Hayes, Beaubier Back With Yamaha For 2016 MotoAmerica Season
From a Yamaha press release:
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., is excited to introduce its factory Superbike team, which is named Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Factory Racing. The announcement was made by Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
The team’s riders for 2016 include defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier and four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes. Cameron and Josh will compete aboard identically prepared Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbikes in the 2016 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship.
“We’re proud to have Monster Energy and Graves Motorsports back as title sponsors of our official factory Superbike team,” commented Keith McCarty. “Both companies have been with us for many years, and we appreciate the longstanding relationship that we have with them.
“Last year, our team won every MotoAmerica Superbike race, with Cameron winning 8 races, 17 podiums, and 3 poles; Josh winning 10 races, 16 podiums, and 5 poles; and Cameron being crowned the 2015 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion. Both riders are back for 2016, and they’re both as motivated as ever. Cameron is looking for back-to-back titles, while Josh wants nothing more than to take that #1 plate back from his teammate and win his fifth Superbike Championship. All of us at Yamaha are proud to have Cameron and Josh representing us in road racing and, along with their talented crew members, working hard to keep putting the Yamaha R1 Superbike in the winners circle at each MotoAmerica event.”
Team manager Tom Halverson added, “Cameron and Josh are supported by such a great team of hard-working and dedicated people, from our crew chiefs and technicians, to our team transporter drivers and hospitality personnel, to our marketing and PR people. It’s a big family atmosphere, with everybody doing everything they can to make us successful for Yamaha and for the brands and partners we represent.”
Asked about the upcoming MotoAmerica Superbike season, reigning Champ Cameron said, “I’m really looking forward to getting back together with my team, and to climb back aboard my R1 Superbike…and running those big #1 stickers on my bike this year! I know that defending my Championship won’t be easy, especially with my own teammate Josh being my fiercest competitor, but with my amazing crew, we’ve got the team and the bike to do it. I can’t wait for the season to start at COTA in April!”
Josh said, “I’m glad Cameron is my teammate again for 2016 because I’ll have that #1 plate sticking right in my face, up-close and personal, all season long, and I’m gonna take that thing back from him! This will be my eighth season working with Yamaha. It’s a great family, with a phenomenal winning record and a tradition of excellence, and I’m so happy to continue being a part of it. Oh, and did I mention that I’m going to get that #1 plate back with me where it belongs?!”
For more Yamaha racing news, results, photos, and videos, visit www.YamahaMotorsports.com/Racing
Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
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