AMA Pro Road Racing championship final round highlights for 2011
AMA Pro Racing Press Release - Sep 8, 2011

AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Race Victory to Young, Championship to Hayes

In one of the most incredible AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike battles on record, the 2011 championship came down to an epic 23-lap contest that saw the crown change hands nearly a dozen times -- twice on the final lap alone -- before again being bestowed upon Monster Energy Graves Yamaha's defending champion, Josh Hayes. Far from a one-on-one contest, Hayes and Rockstar Makita Suzuki challenger Blake Young faced off not only against each other, but against a handful of other riders fast enough to change the fortunes of all.

With an eleven-point lead over Young heading into the final race of the season, Hayes was well aware that math, as well as motorcycles, would play a big part in today's contest. Should Young win the race and collect a point for most laps led, Hayes needed to cross the line third or better to defend his title.

Off the line, Hayes immediately laid claim to Tommy Hayden's holeshot while the rest of today's major players declared themselves almost as quickly, Roger Hayden (National Guard Jordan Suzuki), Ben Bostrom (Jordan Suzuki), Steve Rapp (Cycle World Attack Performance Kawasaki), and Young joining a lead pack that railed through corners in seven -and eight- rider iterations. With the race barely underway, the first of several game-changers was delivered via a red flag (following a crash by Canadian Brett McCormick) that mandated a full restart.

When the flag dropped on the second start, it was a whole new race for a suddenly resurgent Young, who charged into second behind Tommy Hayden while Hayes was left to claw his way up from fifth. Hayes proceeded to do just that, dispatching Bostrom and Rapp before pulling three-wide on the front straight with Young and Tommy and putting a pass on the duo that carried him into the lead with Young right behind. When Young took over the frontrunner position with thirteen laps to go, it kicked off a furious sprint to the finish that had race watchers adding and subtracting points as Hayes and Young -- along with both Haydens, Bostrom, Rapp, and others -- slammed through corners in a constant state of flux.

When the white flag flew, Young -- who'd lost a vital buffer when Tommy Hayden crashed out with seven to go -- was again back in business, Roger Hayden and Bostrom having gotten past Hayes just before the penultimate lap. But when Bostrom ran off-track with only corners to go, Hayes jumped forward to sail past Roger Hayden and drag race Young to the line. Young took the race victory by .005 of a second, but the title went to Hayes by 5 precious points. 

"I got myself into second and got set for a run up to flag," said Hayes, "and it was a heck of a run, but I didn't have enough to get by him. Man, what an exhale [I let out] once we crossed the line and it was over and done with -- Blake made me race my tail off for that last one, and it was great. He rode like a champ this year; he's won seven races and I've only won three, but my bad days weren't as bad as his. He's still learning and he's young, and I'm sure next year's going to be the same thing all over again. He rode a fantastic year, and what a final day. He really pulled it together, and man, rode like a SuperBIke racer."

"It was tough, tough weekend for me, for sure," said a disappointed Young. "Today, I don't think it was skill or anything but mainly just heart. I just wanted to show what my team was capable of and what they've been doing all year long. I wanted to end the season like that, and I did; I wanted to bring the win home for them because they deserve it. I definitely was confident today to let it all hang out -- I didn't really worry where Josh was, I just wanted to win. I'm happy I've had the season that I've had, but I'm kind of sad that it's over -- I'd like to go at it a little bit more. I have go back and try harder; I didn't get it done this year. But you'll see me back next year, a little bit stronger."

"With ten to go," said Roger Hayden, "I figured I had to make a push. It was a crazy race -- people crashing, guys all over the place -- but I got lucky a few times and on the last lap I closed up on Blake ... and tried to get up the inside of him a little bit. But he was able to block me, like you're supposed to do on the last lap, so I ended up third. It was a pretty good race for and a good way to end the season strong for the team and me…give us something to build on. Hopefully [next year] I can challenge these guys again."  

Eslick clenches Championship before Herrin claims victory in final Daytona SportBike race of 2011

The fast and furious number-crunching that followed the season's second to last AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race was nothing compared to the class' on-track action, but at the end the ultimate victor was revealed: GEICO Powersports RMR Suzuki's Danny Eslick had clenched the 2011 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Championship. Eslick -- who adds this year's crown to the class title he earned in 2009 – dedicated the championship to recently departed race legend Gary Nixon.

"It hasn't set in yet," said Eslick, grinning. "At first I didn't think we were far enough up there to get the job done. When I came in I saw my team looking around, then we looked at an official and they gave me the checkered flag, and then it started kicking in a little bit. It was an awesome race; I don't know how many lead changes -- a bunch, probably more than any other race this year. There were seven or eight of us for a while going back and forth ... it was pretty spectacular. It's nice to get it done with a race to go, and we'll go out and give it a heck of a shot tomorrow, too." 

Monster Energy Graves Yamaha's Josh Herrin may not have gotten the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Championship he wanted, but he does have the satisfaction of having ended the 2011 season in the second-best way possible: with a hard-fought win over a list of determined opponents. After dispatching teammate Tommy Aquino, Cameron Beaubier (JHR/RidersDiscount.com), and Dane Westby (M4 Suzuki) -- each of whom came back for seconds, thirds, or more -- Herrin took his fifth victory of the season, more than any other rider in the class.

Each rider seemed to typify the particular skill and strategy they've become known for in today's race, Herrin the smooth, determined veteran; Westby the late-race charger; Beaubier the constantly evolving rookie; Aquino the mercurial pilot capable of more than past seasons have shown. With a brief pause caused by a red flag (which flew after a crash by M4 Suzuki's Santiago Villa, who was quickly on his feet), the four-rider pack -- made five by Danny Eslick for the first half of the race - diced non-stop through the 23-laps, sliding forward and back through turns while trying to out-draft and out-break as they tore down the front straight. 

 "Today I thought I had something for Josh," said Westby, who'd been eager to erase yesterday's crash with a victory today, "but [it wasn't] enough that I could make it happen. Too bad it's the end of the season, because I'd like to do some more racing, but I look forward to seeing everybody next year."  

Aquino was followed across the line by Beaubier and newly crowned 2011 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion Danny Eslick. Cory West (Vesrah Suzuki), Jason DiSalvo (Team Latus Motors Racing), Bryce Prince (Bryce Prince Racing), Mike Selpe (Frisco Tap House/Markbilt), and LTD Racing Y.E.S. Yamaha's Huntley Nash rounded out the top ten.

Newly Crowned AMA Pro SuperSport Champ Celebrates With Spectacular Race Win

After clinching two AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport titles yesterday, James Rispoli put on a huge show for New Jersey Motorsports Park fans today, claiming victory over Race 1 winner Garrett Gerloff after a thrilling battle that was red flagged with five laps to go. Rispoli -- who claimed the Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport East Division and overall title Saturday -- did his team proud by punctuating those titles with an old-fashioned race win.

At the time of the red flag, Gerloff (Monster Energy Graves Yamaha) and Hayden Gillim (Bell Helmet Yamaha) were trailing Rispoli, Gerloff having worked his way up through the field after a slow start. In his charge up from eighth to an eventual second, 16-year-old Gerloff turned laps that would have given him this weekend's pole position in the infamously competitive Daytona SportBike class.

"I started working my way up and getting by people," said Gerloff. "[Rispoli and Gillim] were starting to run away, so I knew I really had to put in some good laps. I shredded my tires trying to get to [Rispoli], but I needed to be up there to try to get a draft or something to try to win the race. At the end of the race, I didn't know Hayden was behind me, and then [when he passed me], I knew it was time to go. I got back around and we were coming up the front straightaway when the red flag came out, and I was so disappointed not to get another chance. But I did the best I could, and I've got to give a thumbs-up to Rispoli and Hayden -- they were riding awesome."

Third-place finisher Gillim got a great start and led the first few corners, but by the end of the first lap, Rispoli had gotten by. Gillim ran second until Gerloff took over that spot on Lap 7, at which point Gillim lost touch with the leaders until the closing laps of the race, when he closed back up on the lead pair and appeared poised to make a charge when the red flag flew.

"Today I just focused on getting a good start," said Gillim. "Today's start was the best of the year for me. James was right there and we kind of had a replay of the Mid-Ohio last-lap pass. It was a good race today; I'm really glad I did so well, and these guys ran a fantastic race, and I was just glad to be there with them. I was able to conserve my tires and the Yamaha was running really good, and I'm just happy to be up here again."

"It was a good race," said Rispoli. "I had a pretty good start. Hayden got the holeshot and made it known he was going to lead the first lap, so I just sat in and tried to attack on a little opening. Once I got to the front, I tried to ride smart. These guys were coming hard ... Garret came by me a couple times, but I got back around. Then I just tried to keep the lead and see if I could hold the pace and, man, it was good; it was a good ride. Hats off to my crew, they've been working on my stuff all weekend. I had a little bit of a game plan going into it -- I didn't try to hammer every lap, just tried to get to the front and ride my own race and it seemed to pay off. I think we had three laps to go when the red flag came out, and I was ready to go and put it in there because I knew these guys would be dicing it. It feels really good to end the season this strong."

Fillmore Claims 2011 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Championship

Chris Fillmore ended the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 season with style at New Jersey Motorsports Park's AMA Pro Road Racing Championship Weekend by Pro-Motion, where the Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Racing GEICO Revolution Performance rider took his fifth win of the season en route to the class championship. Starting from pole position, Fillmore led flag-to-flag while holding off challenges from Tyler O'Hara and a determined Michael Beck.

"I feel really good," said Fillmore. "The XR1200 series ... now that I went through the year and got used to the bikes, I think I learned a lot. It's a great series, I had a lot of fun with it. I stayed in it and learned a lot about lines, and I'm really glad that at the end of it, Richie [Morris] and I hooked up and I got the opportunity to ride with him. What AMA Pro and Vance & Hines have done with this series gave guys like us -- guys who haven't really had a chance to develop a name -- a place to go to develop our names and learn the tracks. It's been great."

Beck (Vance & Hines J&P Cycles) crossed the line just .135 of a second behind Fillmore, and he was joined on the podium by Kyle Wyman (RMR Bruce Rossmeyer Daytona Racing), who took third place after working his way past O'Hara on the last lap.

"For sure I gave it my all," said Beck, who placed fourth in the overall championship. "It was a fun race. I got a little bit of a lazy start and a couple of the guys got by me, but I never gave up and reeled 'em in. I had a little bit of back-and forth with O'Hara, but didn't want to let Fillmore go because I knew he'd be running away with it. I saw that O'Hara ran off halfway through, but Fillmore was still right there and he had a good pace today. I gave it all I had."

Today's third-place finish earned Wyman, who ended the 2011 season in fifth overall, his career third AMA Pro podium. "I was struggling all weekend," said Wyman. "I didn't qualify that well and just wasn't finding the feeling I was looking for. It just kind of clicked as soon as I got a carrot out in front of me in the race, though, once I saw Tyler. These Harleys have been so much fun ... I had a little bit of bad luck in some of the rounds, but it's good to end [the season] on a high note."

Fillmore's closest championship rival, Parts Unlimited's Steve Rapp, finished sixth after starting the race from the back of the grid. Rapp's team reported suspecting a mechanical problem following the warm-up lap, which resulted in their decision to forego Rapp's front-row starting position rather than put the entire field at risk. After using the first few laps to ensure that his XR1200 was in good shape, Rapp put his head down and began a steady march through the field that netted him second overall in the championship. 

Just behind Rapp in final standings was O'Hara, with Beck and Wyman completing the top five. Michael Barnes (Drag Specialties), Michael Corbino (RMR Bruce Rossmeyer Daytona Racing), Chase McFarland (Latus Motors Racing), Paul James, and Michael Morgan rounded out the top ten.