Triumph Superbike Classic has arrived!
June 22-24 | Triumph Superbike Classic
Coca-Cola and Monster supports
Barber Motorsports Park
Courtesy of Bruno Event Team
Source: Posted Friday, June 15, 2012, MotorcycleUSA.com
The Triumph Superbike Classic presented by America’s First Federal Credit Union at Barber Motorsports Park, held June 22-24, is the next round on the AMA Pro Road Racing schedule. It’s a great time for the tour to come to Alabama. The AMA Pro season is in full swing, and the event promises to be an exciting one for fans.
In AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike, Josh Hayes of the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team has been in a dogfight with Blake Young of Yoshimura Suzuki for class supremacy in America’s top motorcycle roadracing class. Hayes and Young have split the 2012 wins so far, battling in back-and-forth fashion.
In the first three events of the year, Hayes and Young split wins each time out. Young led the championship slightly at Sonoma after Hayes crashed in race two. But, during a three-race run — one at Miller Motorsports Park in support of World Superbike and two at Road America — Hayes swept in strong fashion to earn a 20-point lead over his rival.
Young will certainly look to regain ground on Hayes at Barber Motorsports Park. History certainly will favor the Suzuki man. Young has two wins at the idyllic Alabama circuit and has finished in front of Hayes the past three times they have raced at Barber Motorsports Park and four of six times total. Young says Barber Motorsports Park is one of his favorite tracks, and he’s ready to reverse the recent trend in the title fight. It’s a pivotal race for Blake.
Hayes has never won on a Superbike at Barber Motorsports Park, so the two-time champ will be looking to add a Barber win to his resume. Hayes is in the midst of his campaign to win his third AMA Pro SuperBike championship, a feat only racing legends Reg Pridmore, Fred Merkel, Doug Chandler, Mat Mladin, and Ben Spies have accomplished.
Others will challenge Hayes and Young at Barber. Hayes’ teammate Josh Herrin is a SuperBike rookie but has already led and earned the podium five times this year, including the Utah race where he beat Young tosecond place.
The Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki teammates of Roger Hayden and Ben Bostrom will challenge, as well. Hayden has finished on the podium three times on the National Guard-sponsored bike so far, with his best result of second in Sonoma. Ben Bostrom had his best round yet at Road America and has finished in the top five in the past four races.
The Eric Buell Racing teammates Danny Eslick and Geoff May have been the surprises of the season. They both have put the made-in-America SuperBike on the podium with strong runs and proving the program is ahead of schedule and ready to compete now.
Some of the same veterans who have built fan followings over the years will race, too. Larry Pegram has had a tough season so far after high expectations from his Foremost Insurance Pegram Racing team. Steve Rapp will enter the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Attack Performance Kawasaki. Chris Ulrich will race for M4 Suzuki, along with Robertino Pietri on the Team Venezuela Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Young rider Chris Clark has made great strides in his first year with Yoshimura Suzuki. Chris Fillmore and teammate Stefan Nebel have shown the potential of the HMC KTM RC8R this year as the manufacturer continues to develop their machine.
In all, there will be seven races at the Triumph Superbike Classic, including the AMA Pro SuperBike doubleheader, with one race on Saturday and one on Sunday.
In the support classes, Martin Cardenas has emerged victorious in AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, but it hasn’t been easy for the Colombian mounted on his GEICO Suzuki. He’s faced a notable challenge from others, notably Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha pilot Cameron Beaubier and Alabama resident Jason DiSalvo on his Latus Motors Racing Triumph.
Six different riders have won in AMA Pro Motorcyce-Superstore.com SuperSport, the class for young riders and fast local racers. In the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 class, Tyler O’Hara, Kyle Wyman, and Michael Barnes have routinely put on a good show on their Harley-Davidsons.
Additionally, fans who purchase a Friday ticket can participate in the Friday Track Walk, an event that lets the fans get a chance to walk Barber Motorsport Park with the stars of AMA Pro Racing.
Tickets for the Triumph Superbike Classic start at just $15 and can be purchased at www.barbermotorsports.com. Kids 15 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. The Motorcycle Super Saver package is available until June 21st with access to three motorcycle events at Barber Motorsports Park in 2012, along with complimentary motorcycle parade laps during the Triumph Superbike Classic.
While at Barber Motorsports Park, fans are encouraged to visit the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, a 144,000 square foot home to the largest private collection of motorcycles, representing 20 countries and over 200 manufacturers. Tickets to the Museum are available for an additional fee and can be purchased at the door.