2014 AMA SuperBike
The Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing team already had two strong riders to pilot its GSX-R 1000 in the 2014 AMA SuperBike Championship – Martin Cardenas and Chris Clark.
But there will be additional strength on the factory Suzuki team – former AMA SuperSport Champion Roger Lee Hayden, the younger brother of MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden and AMA SuperBike Champion Tommy Hayden,
Prior to joining Yoshimura Suzuki, Hayden raced the GSX-R1000 for Michael Jordan’s Suzuki Team, which has ended its relationship with AMA SBK. Hayden earned his first-ever AMA SuperBike victory with Jordan Suzuki in 2012, and finished third overall in the series.
In 2013, still aboard the Jordan Suzuki, Hyaden took six podiums, and finished fourth overall. Additionally, Hayden raced as a wild card entry in the 2013 World Superbike round at Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway and finished eighth.
Roger Lee Hayden (Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R 1000 SuperBike) says: “To be on a factory team is a great feeling. Especially a powerhouse team like Yoshimura Suzuki that’s won so many championships.
“I got the chance to ride the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 last year and the test went really good. I was fast on the bike and worked well with the team. I have to thank Suzuki and Yoshimura for making this happen. I’m really looking forward to the 2014 season. Daytona can’t come soon enough.”
This year marks the second season that two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion Cardenas has raced for Yoshimura Suzuki. Last year, his debut was more than impressive with the Colombian winning two AMA Superbike races and finishing on the podium an additional nine times. Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Clark is on his third season with Yoshimura Suzuki and, after starting strong with a top-five finish at Daytona last year, looks forward to getting on the podium in 2014, Yoshimura Suzuki reports.
Don Sakakura (Yoshimura Suzuki Race Director) says: “Everyone at Yoshimura Suzuki is looking forward to this season. Our goal is always to support our riders to the best of our ability and we are fortunate to have so much talent to work with. We’re very excited to have Roger with us, what with the potential he showed riding for one of Suzuki’s satellite teams. And Martin had a great first year with us last year and we’re eager to help him take his racing to the next level. And Chris continues to work hard and get stronger with every season. Our team is better than ever and we can’t wait to go racing.”
Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing will campaign the championship-winning Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship series, which kicks off March 13 – 15 with round one at Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Fla.
