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INTERVIEW P130 AMA DAYTONA SPORTBIKE CHAMPION CAMERON BEAUBIER the power to my advantage. On 600s you have to carry sweeping lines. The 1000 you can get away with just braking straight in the corner, turning it, standing it up and getting it out. "I'm definitely going to have to adjust my style. And I think it's going to be, like I said, really good having Josh as my teammate. To have a reference point at the tests and practice… He's on the same bike I am and obviously the fastest guy in the class." What are Beaubier's goals for the future? "Well, my goal right now is obviously to win races and in the next two years of my contract hopefully win the championship," he said. "And then my main goal is to get to MotoGP. And it would be amazing to somehow get there through the Yamaha family. Being a part of Yamaha is… they gave me a great opportunity going into 2012. I can't thank them enough for what they've done. And being a part of their family, it's awesome and it'd be great to continue that into Europe. Because that's where I want to be. And I think that going back to Europe… I would be in a really good situation because I know most of the tracks over there. Even though I'd be on a different bike, I'd at least know where I was going." And with only two Americans left in the premier class (Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards) and even with Josh Herrin going to Moto2 in 2014, there's a big push to find the next American to rep- Beaubier clinched the Championship a round early at New Jersey Motorsports Park. resent the U.S. in MotoGP. And while he's flattered that there's a big push here for him to represent the colors in the World Championship, he defends his decision for staying here in the National Championship. "Yeah, it's just funny because everyone's like, 'Oh yeah, go now,' but I'm here making good money, I get to come home, and there's not really an opportunity to go over there and make some decent money right now," Beaubier explained. "Yamaha's been treating me amazing and there's no point to just get up and leave that when I get a Superbike offer. "I definitely want to get over there. It just needs to be good. The timing needs to be there and it needs to be a good opportunity." Beaubier also knows the importance of having a decent ride over there. "Josh Herrin, he's in a really good situation," Beaubier said. "He's on a good team, a good bike. It's pretty cutthroat over there in Moto2 and most of the contracts are one-year contracts. And yeah… he [Herrin] has already won a Superbike Championship. He's already gone to the top and I think that it'd be good for me to race Superbike and do the best I can before I get over there. And I still have a lot to learn over here racing with Rog [Hayden], with Hayes and Martin again." There are still a lot of unknowns in the AMA Series at the moment. There still isn't a TV contract for a final 2014 schedule so a lot of people are worried about the state of AMA Pro Road Racing. Is Beaubier worried? "Yeah, definitely," he said. "It's a little scary, but I just want to stay positive." In spite of those worries, Beaubier countered with the simple fact that there's no place like a factory ride with Yamaha. "Definitely to be a part of Yamaha… it's obviously the best team in the paddock to be on," Beaubier said. "And it's awesome to be a Superbike rider on that team and to be apart of their family. If not, I'd be racing yearto-year and scared what is going to happen next. It's nice to have some security with a two-year contract and be with an awesome team like that." CN

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