AMA Superbike title rivals Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) and Josh Hayes (Yamaha) each won a race of the doubleheader presented at the 2.25-mile Virginia International Raceway this weekend.
In the Saturday race, Hayden took his fourth AMA Pro SuperBike win of the season by a mere 0.005sec over pole position winner Ben Bostrom (Yamaha). Yamaha rider Josh Hayes finished third, 0.3sec behind the winner, and lead the most laps in the race, giving him a one point lead over Hayden in their close battle for the championship.
Behind the fantastic three-way battle for the win, Larry Pegram (Ducati) finished fourth while Taylor Knapp (Suzuki) earned fifth just ahead of young Canadian rookie Brett McCormick (Suzuki).
Things changed for the Sunday race, as championship leader Josh Hayes dominated the 23- lap race, leading every lap on his way to a series-high fifth Superbike this year. Pole sitter Ben Bostrom duplicated his second place from Saturday to round out a solid weekend.
Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) fought with Bostrom over second place before ending up third, allowing him to stay close to Hayes in the points chase, 11 points adrift with two double header race weekends to go.
Jordan Suzuki rookie Brett McCormick, the teenager from Saskatchewan, had his best weekend of the season, sixth and fourth, outrunning his veteran team-mates Aaron Yates and Jake Zemke in the process.
Canadian Superbike Champion Jordan Szoke made his second AMA Superbike appearance of the year and impressed with tenth place finishes in both events.
AMA Superbike VIR Race 1 – Results
1. Tommy Hayden Suzuki 23 Laps
2. Ben Bostrom Yamaha 0.005
3. Josh Hayes Yamaha 0.303
4. Larry Pegram Ducati 20.615
5. Taylor Knapp Suzuki 22.272
6. Brett McCormick Suzuki 25.297
7. Eric Bostrom Suzuki 25.388
8. Etc………
AMA Superbike VIR Race 2 – Results
1. Josh Hayes Yamaha 23 Laps
2. Ben Bostrom Yamaha 7.287
3. Tommy Hayden Suzuki 15.710
4. Brett McCormick Suzuki 24.466
5. Taylor Knapp Suzuki 27.809
6. Geoff May Buell 36.747
7. Chris Ulrich Suzuki 42.733
AMA Superbike Standings – After 8 of 10 rounds
Pos. Rider Points
1. Josh Hayes 364
2. Tommy Hayden 353
3. Jake Zemke 286
4. Ben Bostrom 274
5. Larry Pegram 255
In the Saturday race, Hayden took his fourth AMA Pro SuperBike win of the season by a mere 0.005sec over pole position winner Ben Bostrom (Yamaha). Yamaha rider Josh Hayes finished third, 0.3sec behind the winner, and lead the most laps in the race, giving him a one point lead over Hayden in their close battle for the championship.
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| At 18, Saskatchewan native Brett McCormick races aboard Michael Jordan Motorsports machines, and is now running equal with team mates Jake Zemke (Third in the AMA Superbike points this year) and veteran Aaron Yates. (Photo: Micheal Jordan Motorsports) |
Behind the fantastic three-way battle for the win, Larry Pegram (Ducati) finished fourth while Taylor Knapp (Suzuki) earned fifth just ahead of young Canadian rookie Brett McCormick (Suzuki).
Things changed for the Sunday race, as championship leader Josh Hayes dominated the 23- lap race, leading every lap on his way to a series-high fifth Superbike this year. Pole sitter Ben Bostrom duplicated his second place from Saturday to round out a solid weekend.
Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) fought with Bostrom over second place before ending up third, allowing him to stay close to Hayes in the points chase, 11 points adrift with two double header race weekends to go.
Jordan Suzuki rookie Brett McCormick, the teenager from Saskatchewan, had his best weekend of the season, sixth and fourth, outrunning his veteran team-mates Aaron Yates and Jake Zemke in the process.
Canadian Superbike Champion Jordan Szoke made his second AMA Superbike appearance of the year and impressed with tenth place finishes in both events.
AMA Superbike VIR Race 1 – Results
1. Tommy Hayden Suzuki 23 Laps
2. Ben Bostrom Yamaha 0.005
3. Josh Hayes Yamaha 0.303
4. Larry Pegram Ducati 20.615
5. Taylor Knapp Suzuki 22.272
6. Brett McCormick Suzuki 25.297
7. Eric Bostrom Suzuki 25.388
8. Etc………
AMA Superbike VIR Race 2 – Results
1. Josh Hayes Yamaha 23 Laps
2. Ben Bostrom Yamaha 7.287
3. Tommy Hayden Suzuki 15.710
4. Brett McCormick Suzuki 24.466
5. Taylor Knapp Suzuki 27.809
6. Geoff May Buell 36.747
7. Chris Ulrich Suzuki 42.733
AMA Superbike Standings – After 8 of 10 rounds
Pos. Rider Points
1. Josh Hayes 364
2. Tommy Hayden 353
3. Jake Zemke 286
4. Ben Bostrom 274
5. Larry Pegram 255