This weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park, four champions will be crowned. Will it be Josh Hayes or Blake Young, Eslick or Herrin, Rispoli or Gaviria, Fillmore or Rapp. The AMA Superbike, Daytona Sportbike, AMA Supersport, and XR1200 series all conclude this weekend at NJMP.
AMA SUPERBIKE
In the Superbike class, we have an extremely tight battle between the top two riders, Josh Hayes and Blake Young. Hayes and Young have combined for 8 of the 12 race wins this season and are currently separated by just 6 points.
Young has the advantage going into New Jersey and he's sure to add a few more points to his total by the end of the race weekend. Young has only finished off the podium once this season (his worst finish was fourth). The Suzuki rider has been the most consistent rider this season, and he's taken the most wins, with 6.
Hayes has been able to keep the competition close by grabbing just about every spare point available. Hayes has taken 6 pole positions in 2011 and has lead the most laps at 8 races this season. But the Yamaha rider will have to do more than just take pole position in New Jersey.
Tommy Hayden can still mathematically take second or first this weekend, but he'd need to see two DNFs from either Hayes or Young. Hayden, on the other hand, could sit out the weekend and still claim third place. But don't expect the Suzuki rider to do that. Hayden was in the hunt for the title until he had a few mechanical issues during round five. Hayden may not be winning the championship this weekend, but he could very well be a double race winner.
DAYTONA SPORTBIKE
The Daytona Sportbike series was headed to an intense showdown, but an unfortunate race at Laguna has left one name at the top. Danny Eslick pretty much has the Daytona Sportbike championship in the bag.
Josh Herrin has had an amazing season this year, but three race finishes out of the top 20, all due to mechanical errors, have left the Yamaha rider 45 points behind Eslick. Herrin will now have to fight for second place with Jason DiSalvo, Tommy Aquino, and Corey West.
Riders two through five are separated by just 17 points, and with two DSB races at NJMP, the final podium is far from decided.
AMA SUPERSPORT
David Gaviria has already wrapped up the west coast championship, but he'll have to hope for a poor showing from James Rispoli if he wants to win the overall Supersport championship. Rispoli has a 39 point lead in the East, and if "the Rocket" can avoid any major malfunctions this weekend, he should be able to take the East title. Rispoli is also only 29 points from the overall championship. If Rispoli can find 30 points at New Jersey, he'll also walk away as the overall Supersport champion.
Thomas Puerta and Hayden Gillim will be fighting for second and third at New Jersey. Puerta currently sits in second, and still has a shot at the title if Rispoli fails to finish a race. But more than likely, Puerta will be trying to keep Gillim, who sits five points behind, from taking his second place spot.
XR1200
In the Harley class, Chris Fillmore and Steve Rapp are separated by just 12 points. Fillmore finished 21st after claiming the pole position at Indy, and allowed Rapp to come within striking distance of the title. Fillmore gave himself a little more breathing room by capturing the race two win at Indianapolis, but Rapp is still well within title reach.
The XR1200 class will only have one race at New Jersey, so Rapp needs to find himself at the top of the podium. If Fillmore can keep himself on the box, he'll leave NJMP with the XR1200 championship.
Tyler O'Hara and Michael Barnes also have a great battle for third. O'Hara currently holds onto third place, but Barnes is only four points behind.
