Next week, the AMA Superbike season will come to its exciting conclusion at New Jersey Motorsports Park with the final two races of the season. Blake Young currently leads the series, but the young Wisconsinite has just five points over 2010 AMA Superbike champion, Josh Hayes.
Both riders have had a fantastic season so far. Young has scored 6 wins so far this season and has only missed the podium once in 12 races. He's never finished worse than fourth in 2011 and currently leads the series with 311 points.
But even with those impressive stats, the Suzuki rider only has 5 points over the defending champion.
Hayes has only taken two wins this season, but he has racked up more than a dozen extra points by claiming half of the pole positions this season and leading the most laps at 8 of the races.
"Blake has five wins and I've got two," Hayes said. "But I'm only 5 points away from the top. I'm going out there and I'm trying to get all the points. If Blake wants to win this championship, I'm going to make him earn it."
And Young will have to earn it. Young may lead the series but no one has ever beaten Hayes at New Jersey. Hayes has won four straight races at NJMP and he'll be looking to extend that streak during the AMA Superbike championship.
But Young won't let the championship slip away that easy. Young has made Hayes settle for second at five races so far this season and is ready for the challenge at New Jersey.
"I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself," Young said. "Maybe it's a good thing to be leading right now. It will give me some extra motivation."
Tommy Hayden can also lay claim to the 2011 AMA Superbike title, but he'll need a miraculous weekend.
"The championship for me isn't too likely," Hayden said. "I'd have to have a really lucky weekend in New Jersey. But I'm still going out there for race wins. I want to end the season strong."
AMA Superbike Standings
Blake Young - 311
Josh Hayes - 306
Tommy Hayden - 263
