Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing & Roger Lee Hayden Pack AMA Superbike Podium
- Sep 24, 2014
K&N Filters sponsored Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing is a three rider team which fields Martin Cardenes, a Columbian rider in his second year of AMA Pro Superbike competition, Chris Clark, a 20-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada resident with four seasons of Superbike racing under his belt, and Roger Lee Hayden, brother to famed racer Tommy Hayden and former 2006 Moto GP Champion Nicky Hayden. Roger Lee Hayden was squeezed onto Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing late in the off-season when he was without a ride for 2014.
Roger Lee Hayden rewarded Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing during the double header AMA Pro Superbike race weekend at New Jersey Motorsport Park. Hayden put together a spectacular performance in the first race of the weekend by claiming his first win for the 2014 season on the rain soaked New Jersey track. Hayden was narrowly beat across the finish line by Monster Energy Graves Yamaha rider Josh Hayes. However, Hayes had been penalized for passing under a yellow caution flag which gave Hayden the win. Hayden’s win at New Jersey Motorsports Park was Suzuki’s only win of the 2014 season.
“I’m really happy with the way the season went,” Hayden said. He continued to say “We’ve been consistent and fast, and we were on the podium at just about every race. This was our first year together and I’m really proud of my team.” Race two on Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park saw Josh Hayes out front of the pack once more with a nearly 2.5 second lead. However, Hayes made a mistake on lap four going off track and dropping back to third place. Hayes was able to charge his way back up to the front eventually claiming the win with Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing teammates Roger Lee Hayden and Martin Cardenes bringing up second and third respectively. After the final race, pre-season title hopeful and Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing rider, Martin Cardenes said “This was a tough weekend. The track is very physical. I wanted to finish a little higher on the podium on Sunday but third was the best I could do. I’m very happy for me and the Yoshimura Suzuki team to finish on the box.” Cardenes made the AMA Pro Superbike podium four times this season and finished sixth overall. Roger Lee Hayden finished out the 2014 AMA Pro Superbike season strong with five straight podium finishes barely edging past Yamaha rider Cameron Beaubier for the runner-up position in the championship points standings. “This weekend was a good way to finish the season,” said Hayden. “I rode as hard as I could, every lap. This was my first time to finish second in points, and I learned a lot this year. We can all be proud of this.” Team Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing rider Chris Clark also experienced a breakthrough AMA Pro Superbike season this year. Clark earned his first Superbike podium position and finished fourth in the points race, just one point ahead of David Anthony. “Overall, it was a really incredible year,” said Clark. “I have to thank the whole Yoshimura Suzuki team for the opportunity to race and for providing me with a great bike like the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000.”
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