The AMA Pro Road Racing series heads to Mid-Ohio this weekend for the 6th round of the 2011 racing season. Josh Hayes, Danny Eslick, and James Rispoli currently lead their divisions, but all three racing series are dangerously close at the top.
AMA Superbike
Josh Hayes heads into Mid-Ohio with just two points ahead of Blake Young. Hayes and Young have been swapping victories throughout the series, and both riders have finished on the podium at every race but one in 2011. Hayes has won three of the last four AMA Superbike wins at Mid-Ohio, and looks to be the favorite heading into this weekend.
But Hayes will have to fight off a determined Tommy Hayden if he wants to claim victory. Hayden had been in the top three at every race this year until the Barber Motorsports Park event. Hayden took a 7th place finish in race one and a DNF in race two. Hayden’s unfortunate weekend put 50 points between him and the top of the leader board. Hayden has what it takes to contend for the championship, but he’ll have to put in two great performances this weekend if he wants to keep his title hopes alive.
Martin Cardenas and Ben Bostrom are currently fourth and fifth in the overall standings, and they are the only two riders beside Hayes, Hayden, and Young, to take a podium finish this year. Cardenas is coming off of his first career AMA Superbike victory, and Bostrom will be looking to build on his first podium of the year.
Daytona Sportbike
The Daytona Sportbike series is even tighter at the top than the Superbike series. The top four riders are all separated by less than 25 points. Danny Eslick leads the way, but Josh Herrin, Jason DiSalvo, and Corey West are all close behind.
Eslick has been a constant contender this season, but it wasn’t until the last even at Barber that Eslick claimed his first win. Eslick has just four points over Herrin, who has won four out of the last five races.
Jason DiSalvo should also be looking for the podium. DiSalvo won the first three races of the year, but he hasn’t been able to find the podium since.
AMA Supersport
In the AMA Supersport standings, James Rispoli tops the standings in the east division. Rispoli has 23 points over Tomas Puerta, and both riders have a win apiece.
Rispoli took a 1-2 finish at Barber Motorsports Park, and will be looking to build on that momentum this weekend.
In the West division, David Gaviria leads the way ahead of Benny Solis, Corey Alexander, Travis Ohge, and Elena Myers.
The racing action at Mid-Ohio starts this Friday, with the races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. AllAboutBikes will be at the event and will have live updates throughout the weekend.
