File photo by Larry Lawrence
Yamaha announced today that four-time and defending AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes is returning to the Monster Energy/Graves Yamaha team for 2015 to attempt to earn his fifth series title. Joining Hayes once again aboard Yamaha’s factory-backed Superbike effort is Cameron Beaubier. Both riders will be on Yamaha’s new R1.
Monster Energy is returning once again as title sponsor of the Superbike team, beginning a new, two-year agreement with Yamaha U.S., said Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A, in a release issued by the team.
In addition, the highly popular Yamaha Road Racing Contingency Program is now part of Yamaha’s bLU cRU family, and for 2015, the Program has been increased by more than $175,000 in available winnings.
Hayes will carry his #1 plate into the new MotoAmerica series where he will compete in Superbike aboard the brand-new R1. Josh is excited to race the new bike, especially since he and MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi worked with the Yamaha factory to test and develop the bike.
“The 2015 Yamaha R1 is THE bike to be on,” said Hayes in the news release. “As dominant as the previous-generation R1 was here in America–winning five straight AMA Superbike Championships–this new R1 is really going to be something. I’m looking forward to this season and especially to debuting the bike (at the Circuit of the Americas) in Austin.”
Also excited to be racing the brand-new Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R1 Superbike in MotoAmerica is Cameron Beaubier, who was the 2013 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion and winner of three AMA Superbike races, seven podiums, and two poles in his rookie season last year.
The championship-winning Yamaha Superbike team, with Hayes and Beaubier, are by any measure, the pre-season favorites in this year’s championship, which kicks off on April 10-12 at Circuit of the Americas as part of the MotoGP weekend at the Texas facility. That event will mark the AMA Superbike debut at the circuit.
