MILLVILLE, NJ, SEPT 2 – Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden stole the spotlight from the title contenders at the final race of the AMA Pro Road Racing series.
Hayden has only the slimmest chance of winning the Superbike title-teammate Blake Young leads with 311 points to 306 for Monster Energy Yamaha’s Josh Hayes, with Hayden third at 263. But he arrived in New Jersey riding a two-race winning streak, Mid-Ohio and Laguna Seca, and determined to extend it.
In Friday afternoon’s 50-minute qualifying session, held in warm sunshine, Hayden lapped the 2.25-mile, 14-turn road course in 1:21.005 mins. Hayden was leading last year’s Saturday race when it was red flagged on the final lap. When scoring reverted, he was second. Still, he likes the circuit outside of Millville in south Jersey.
“Yeah, you know, it’s kind of a funny track,” he said. “I was thinking about it on the way here. It seems somewhat technical, because it has some elevation and some long corners. But yet you see the field super-tight. There’s always like kind of a long pack and a freight train in the race and usually you don’t have that on the technical tracks. It’s kinda weird, difficult. But I like it it’s a fun track. Seems to suit me pretty well. we’ll see. This morning I was battling a little bit of grip on the the rear. I think maybe, hopefully the track was just a little bit dirty. This afternoon seemed better and we were able to do a little bit more what we expected.”
Hayden expected more this season. Then came Barber. Never comfortable in Saturday’s race, he finished seventh. In Sunday’s race, his engine blew up in a fiery spectacle. The points lost there more or less doomed his championship.
“I mean, besides Barber I haven’t been off the podium all year,” he said. “I mean, I’ve been there. The difference the last few weeks - I just won them on the last laps, where before I didn’t do that. To me that’s the difference. And whether that’s from having a little momentum or having a little more confidence or whatever it may be, I’m not sure, but it’s been working and just try to continue it.”
If Young is to win the title, he’s on his own. Hayden said “that’s kind of their battle. Hopefully, they can sort that amongst themselves and I don’t have to play a part in that. They’ve both been super-strong all year. I’m sure they’re going to slug it out to the last lap on Sunday and that’s pretty cool. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, I think. Exciting for everyone and hopefully that’s the way it goes and hopefully behind me.”
AMA Pro Road Racing Superbike Qualifying:
1. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 1:21.005
2. Ben Bostrom (Suzuki) 1:21.119
3. Roger Lee Hayden (Suzuki) 1:21.160
4. Josh Hayes (Yamaha) 1:21.458
5. Blake Young (Suzuki) 1:21.753
6. Larry Pegram (BMW) 1:21.867
7. Steve Rapp (Kawasaki) 1:21.873
8. Geoff May (EBR) 1:21.971
9. Brett McCormick (BMW) 1:22.151
10. Martin Cardenas (Suzuki) 1:22.557