After wind gusts up to 50 mph knocked air fences over and spread debris across Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., Saturday, racing was delayed. Track workers scrambled to get the track ready allowing just for a short practice/qualifying session before Round 2 of AMA Pro Racing action.
In AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike, all eyes were on Jordan Suzuki rider Aaron Yates. The No. 23 rider had the pole just as he did at Round 1 in Daytona; sharing the front row were Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Tommy Hayden, Foremost Insurance Ducati rider Larry Pegram and M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider John Hopkins.
But it would be Pegram who took the checkered flag. Unlike the Suzukis and Yamahas, the No. 72 Ducati 1098R didn’t slide around as much on the 2.36-mile circuit, Pegram piloting the machine smoothly on the technical course. Finishing in second was Daytona’s winner, National Guard Jordan Suzuki rider Jake Zemke, and in third was Yates.
Yates grabbed the holeshot in the 21-lap race, but by Turn 1 the No. 54 of Zemke took the lead. By Lap 7, the Suzuki bikes were sliding around, especially Zemke’s. On Lap 11, the No. 4 Team Graves Yamaha rider Josh Hayes made his way to the front, eventually taking Zemke. But Zemke regains the lead on Lap 16, as Pegram and Yates battle for third.
With three laps to go, Pegram takes Hayes, and so does Yates. Pegram chases down Zemke, and gets him on Turn 1, where Pegram was strongest all night.
“I had such a hard time passing everyone,” Pegram said. “But the Foremost Ducati was rock solid the whole race.”
Zemke said his bike was fast, but it needed some additional tuning: “We’re still testing…every session is a test. We need to make the bike easier on the tires (for race 2).”
Race 2 at Fontana will occur Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (PST). The race will be televised on SPEED at midnight.
For complete results, click here.
