Yamaha’s Josh HayesMotoAmerica – North America’s newest road-racing series spearheaded by three-time 500cc GP Champion Wayne Rainey – is about to be exposed to the giant viewership of America’s oldest race – the Indianapolis 500.How many people can the Indy 500 potentially reach? How about 300,000 spectators at the track and 6.2 million people through television and online outlets.
Prior the 99th running of the Indy 500, Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes and Cameron Beaubier will pilot their 2015 YZF-R1 superbikes, which will feature a new MotoGP-style exhausts, around the 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).These MotoAmerica riders will return to Indy during the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix – MotoGP’s last visit to America in 2015; it will mark the first-ever Superbike races to occur at IMS.Hayes – a four-time AMA SuperBike Champion – and Beaubier will also spend time with other celebrities and dignitaries on the Red Carpet prior to and after their demonstration lap, MotoAmerica reports.“I think it’s going to be really cool that we are going to get to race at the Brickyard this year, and to be asked to go and do a promotional event and see the Indy 500 is exceptionally cool,” said Hayes, who doubled at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) last weekend.“To be able to showcase the new R1 that Yamaha came out with this year to a new crowd of car people will hopefully entice a few of them to come to the motorcycle races. It’s something I’m happy to be a part of.”Beaubier also commented: ”I’m really looking forward to watching the Indy cars go around, and I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to ride our brand-new R1 Superbikes in front of a different group of motorsports fans,” the championship leader said. “I think it will draw some more attention to our sport. I can’t wait until this Sunday. It’s going to be fun.”To bring additional noise to MotoAmerica, the Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha R1 superbikes used during the Indy 500 exposition will be equipped with a special MotoGP-style prototype exhaust designed by Graves Motorsports (check out the video below!).During Hayes sweep last weekend at VIR, he earned his 50th and 51st wins in America’s SBK class. Hayes and Beaubier have three wins each so far in MotoAmerica, and are set for round four of the 2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship May 29-31 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.“First I want to thank the staff at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the invite to showcase MotoAmerica and two of its stars to a large audience of potential motorcycle road racing fans,” said Paul Carruthers, MotoAmerica’s Communications Manager.“I also want to thank Yamaha’s Keith McCarty, Tom Halverson and the rest of the team for their efforts in making this happen. And, of course, it wouldn’t be possible without Josh and Cameron taking time out from their hectic schedules to go with us to Indy. I’m looking forward to a great day.”Indy 500 Facts:
The average ticket price for the 2015 Indy 500 is $185.93
There are 250,000 permanent seats at IMS
The Speedway will rank as the 45th largest city in the U.S. when packed on Sunday
The infield at IMS comprises of 253 acres, which is enough to house Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium, the Rose Bowl, the Roman Colosseum and Vatican City
Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbikes with new MotoGP-style exhaust:
