The premier class riders will take to the track in just a few minutes on a sunny day in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Josh Hayes will be leading the AMA Superbike grid at Road America in the hopes to claim his second win of the season.
Hayes has claimed every pole position so far this season, but only has one win to his name. That’s because Blake Young and Tommy Hayden have been there at the end of the race to steal victory. But Hayes set an incredibly fast pace this morning, and may be able to build a big enough gap to make a late race pass impossible.
AMA Superbike Starting Grid
Row 1: Hayes - Young - Hayden - Peris
Row 2: Cardenas - Hayden - Bostrom - Pegram
Row 3 - Rapp - May - Clark - Beach
The AMA Superbike race will begin in just a few minutes. (Hit refresh to get the latest updates.)
The AMA Superbike riders are on the grid. We'll be running in just a moment.
And they're off!
Blake Young jumps out into the front, followed by Hayden and Hayes.
Young crosses the line .13 seconds ahead of his teammate. Hayes is running in third.
Peris parks his bike on the side of the track. Rapp looks like he has a problem too. That's two BMWs down.
Hayes passes Hayden and riding just inches behind Young.
Young and holds .08 seconds ahead of Hayes. Hayes takes the lead but is quickly passed by Young.
Lap 2: Young - Hayes - Hayden - Cardenas - R. Hayden - Bostrom - Pegram - Beach - Clark - Farrell
Young, Hayes, and Hayden have separated from the rest of the pack. The top three riders have 2.5 seconds ahead of the rest of the pack.
Young crosses the line first, but Hayes takes the lead at turn 1.
Hayes runs wide and Young retakes the lead.
Hayes makes a move, takes the lead, but Young takes it right back. The top two riders have been going back and forth.
After two more lead changes, Hayes now leads the two Suzuki boys.
Young retakes the lead, but Hayes has the inside corner and takes it back.
Behind the top three riders, R. Hayden leads the second group. Roger Hayden is batling with Cardeans and pegram for the fourth place spot.
Lap 4: Hayes, Young, Hayden, R. Hayden, Cardenas, Pegram, Bostrom, Clark, Beach, Farrell
The top three riders are lapping in the high 2'13s low 2'14s. Hayes has the fastest lap of the day with a 2'13.127.
Blake Young runs a bit wide at turn 5, and loses a little time behind Hayes.
Hayes has the biggest lead of the day, with five bike lengths ahead of Young.
Pegram moves into fourth ahead of Cardenas and R. Hayden.
Lap 6: Hayes has .43 seconds ahead of Young. Hayes puts in another fast lap, now at 2'12.875.
Young brings the gap down to just .19 seconds.
Young finds his way back to the front, but only for a moment, Hayes will lead them across the line at the end of the 7th lap.
Young rides in the draft and slingshots passed down the stretch. Hayes and Young ride side by side but Young holds the inside and now leads Hayes down the Road America circuit.
Kasper crashes and causes a yellow flag. No passing for the moment. Kasper is up and ok.
Hayden drafting off of Hayes, Hayes drafing off of Young, but only Hayes can make the pass.
Young retakes the lead, but is quickly passed by Hayes. The top three riders are riding side by side, Hayes takes the lead as Young and Hayden fall back in line.
Lap 10: Hayes crosses the line with .012 seconds ahead of Young. This one will come down to the wire.
Young - Hayes - Hayden - Cardenas - R. Hayden - L. Pegram - B. Bostrom - C. Clark - J. Farrell - JD Beach
Young has a bike length ahead of Hayes as they head into the straight.
Hayes pulls up to the side, but can't find his way past.
Cardenas and Hayden are battling for fourth behind the top three.
Young has his biggest lead of the day, but it isn't much. Young leads by .13 seconds as we head to the final lap.
It's going to come down to the stretch.
Hayes takes the lead but Young cuts back in on the inside. Half a lap to go.
Tommy riding side by side with Hayes. Hayden could make a late race pass.
Young crosses the line with plenty of space. Hayden and Young cross the line side by side.
Young wins!
Unofficially, Hayes takes second placey by .009 seconds.
AMA Superbike Results - Race 1 - Road America
- Young
- Hayes
- Hayden
- Cardenas
- Pegram
- Hayden
- Bostrom
- Clark
- Farrell
- May
Full race report to follow.
