Josh Hayes of Graves Yamaha is set to take the lead in the AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike race series. We interviewed Josh to get some insight on how this year is starting out for him and what we can expect in future races.
Allaboutbikes.com: We’ve noticed this year that you seemed to have made a big turnaround. What do you attribute your higher placements?
Josh Hayes: You know, this year has definitely been different than last year. We finished the season really strong last year, definitely started off pretty slow and most of that had to do with development of the motorcycle. We had a brand new bike that we were trying to develop together, having to learn crew and machine is quite a daunting challenge. By the end of the season I think we have done a pretty decent job and won seven races.
Allaboutbikes.com: What’s been your biggest challenge this year as far as getting prepared for the season?
Josh Hayes: I have typically been a fairly slow starter to the race seasons. I think you look at my history and I am a second-half-of-the-season kind of guy. So getting my race legs underneath me, getting back into the practice of working with [my] crew and going to the races and … with the schedule changes and the other little things that have been going on with the series, to getting your head around everything and coming here with some expectations and finding out where you stack up to those… the competition, the racing. Everybody has definitely stepped up their game. They will talk about the fact that just the racing is better but the lap times have gotten faster everywhere also.
Allaboutbikes.com: Have you changed your riding style?
Josh Hayes: I don’t think you change what works. It was working for me pretty well and so like I said, I know we have a few things at the first couple of racetracks that were difficult for us and we have been working on. We are continually trying to develop a little bit better machine and work on the same and the guys are hard at work and you know, as the competition has developed and improved their equipment and we see where we are lacking and where we need some make up some space. So those things are ever evolving and continuing and of course as far as the riding goes it’s never changing one big thing. It’s a matter of making small tweaks to try to again; improve on some of the small things that you are lacking and always try to move forward with them.
Allaboutbikes.com: Well, do you see yourself placing number one this year at the end of the season?
Josh Hayes: You know, like I don’t know whatever goal I could have. I raced really well last year. I won 7 races. I ended up second in the championship. I mean I don’t know what else would be a more realistic goal. Goals are supposed to be hard to reach and so that’s the only thing I can see in my future is that I am walking towards that goal of winning AMA Superbike Championship and if I don’t win that goal I would say I haven’t done my job very well.
AllAboutBikes Magazine would like to thank Josh for giving us a few minutes of his time. We wish him the best this season. Keep the throttle pinned, and the shiny side up!
