With MotoAmerica set to bring AMA Superbike racing back to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, August 16-18, we’re taking a closer look at past Superbike races at the iconic racetrack in Lexington, Ohio.
Yamaha’s Josh Hayes earned his first career AMA Superbike pole position on a Friday in July of 2009 and a day later he earned his second victory in the class with a narrow victory over Jordan Suzuki’s Aaron Yates at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. It was the beginning of a good run for Hayes. A day later and Hayes was at it again, giving Yamaha back-to-back AMA Superbike wins for the first time in 15 years. It was also Yamaha’s first one-two in almost 15 years.
In Saturday’s race one, Hayes passed early leader Blake Young and his Rockstar Makita Suzuki on lap six of 21 in a lead pack of seven running mostly nose to tail. Behind the lead duo came Yates, Mat Mladin, Ben Bostrom, Tommy Hayden and Larry Pegram. After a fight to the finish, it was Hayes topping Yates by .183 of a second to add to his first-career AMA Superbike victory at Infineon Raceway.
Hayes liked the win so much he decided to do it again the next day. And he also made a little history as he led Ben Bostrom home to make it the first Yamaha one-two since Colin Edwards beat teammate Jamie James to the flag at the same Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Fast forward back to 2009 and Hayes was nearly untouchable. Although Tommy Hayden got the jump on the field, Hayes didn’t waste much time in taking over at the front. Bostrom managed to find a way around Hayden and even had a go at Hayes on two different occasions. But Hayes always had a quick and decisive answer to his teammate. At the finish line it was Hayes by .986 of a second over Bostrom with Hayden and his Rockstar Makita Suzuki rounding out the podium.
Young was part of the fight early on but ended up alone in fourth at the end of the race. His teammate Mladin, meanwhile, started badly and ended up seventh. With three rounds left in the 2009 season, Mladin led Hayden by 126 points, 390-264.