Photography by Larry Lawrence
It was a fantastic scrap from start to finish between Cameron Beaubier and Roger Hayden in the first ever AMA Superbike race at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The two swapped the lead several times and had some amazing turn one shut off battles during the 18-lap MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 final at Indy. In the end Beaubier took advantage of one small slip by Hayden and that was all the Monster Energy Yamaha rider needed to take over the lead on the final lap and hold off a last-second draft attempt by his Yoshimura Suzuki rival at the yard of bricks to win by 0.040 seconds.
It marked the seventh win of the season for Beaubier and helped push his lead to nine points over teammate, third-place finisher Josh Hayes with three rounds remaining.
Hayes was a distant third, six seconds back from the leaders, and had his hands full with Suzuki Superbike rookie Jake Lewis.
Roadrace Factory Jake Gagne rounded out the top five overall and won the Superstock 1000 division, in spite of having issues with his tires spinning on the rim of his Yamaha. Josh Day was second among the Superstock riders and Taylor Knapp third, in spite of a loose clip on handlebar.
The battle between the leaders was intense. The main passing took place with drafts and late braking maneuvers going into turn one, but that wasn’t the only place. With two laps to go Hayden made slip opening an opportunity for Beaubier, which he took. On the final lap Hayden was up to the rear wheel of Beaubier’s Yamaha and looked to be in a perfect position to get a good draft onto the front straight, but he got on the gas a bit too hard on the last right hander and got a tad sideways. Hayden gather his Suzuki back up and did find the draft of Beaubier’s Yamaha, but he pulled out to make the pass just a bit too late and Beaubier was able to get the win.
“That battle was awesome,” Beaubier said. “Going into turn one and trying to outbrake each other. It seemed like the only place we could pass each other because I guess when I was behind him I had the rest of the track dialed. I was sliding all over the place and he was doing the same. I know we were hanging it out.
Race two takes place Sunday at 3:30 pm eastern, directly after the MotoGP event.
MotoAmerica Superbike/Superstock 1000 results from Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Aug. 8, 2015
1. Cameron Beaubier, Yamaha.
2. Roger Hayden, Suzuki.
3. Josh Hayes, Yamaha.
4. Jake Lewis, Suzuki.
5. Jake Gagne, Yamaha. (SStk)
6. Josh Day, Yamaha. (SStk)
7. Taylor Knapp, Yamaha. (SStk)
8. Sheridan Morias, Aprilia. (SStk)
9. Steve Rapp, BMW. (SStk)
10. Shane Narbonne, Yamaha. (SStk)
