AMA SBK: Young and Hayden split at Mid-Ohio
7-12-2011
by
moto123.com
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Blake Young (Suzuki) and Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) fought hard in their respective races at Mid-Ohio to become each a winner at the end of the AMA Superbike doubleheader.
Saturday, pole sitter Young let Josh Hayes (Yamaha) take the lead before launching his own assault in the race's waning stages.
Young's team-mate, Hayden, sat three seconds back in fifth but a superb launch off the line at the restart re-energized his race and he then displayed front-running pace from that point on.
Young squeezed out just enough of a gap on the race's final lap to prevent Hayes from executing any late move and earned his sixth win of the year by 0.176 second. Hayden finished third 0.344 second behind.
On Sunday, it was Tommy Hayden’s turn to shine at the end of an epic four-way battle for a checkered flag that remained in doubt right through the race's final corner.
On his way to victory, Hayden took down his opponents, first reigning champion Hayes before dispatching his fast-rising brother, Roger Hayden on the National Guard Jordan Suzuki.
On lap 17 of 21, Hayden fought his way past Young, only to see his team-mate dive right back through, but Hayden had an immediate counter attack of his own in reserve.
Young reclaimed the lead on lap 18, but Hayden took the stripe to open the penultimate lap back out in front. He then successfully defended the position and passed the flag just 0.119 second in front of Young.
Roger Hayden came home in third just a further second behind, defeating Yamaha ace Hayes for the position. The result is a landmark achievement for Hayden as it marks his first-career Superbike podium result after years of trying.
Young did notch up the point for most laps led, further extending his lead to 290-279 over Hayes with just five races remaining on the year.
The AMA Pro Superbike Championship title fight will resume in two weeks' time, as the AMA Pro Road Racing paddock heads to Laguna Seca to share the spotlight with the MotoGP World Championship for the USGP on July 22-24.
AMA Pro Superbike Saturday Race Results
1. Blake Young (Suz)
2. Josh Hayes (Yam) +0.176
3. Tommy Hayden (Suz) +0.344
4. Roger Hayden (Suz)
5. Martin Cardenas (Suz)
6. Larry Pegram (BMW)
7. Chris Fillmore (KTM)
8. Steve Rapp (BMW)
9. David Anthony (Suz)
10. J.D. Beach (Kaw)
AMA Pro Superbike Sunday Results
1. Tommy Hayden (Suz)
2. Blake Young (Suz) +0.119
3. Roger Hayden (Suz) +1.231
4. Josh Hayes (Yam) 1.829
5. Martin Cardenas (Suz)
6. Ben Bostrom (Suz)
7. Larry Pegram (BMW)
8. J.D. Beach (Kaw)
9. Chris Fillmore (KTM)
10. Geoff May (EBR)
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