.
There will also be main events in Supermoto USA, Flat Track and Motocross. Gates open at 8 a.m.
