Josh Hayes Throw Opening Salvo at Daytona

Larry Lawrence | March 13, 2014

Photography by Larry Lawrence

DAYTONA BEACH, FL, MARCH 13 — Josh Hayes opened Daytona 200 Week 2014 with the fastest time in the opening AMA Pro Superbike practice session. Hayes rode his Monster Energy Yamaha R1 to a time of 1:39.288 on a very dirty track to top the charts Thursday morning. Second to Hayes was his new teammate, Superbike rookie Cameron Beaubier, who turned in a 1:39.936, a tad over 6-10ths off Hayes’ times.

“The session is coming along, I think the track will get considerably better,” said Hayes, who is trying to earn back the series championship this year. “We’re in the same place or a little ahead of where we were here last year. I think the conditions will get a little better as we go on, as it warms up a little bit and I’m looking forward to this afternoon.”

Hayes clocked his best time on the 18th lap of 20. He cited a lot of dirt on the course in the opening laps. Temperatures were also cool in the low 50s and windy.

 “Those first laps through the banking, good lord, there’s so much stuff out there,” Hayes said. “I would assume clean up from the motocross. I don’t know if it was sand or dirt of what.  I followed a few motorcycles and basically your neck is getting sand blasted. It didn’t seem to affect grip a whole lot. I went into turn one pretty hard and didn’t have any issues, so all in all I think the track is in pretty good shape.”

Martin Cardenas was third fastest, turning a 1:40.453 on the Yoshimura Suzuki.

Perhaps the surprise of the session was the speed of David Anthony. He was fifth on the ADR Motorsports Suzuki with a time of 1:40.705, bettering Yoshimura Suzuki’s Roger Hayden, who was fifth at 1:40.990.

Chris Ulrich, Chris Clark, Chris Fillmore, Taylor Knapp and Diego Pierluigi rounded out the top ten in the first session.

Thursday morning Superbike practice times from Daytona Intl. Speedway
1 4 Josh Hayes Gulfport, MS Yamaha R1 1:39.288 18
2 2 Cameron Beaubier Roseville, CA Yamaha R1 1:39.936
3 36 Martin Cardenas Medellin, Colombia Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:40.453
4 25 David Anthony Murrieta, CA Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:40.705
5 95 Roger Hayden Owensboro, KY Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:41.200
6 18 Chris Ulrich Lake Elsinore, CA Honda CBR1000RR 1:42.786
7 6 Chris Clark Las Vegas, NV Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:42.872
8 11 Chris Fillmore Oxford, MI KTM RC8R 1:43.475
9 44 Taylor Knapp Lapeer, MI Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:44.155
10 80 Diego Pierluigi Buenos aires Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:44.263
11 72 Larry Pegram Hebron, OH EBR 1190RS 1:44.395
12 13 Cory West Eureka Springs, AR EBR 1190RS 1:44.891
13 37 Stefano Mesa Boca Raton, FL Kawasaki ZX-10 1:44.909
14 17 Trent Gibson Spotswood, Australia Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:46.000
15 29 Barrett Long Miami, FL Ducati 1199 1:46.624
16 75 Huntley Nash Marietta, GA Kawasaki ZX-10 1:46.822
17 123 Jacquel Gonzalez Venezuela Kawasaki ZX-10 1:47.197
18 269 Johnny Rock Page Scottsdale, AZ Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:47.431
19 10 Sean Dwyer Palm Beach Gardens, FL Kawasaki ZX-10 1:48.178
20 24 Mathew Orange Half Moon Bay, CA BMW S1000RR 1:49.697

Larry Lawrence | Archives Editor

In addition to writing our Archives section on a weekly basis, Lawrence is another who is capable of covering any event we throw his way.