Barber Superbike
In AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike at Barber Motorsports Park, Josh Hayes ran a careful and calculating motorcycle race and finished seventh in damp conditions to clinch the 2010 National Guard SuperBike title, his first.
Hayes had seven motorcycle racing wins and three pole positions on his Team Graves Yamaha in a season that saw him battle to the very last race of the season with yesterday’s winner, Tommy Hayden. Hayden took fourth on Sunday but it wasn’t enough to overcome the eighteen point lead Hayes held at the start of the day.
Hayden’s Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Blake Young won Sunday’s thrilling Superbike race over John Hopkins and Larry Pegram.
The AMA Superbike racing was furious at the front of the field, with Young, Hopkins on his M4 Monster Energy Suzuki, Hayden, Geoff May on his Buell, Pegram, Jake Zemke on his National Guard Jordan Suzuki and Hayes all running together.
Larry Pegram looked very quick on his Foremost Insurance Ducati 1198 R Superbike and he and Hopkins along with Geoff May were really battling away. Hayes ran comfortably with Zemke and when he went by, Hayes was content to run just behind Zemke and the lead group and ahead of Brett McCormick on the second Jordan Suzuki. Brett passed Hayes as well and Josh could still see the lead group and felt he was in good shape.
The moment of truth for Hayes came on lap 10 when McCormick had a fall at turn four and Josh had to take to the wet grass to avoid Brett and his motorcycle. Josh was able to control the Yamaha and calmly rode back onto the track and continued, his heart rate up considerably for the moment.
Josh Hayes says: “I had to go on the grass when Brett high-sided and it was very slick, but it was the slowest turn on the track and I thought, ‘even if I fall, I can pick the bike back up and continue.
Hayes ran a lonely race from there on and brought the championship home with his seventh place finish to end up 16 points ahead of Tommy Hayden.
Meanwhile, up front it became Blake Young’s day as he led all but two laps of the race to take his third win of the 2010 SuperBike season.
Hopkins, Pegram and Hayden were fighting for every inch of track and after May dropped back, Hayden did what he could to overcome Hayes’ points lead but it just wasn’t to be. Hayden had five wins this season and vows to be back better than ever in 2011.
For Blake Young it was a great day after suffering a severe back injury earlier this year here at Barber Motorsports Park. Blake missed three events and five races and for him to come back this weekend and win from pole position was very meaningful to him.
Blake Young says: “When I was lying on the couch at home recovering, it was hard watching these guys race. But I worked hard to come back. I knew the championship was gone so all I could do is win races and repay the hard that my team has put in for me all year.”
Superbike Classic
American SuperBike Race 2 – American Superbike
September 26, 2010 Barber Motorsports Park
Birmingham, AL
Race Time: 31:18.655
Margin of Victory: 1.305
Best Race Lap: Blake Young (1:27.282)
| Pos | No. | Rider(s) | Team | Bike | Interval | Gap | Best Lap | Points |
| 1 | 79 | Blake Young | Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 21 Laps | WINNER | 1:27.282 | 0 |
| 2 | 21 | John Hopkins | M4 Monster Energy Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1.305 | 1.305 | 1:27.626 | 0 |
| 3 | 72 | Larry Pegram | Foremost Insurance ·Pegram Racing | Ducati 1098R | 1.551 | 0.245 | 1:27.550 | 0 |
| 4 | 22 | Tommy Hayden | Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1.616 | 0.065 | 1:27.294 | 0 |
| 5 | 54 | Jake Zemke | National Guard Jordan Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 7.458 | 5.842 | 1:28.137 | 0 |
| 6 | 99 | Geoff May | Erik Buell Racing | Buell 1125RR | 8.602 | 1.144 | 1:28.036 | 0 |
| 7 | 4 | Josh Hayes | Team Graves Yamaha | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 49.669 | 41.066 | 1:29.426 | 0 |
| 8 | 44 | Taylor Knapp | RidersDiscount.com | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1:08.659 | 18.990 | 1:30.758 | 0 |
| 9 | 12 | Trent Gibson | Gibson Motorsports | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1:15.134 | 6.474 | 1:31.364 | 0 |
| 10 | 75 | Jeff Wood | Vesrah Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1:22.141 | 7.007 | 1:29.541 | 0 |
| 11 | 7 | Shane Narbonne | Celtic Racing | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1:22.150 | 0.008 | 1:29.555 | 0 |
| 12 | 10 | Chris Peris | Team Iron Horse BMW ·ESP | BMW S1000RR | 20 Laps | 1 Lap | 1:31.119 | 0 |
| 13 | 77 | Ricky Corey | RCR Yamaha | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 16.538 | 16.538 | 1:32.224 | 0 |
| 14 | 429 | Sean Dwyer | Vicious Cycle Racing | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 38.001 | 21.462 | 1:34.790 | 0 |
| 15 | 63 | Skip Salenius | Run 1 Racing Motorsports | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 19 Laps | 1 Lap | 1:37.601 | 0 |
| 16 | 269 | Johnny Rock Page | Aussie Dave Racing | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 26.351 | 26.351 | 1:38.937 | 0 |
| 17 | 9 | Eric Haugo | Cycledivaonoline.com | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 43.361 | 17.010 | 1:40.659 | 0 |
| 18 | 23 | Brett McCormick | Jordan Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 10 Laps | 9 Laps | 1:29.133 | 0 |
| 19 | 48 | Chris Clark | Pat Clark Motorsports | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1 Lap | 9 Laps | 1:59.665 | 0 |
| 21 | 155 | Jake Holden | Pat Clark Motorsports | Yamaha YZF-R1 | DNS | DNS | -no times- | 0 |
| 22 | 18 | Chris Ulrich | M4 Monster Energy Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | DNS | DNS | -no times- |
