AMA Superbikes: Roger Hayden To Yoshimura!

Paul Carruthers | January 29, 2014

Roger Lee Hayden will join the Yoshimura Suzuki team for the 2014 AMA Superbike Series.

Photography by Andrea Wilson
It’s official: Yoshimura Suzuki will run three riders in the 2014 AMA Superbike Series with the team signing Roger Lee Hayden to join incumbents Martin Cardenas and Chris Clark on GSX-R1000s.

Hayden finished fourth in last year’s series with six podium finishes on the now-defunct Michael Jordan Motorsports team. Hayden also raced as a wild card in the World Superbike round at Laguna Seca last year, finishing 10th and eighth in the two races on the Jordan Suzuki.

In 2012, Hayden earned his the first AMA Superbike win of his career on Jordan’s Suzuki at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida.

Hayden tested the Yosh Suzuki late last year after finding himself without a ride when the Jordan team opted out of the 2014 AMA Superbike Series. He came away impressed.

“To be on a factory team is a great feeling,” said Hayden. “Especially a powerhouse team like Yoshimura Suzuki that’s won so many championships. I got the chance to ride the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 last year and the test went really good. I was fast on the bike and worked well with the team. I have to thank Suzuki and Yoshimura for making this happen. I’m really looking forward to the 2014 season. Daytona can’t come soon enough.”

Hayden will join Cardenas, who returns to the team for a second year after winning two races for them in 2013 en route to finishing third in the championship, and Clark, who completed his second season with the team last year.

“Everyone at Yoshimura Suzuki is looking forward to this season,” said race director Don Sakakura. “Our goal is always to support our riders to the best of our ability and we are fortunate to have so much talent to work with. We’re very excited to have Roger with us, what with the potential he showed riding for one of Suzuki’s satellite teams. And Martin had a great first year with us last year and we’re eager to help him take his racing to the next level. And Chris continues to work hard and get stronger with every season. Our team is better than ever and we can’t wait to go racing.”