SONOMA, CA, MAY 15: On the track where he took his maiden Superbike win last year, Team Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes led every lap to win his first American SuperBike race of the 2010 season on a cool, sunny afternoon at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.
Starting from the pole position, Hayes got away second, but took the lead from Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Blake Young on the first of 22 laps. Then he was gone.
Once in control, Hayes stretched the lead at will to as much as 6.465 seconds.
After a bobble entering turn nine in the closing stages, the gap came down, but Hayes was well in control and went on to win by 3.665 seconds.
Pat Clark Motorsports’ Ben Bostrom passed Foremost Insurance Pegram Racing’s Larry Pegram in the run to turn nine to take second on the 19th lap. Bostrom then closed dramatically on Hayes when Hayes bobbled on the 20th lap, but Hayes quickly recovered and again pulled a gap.
Pegram, who’d had brake problems all weekend, but not in the race, finished alone in third.
A trio of Suzukis came next. National Guard Suzuki’s Jake Zemke held off Blake Young by .182 of a second to take fourth, with Tommy Hayden .396 of a second back in sixth place.
Zemke continues to lead the championship with 163 points to 156 for Tommy Hayden after seven of 19 races. Young (146) sits third in front of Hayes (139).
In his first race riding in place of John Hopkins on the Monster M4 Suzuki, Jake Holden finished alone in seventh, nearly 26 seconds up on teammate Chris Ulrich.
Aussie Dave Racing’s David Anthony was ninth, with Team Iron Horse BMW’s Chris Peris in his shadow.
Results:
1. Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
2. Ben Bostrom (Yamaha)
3. Larry Pegram (Ducati)
4. Jake Zemke (Suzuki)
5. Blake Young (Suzuki)
6. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki)
7. Jake Holden (Suzuki)
8. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki)
9. David Anthony (Suzuki)
10. Chris Peris (BMW)
