Cameron Beaubier and Josh Hayes Re-Sign With Factory Yamaha bLU cRU Superbike Road Racing Team For 2017
Millville, NJ – September 10, 2016 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., is happy to announce that defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier, along with four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes, have both been re-signed to race for the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Factory Racing Team in 2017. Both Cameron and Josh will be aboard Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbikes in the 2017 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship.
The announcement was made by Ib Sabur during a special presentation on Saturday morning of the final round of the 2016 MotoAmerica season at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Ib, who is otherwise known as “650ib” on his very popular YouTube Channel, and 30 other proud R1M owners took part in the special event. It was also the third MotoAmerica round this season at which R1M owners were special guests of Yamaha.
Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., said, “We were happy to include our R1M owners in this special team announcement. Cameron’s and Josh’s return to the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Factory Superbike team for 2017 shows their commitment and belief in Yamaha. Both riders not only show their incredible skills on the track throughout each MotoAmerica race weekend, but they represent Yamaha in a way that is consistent with the values of our entire Yamaha family. These two riders alone are responsible for 79 of Yamaha’s 100 AMA Superbike wins! If that doesn’t say commitment, then I don’t know what does.”
Team manager Tom Halverson added, “It’s such a pleasure to have Cameron and Josh back again for next season. We have an awesome group of brilliant and dedicated crew members who love working with Cam and Josh, and they are equally excited to hear this great news.”
Defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champ Cameron said, “I’m pumped to continue my racing career with Yamaha! With their support, I’ve been able to accomplish a lot in only a few years. I’m also excited that Josh will be back again, too. I really enjoy racing against him. He’s helped me be a much better racer these past couple of years, and it’s great to have him as my teammate and closest rival. I have a ways to go to catch him in total Superbike wins, but hopefully tomorrow, I can lower the gap by two!”
Josh commented, “Wow, 2017 will be nine years for me at Factory Yamaha…how lucky am I? After four Superbike Championships and all 60 of my Superbike race wins coming on this Factory Yamaha, I’m very proud of my accomplishments and excited to continue with the team. I’m hoping I can add to both tallies in the coming year. That, of course, is difficult to do on a team that is, at least in part, dedicated to developing young riders. But that challenge has always brought out the best in me.”
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