Yoshimura Suzuki’s Toni Elias (1) runs up-front early in Sunday’s MotoAmerica Superbike race. Giving chase are M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Jake Lewis (85) and Elias’ teammate, Roger Hayden (95). Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Brea, CA (July 22, 2018) – After an exhilarating victory for Toni Elias and Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing on Saturday – Suzuki’s record-setting 200th in AMA Superbike – Elias suffered a crash while closing in on the lead in MotoAmerica Superbike race two on Sunday. Meanwhile, Roger Hayden came back on Sunday to collect a fifth-place finish after he tumbled out of Saturday’s race. Such was the chaotic weekend for the team.
Elias was running second on his GSX-R1000 and just beginning to close in on leader Cameron Beaubier, when he suddenly crashed while entering turn 15 on lap six of the 17-lap race.
“Cameron got a very strong start and put a gap on me in the first few laps,” Elias said. “Then I equalized and then for two laps I began to catch him. My bike was even better today, so I think we were looking good for another win. Then unfortunately I lost the front end and crashed. Sometimes it goes like this. The season is still long. I am going to remain positive and keep doing what I can to try to come back in this championship.”
Factory teammate Roger Hayden enjoyed a race-long battle with a group of three other riders almost the entire race on Sunday. He crossed the finish line in fifth.
“It was a fun battle, but unfortunately I came up on the short end of the stick this time,” Hayden explained. “It was good to get a finish though and I’m looking forward to the next race in Sonoma.”
After six of the 10 rounds in this 2018 MotoAmerica Superbike season, Elias is second in the standings, 49 points out of first. Hayden is ranked ninth.
Next up for Yoshimura Suzuki is the Cycle Gear Championship of Sonoma on August 10-12 in the picturesque wine country of Sonoma, California. You can catch all the MotoAmerica racing action on beIN Sports.
