Braselton, GA April 20, 2012 – Two-time reigning AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion Josh Hayes qualified his crossplane-crankshaft Yamaha YZF-R1® on the provisional pole in the first SuperBike qualifying session at Road Atlanta.
Despite being away from Road Atlanta last year (AMA Pro Racing did not compete here in 2011), Josh wasted no time getting up to speed on the north Georgia road course. He was the fastest rider by just under a full second in the first practice session, despite a tipover in Turn 10. In provisional qualifying, Josh also shot to the top of the timing charts right from the start, and he maintained his first position throughout the entirety of the session. As proof that Josh was on the gas and on the limit, he suffered a second tipover, this time in Turn 12.
The Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha crew will have Josh’s R1 in tiptop shape for tomorrow’s final qualifying, and Josh himself will be ready to improve his lap time and defend his provisional pole.
Georgia rider and Josh’s Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha SuperBike teammate Josh Herrin, who hails from Dublin, GA, qualified on the front row in his first-ever SuperBike qualifying session at Road Atlanta. Josh is looking forward to moving up in tomorrow’s second SuperBike qualifying session.
That second qualifying session is scheduled for tomorrow at 9:50 AM EST, and SuperBike Race 1 will go green later on Saturday at 3:15 PM EST. SuperBike Race 2 is set for Sunday at 3:30 PM EST. Check your local TV listings for Speed TV’s telecast of both races.
