AMA SuperStock: Daytona 2008

Jordan Suzuki Aaron Yates rides to victory

(AMA Pro Racing Release) Jordan Suzuki’s Aaron Yates opened the AMA Superstock season with an impressive ride to victory at Daytona International Speedway, holding off a strong challenge from Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s rising star, Blake Young, by a scant 0.111 seconds at the checkered flag.

Once the prototypical, adrenaline-fueled young racer himself, Yates looked every bit the savvy veteran in the Superstock season opener. The Georgian patiently took his time, allowing the race to develop in front of him before making his move to the front on lap 9 of 13.

While Young and Yates’ Jordan Suzuki teammate, Geoff May, took turns leading the race in its early stages, the three-time AMA support class champion only tried his hand in first after blasting through the infield and opening an immediate 0.622 seconds following eight prior laps that rarely saw the leading trio separated by more than a tenth (including lap 7 when May led over Young and Yates by an incredible 0.001 and 0.002 seconds, respectively).

Yates’ attempt at a disappearing act ended May’s hopes for a first-career AMA win, as the Georgian was unable to mount a comeback and ultimately faded back to a solid third-place ride in his Jordan Suzuki debut, just less than five seconds behind the win.

Young did claw his way back, however, and drew back onto Yates’ rear wheel as the laps counted down. The more experienced Jordan Suzuki star got a better jump onto the banking for the final time, building up just enough of a gap to Young narrowly missed making his first-ever AMA podium a Daytona victory.

Just off the podium, Roadracingworld.com Suzuki’s Chris Ulrich won an exciting dogfight for fourth, as the Californian, Canadian Chris Peris on the Team ESP Suzuki (0.039 seconds behind Ulrich), and Celtic Racing’s Michael Barnes (0.007 behind Peris) took the flag three wide.

HALOF Racing’s Hawk Mazzotta finished seventh, with Ulrich’s teammate Robertino Pietri, Bettencourts’ Jeff Wood, and Pirelli-backed Scott Jensen rounding out the top ten.

The legendary Scott Russell's return race ended prematurely when the former World Superbike champ ran off the track on lap 8 while running in 15th position.