Suzuki's Tommy Hayden Rides To First
Superbike Career Victory At Auto Club Speedway

~ Herrin grabs SportBike win at finish;

Pascarella sweeps weekend SuperSport class ~

San Bernardino County, Calif. (March 28, 2010) - The sun was shining brightly on a chamber of commerce type Sunday at Auto Club Speedway as Tommy Hayden, Josh Herrin and Joey Pascarella all brought home victories in the Suzuki AMA Pro SuperBike Challenge.

Hayden, who finished a disappointing sixth in Saturday’s race, rode to his first career victory in Sunday’s AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike. Riding his Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki GSX-R1000, Hayden took advantage of Saturday’s winner and early race leader Larry Pegram’s unfortunate crash. The rest of the race he was fighting off second place finisher Josh Hayes. Hayden’s finishing time was 29:42.326 with a margin of victory over Hayes of 0.485 seconds.

“It feels really good and a huge weight off my shoulders to get that out of my way (first win),” said Hayden. “I am feeling really good, especially after yesterday. I had a really disappointing day, and was pretty discouraged last night. The team made some changes, and I made some changes myself. I came out today and felt a lot better. The bike was working really good.”

Runner-up on his Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 was Hayes, followed by Hayden’s teammate and third place finisher Blake Young on his Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Herrin, who finished fourth in Saturday’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race, earned his win after trailing for all but the last few feet. Danny Eslick led the whole race as Herrin stalked him throughout the 2.36-mile, 21-turn road course at Auto Club Speedway. Herrin, on his Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6, officially led nine of the 21 laps, but that was only because he made it to the finish line on those laps before Eslick. It wasn’t until the two came off the last turn that Herrin was able to reel in Eslick and gain the victory. The margin of victory was a mere 0.028 seconds, and the winning time was 30:46.574.

“I was actually trying to have the most laps led by not really leading the race,” said Herrin. “I was able to see what I had on him for the last lap. The Yamaha definitely had the power over him. I want to thank my family and friends, and definitely the fans for coming out when yesterday was so windy and today is hot.”

Rounding out the top three were Eslick on his GEICO Powersports/RMR/Suzuki GSX-R600 and Steve Rapp riding the Team Latus Motors Racing Ducati 848.

The SuperSport class was again dominated by Pascarella on his Yamaha YZF-R6. After winning yesterday’s race, he led every lap of today’s 14-lap race, which was shortened from the regulation 17 laps due to a rider down in the race line. This caused the race to be red-flagged due it being more than 80% complete Pascarella’s winning time was 19:35.173. Running second was Huntley Nash on a Yamaha YZF-R6 and Scott Gilbert on a Yamaha YZF-R6.

“It was a little greasy out there and I actually wasn’t feeling too comfortable,” said Pascarella. “I made a couple of mistakes out there halfway through and kept it together. I hoped no one caught the mistakes. I want to thank my whole team for getting the bike ready.”

Top 10 results of Sunday’s races in all three classes show finishing position, name, motorcycle and time completed around the 2.36-mile, 21- turn road course:

AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike: 1. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:24.454; 2. Josh Hayes (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:24.439; 3. Blake Young (Suzuki GSX-1000R), 1:24.428; 4. Jake Zemke (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:24.764; 5. John Hopkins (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:25.024; 6. Ben Bostrom (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:25.024; 7. Brett McCormick (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:25.427; 8. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:25.410; 9. Taylor Knapp (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:26.390; 10. David Anthony (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 1:26.655.

AMA Pro Daytona SportBike: 1. Josh Herrin (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:27.319; 2. Danny Eslick (Suzuki GSX-R600), 1:27.573; 3. Steve Rapp (Ducati 848), 1:27.641; 4. Dane Westby (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:27.430; 5. Bobby Fong (Ducati 848), 1:27.513; 6. Tommy Aquino (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:27.547; 7. Cory West (Suzuki GSX-R600), 1:27.830; 8. Chris Fillmore (Suzuki GSX-R600), 1:28.305; 9. Clinton Seller (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:28.592; 10. Martin Cardenas (Suzuki GSX-R600), 1:27.428.

AMA SuperSport: 1. Joey Pascarella (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:29.965; 2. Huntley Nash (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:30.474; 3. Scott Gilbert (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:30.429; 4. Elena Myers (Suzuki GSX-R600), 1:30.936; 5. Tyler O’Hara (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:30.641; 6. Charles Strong (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:33.145; 7. Eric Stump (Honda CBR600RR), 1:33.088; 8. Michael Corbina (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:33.220; 9. Robert Tinagero (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:33.994; 10. Chris Sromalla (Suzuki GSX-R600), 1:33.695.

Article courtesy of AutoClubSpeedwayMedia

AMA Superbike Pro Challenge gallery photos by SMM Staff Photographer--Randy Jones.


Danny Eslick 2009 Daytona Sportbike Champion Wins the # 1 Qualifying Spot.	Chris Fillmore leading the way through Turn 9 on his Suzuki GSX-R600 Vesrah Suzukie Sponsored Daytona Sportbike.

Up and coming young rider Elean Myers running the Pro Super Sport Series on her Richie Morris Racing, RoadRacingworld.com Suzuki GSX-R600	Daytona Sportbike Bikes Stage for Qualifying.

Dane Westby Yamaha YZF-R6 Project 1 Atlanta Daytona Sportbike, goes for a quick wild ride with only 6 laps to go in race 2. Dane Finished 3rd.	American Superbike Race 1 On the first lap, #10 Chris Peris BMW S1000RR Team Iron Horse (on its side) tangles with # 44 Taylor Knapp Suzuki GSX-R1000 Ridersdiscound.com bike. Chris Peris being ok, picked up his bike and retired from the race.

American Superbike # 21 John Hopkins on his GSX-R1000 M4 Monster Energy Suzuki heading out for practice.	American Superbike Rider Jake Zemke # 54 Suzuki GSX-R1000 National Guard out Qualifying on Friday Afternoon.

Blake Young awaits Race 2 American Superbike Race	The National Guard is called into help the track officials reset the rail barriers due to high winds.

Final preparation being done to the Rockstar Makita GSX-R1000 Suzuki for Race 2.	Turn 1 Auto Club Speedway AMA Pro Road Racing Suzuki SuperBike Challenge.

2009 Champion Danny Eslick on the Geico Powersports/RMR GXS-R600 Suzuki leads the pack into turn 2 first lap.	Suzuki scored big by winning Race # 2 American Superbike Podium winners. Center - Left - Right Tommy Hayden 1st Place, Josh Hayes 2nd and Blake Young 3rd Place.