The AMA Superbike riders are strapping on their leathers for the first race of the weekend at Mid-Ohio. Blake Young will be leading the grid for the Superbike riders ahead of Josh Hayes, Roger Hayden, and Larry Pegram.
Josh Hayes had a two point lead heading into the weekend, but Young cut that lead down to just one point after claiming the pole position this morning.
The AMA Superbike Grid
- Young - Hayes - Hayden - Pegram
- T Hayden - Rapp - Bostrom - Peris
- Cardenas - Fillmore - Anthony - May
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The Superbike riders are on the grid. They'll have one warm-up lap before we start the first Superbike race of the weekend.
And we are all lined up and they're off!
Roger Hayden jumps off the line, but Blake Young takes the lead by the end of lap 1.
Blake Young leads the way around the Mid-Ohio course. Young is followed by Josh Hayes, Roger Hayden, and Ben Bostrom.
We have a new leader. Hayes ducks down on the inside through Thunder Valley to take the lead.
Blake Young tries to pull the same move on Hayes at lap three, but Hayes shuts him out.
Hayes puts in the fastest lap of the day. A 1'25.895 lap time and holds a half second ahead of Young.
18 laps to go. - Hayes, Young - Hayden - Bostrom - Pegram
Hayes and Young have a little bit of a gap up at the front. Young is doing his best to make sure that Hayes doesn't run away.
Hayes and Young have a second over Roger Hayden who is running in third. Ben Bostrom and Larry Pegram are both challenging for the third place spot. Tommy Hayden is riding right behind Pegram.
Chris Trunson is down. Trunson lost it at lap 1. He is up and ok, but it looks like he's done fr the day.
14 laps to go. We have a yellow flag as one of the front runners goes down.
Yellow flag has turned into a red flag.
Chris Peris is down.
Peris is still down on the track. His BMW has been pushed off the course, but Peris is still lying in the gravel. The AMA Superbike riders have all pitted as safety crews head out to the accident.
At the red flag, Hayes was leading the way in front of Blake Young, Roger Hayden, and Ben Bostrom. Tommy Hayden was in fifth ahead of Larry Pegram and Chris Peris.
An ambulance and a clean up crew are currently working with the accident. Perris will be taken to the infield medical center to be checked out.
The AMA Superbike riders are now heading off on a warm-up lap before the restart.
And they're off again.
Blake Young ges off to a poor start as Hayes leads the way.
Roger Hayden sits in second, Young has made his way back to third. Tommy Hayden sits in fourth ahead of Ben Bostrom.
We have 14 laps remaining. Blake Young is trying to get himself back into second place so that he can challenge Hayes at the front.
Hayes crosses the line .7 seconds ahead of Roger Hayden. Young makes a move and gets by Hayden. Young has his sights set on Hayes.
Hayes has a decent lead up at the front. Young will have to push the pace to reel him back in before the end of the race.
12 laps to go. Hayes - Young - T. Hayden - R. Hayden - Rapp - Pegram - Cardenas - Fillmore - Beach - May
Young takes the lead!
But the lead is shortlived as Hayes takes it back just a few turns later.
All four bikes are fighting for the first place spot. There are 7 laps to go, and the top four riders are separated by just .4 seconds.
Young takes the lead again. But Hayes is looking for an opportunity to pass.
Hayes stuffs it down into turn one and takes the lead back from Young.
Roger Hayden has dropped a little bit behind the top three riders.
Young retakes the lead.
And Tommy Hayden takes the lead from Hayes. But Hayes takes it right back on the next turn.
3 laps to go: Young - Hayes - T Hayden - R. Hayden - Pegram - Cardenas
The white flag is out. Young leads the way across the line. Hayes will have to make his move soon.
Young, Hayes, and Hayden are just a few bike lengths apart.
Hayes never made a move on the final lap. It looked like his tires weren't giving him much, and he had to settle for second.
Blake Young takes the win. Blake Young is the new AMA Superbike points leader.
AMA Superbike Race Results
- Young
- Hayes
- T. Hayden
- R. Hayden
- Cardenas
- Pegram
- Fillmore
- Rapp
- Anthony
- Beach
Full race report to follow.
