ROAD RACE
2017 MOTOAMERICA AMA/FIM NORTH AMERICA ROAD RACING
ROUND 5 / JUNE 24-25, 2017
UTAH MOTORSPORTS CAMPUS / SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
P98
the advances of Monster Energy
Yamaha Factory Racing's Josh
Hayes, the four-time AMA Su-
perbike Champion also leading
at times during the race before
ending up third.
"I knew he was coming,"
Hayden said of Elias. "Every time
I would get in the lead I would try
to lower the pace, but I was just
struggling with some stuff and
couldn't go any faster. Josh was
right there the whole time, too,
and it was a pretty fun little back
and forth with him for the lead.
But once Tony came by, I hung
on for one lap and just made
some mistakes and I couldn't
hang on, and he was faster."
Hayes was trying not to make
pass them [Hayes and Hayden].
It was difficult to open up (a
lead). I was trying very hard but
Roger gave me good contest.
The [lead] was 0.3, 0.4, 0.7,
and then at the end I say, 'Okay,
it's mine.' I know these guys are
going to work a lot tonight and
tomorrow I would just like to be
safe in the first corner, don't
make any mistakes. I'm really
happy with the consistency (of
the bike)."
Elias won by 2.461 seconds
as the others failed to match his
pace late in the race. Hayden
finished second, the Kentuckian
leading several laps before his
teammate made his way through.
Still, Hayden was able to hold off
on the 12th of 17 laps. It was a
lead he wouldn't relinquish as he
rode to his fifth Motul Superbike
victory of the season and his 11th
career MotoAmerica victory at the
Championship of Utah.
"It was really difficult," Elias
said. "I didn't expect that mis-
take. After that I was trying to
be calm and trying to find some
space because in the middle
of the group is tough. I tried to
overtake very slowly; I didn't do
crazy things, and I also tried to
control what was behind me. I
could come back step-by-step,
very slowly, taking my time. In
the end, when the tires dropped
a little bit it was more easy for
me. At the end, I lap easy and
No one, not
even Cameron
Beaubier,
could catch
the two
Suzukis.
