Who else out there has a tough time believing that AMA Daytona SportBike perennial front-runner Josh Herrin is 20 now? It seems like only last year he was a 16-year-old phenom coming up in the ranks of the now-defunct AMA Pro Racing Supersport series. That speaks more to my addled mind than to the man himself.
Herrin has been very busy in the last four years. In the very first year of the Daytona SportBike Championship, 2009, he landed in a solid second place overall. This year, against an even tougher and more evenly matched field of competitors, he ended the season in an overall third position – only 29 points away from the Championship. That’s more than enough reason to stay with the team he has developed with, Graves Motorsports and Yamaha Motor Corporation USA.
Just this week, Herrin signed another contract to race with Graves and Yamaha for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. This was his fourth year with the team, so he will have at least six years of experience with the Yamaha YZF-R6 by the time this new deal expires. Given his skill and his experience with the team, the bike and the series itself (circuits, travel, life on the road), the next two seasons look very promising. Herrin has what he needs to grasp for the top step of the podium. All he needs now is for the fates to be on his side – some would call it luck - come race day.
Josh Herrin will be coming to a track near you in 2011. For all you need to know about him and what he is up to, please click through here: www.herrin8.com
