PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREA WILSON
MONTEREY, CA, JULY 19—Monster Energy Graves Yamaha’s Josh Hayes dominated the MotoAmerica Superbike/Superstock 1000 class to earn his eighth win of the season in race one at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Actually the word dominate might not quite do his performance justice, perhaps annihilated the competition is a better description. The four-time AMA Superbike champ used his wealth of experience in the mixed conditions—a wet, but drying track—and got out to an early lead that even his teammate Cameron Beaubier couldn’t hang with him.
It was a weird race. In fact the 23-lap felt like an endurance race, especially toward the end with a group of riders on different laps. Ultimately it came down to tire choice in a race declared wet, and for those didn’t choose slicks they suffered the consequences, having to come in to switch tires during the race.
In the end Hayes finished ahead of Beaubier by almost 19 seconds and lapped everyone up to fourth place. Yoshimura Suzuki’s Roger Hayden grabbed the final podium spot, 49 seconds behind Hayes; Lewis finished fourth. Rounding out the top five in Superbikes was Geico Suzuki’s Chris Ulrich (seventh overall).
Finishing fifth overall was Ryders Alley Racing Yamaha’s Mark Heckles, who earned his first Superstock 1000 win. Heckles also went with slicks, as did Atom Racing BMW’s Steve Rapp who finished second in the class and sixth overall. Although for Rapp it was a game time decision and he started from pit lane to make the last minute switch.
Joining the pair on the podium was TOBC Racing’s Taylor Knapp, who further closed the gap on points leader Jake Gagne on the RoadRace Factory Yamaha. Gagne got a good start, but ultimately dropped back to finish sixth in Superstock and 11th overall.
Rounding out the top five in Superstock was GN Gonzales Racing Yamaha’s Shane Narbonne and San Jose BMW/Keigwins@the Track’s Cory Call.
2015 MotoAmerica
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Superbike/Superstock 1000
Race One Combined Results
1. Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
2. Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha)
3. Roger Hayden (Suzuki)
4. Jake Lewis (Suzuki)
5. Mark Heckles (Yamaha)
6. Steve Rapp (BMW)
7. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki)
8. Taylor Knapp (Yamaha)
9. Shane Narbonne (Yamaha)
10. Cory Call (BMW)
Superbike Results
1. Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
2. Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha)
3. Roger Hayden (Suzuki)
4. Jake Lewis (Suzuki)
5. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki)
6. Bernat Martinez (Yamaha)
7. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kawasaki)
8. Elena Myers (Suzuki)
9. Chris Fillmore (KTM)
Superstock 1000 Results
1. Mark Heckles (Yamaha)
2. Steve Rapp (BMW)
3. Taylor Knapp (Yamaha)
4. Shane Narbonne (Yamaha)
5. Cory Call (BMW)
6. Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
7. Tyler O’Hara (Yamaha)
8. Josh Day (Yamaha)
9. Sheridan Morais (Aprilia)
10. Oleg Pianykh (Yamaha)
