The 2011 AMA Superbike season was marred by a mid-season cancellation that cut an already short season to just 8 events. Teams were fighting throughout the season to fund racers. Riders were constantly looking for new rides, and some were even asking fans for funds to make it to the next round. It was a sad to see AMA racing in such a state, especially since it was undeserved.
The AMA Pro Racing finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park showcased some of the best racing that we've seen all year. And I'm not just talking about the AMA. That statement knowingly includes the MotoGP, World Superbike, Motocross, Supercross, British Superbike, and any other event that had competitors racing from point a to point b.
And the sad thing is... the AMA racing series was largely ignored this year.
Well racing fans, it's time to take notice. There is world class road racing within the borders of the United States.
The AMA Superbike series opened up with two races that were decided by less than a tenth of a second at Daytona. 8 more races in 2011 would be decided by less than .3 seconds and the series championship wouldn't be decided until the final race.
But the best part about the 2011 AMA Superbike season was that it set the stage for a fantastic 2012.
"We're going to come back and we're going to be stronger," said Blake Young after the final race of the season. "This team is ready to win a championship and I know that I can do it."
Young had the lead going into the final weekend but a fifth place finish in race one put him squarely behind the 8-ball. The young Wisconsinite rode a determined race 2 and captured the win over Roger Hayden and Josh Hayes.
The second race saw multiple lead changes, a few crashes, and a battle for the podium between a desperate Hayes, a determined Roger Hayden, and a risk-taking Ben Bostrom that will go down in the AMA history books. Describing the action really can't do the second race of the AMA Superbike finale justice. (Make sure you check out the race replay at SpeedTV.)
"There's nothing scarier than knowing you need a third place finish to win the championship, and having Ben Bostrom behind you," Hayes said. "Blake rode like a champion today. He'll be tough to beat next year."
The AMA Superbike series was largely a three-way battle this year between Hayes, Young, and Tommy Hayden, and the big three will still be fighting for the championship in 2012. But riders like Ben Bostrom, Roger Hayden, and Martin Cardenas showed toward the end of the season that they were ready to compete for race wins.
The AMA has everything you need for great, entertaining races. Fast bikes, big personalities, and an emerging rivalry between the youthful Blake Young and the proven Josh Hayes. All the AMA needs now is an audience.
The stage is set. The players are ready. It's time for the fans to fill in the seats.
(You can see pictures from the AMA Pro Road Racing finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park here.)
