Road racers impress AMA Pro Flat Track riders at Superprestigio of the Americas
By Matthew Miles:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 27, 2015) - Thirty-one professional motorcycle racers took part in Saturday night’s inaugural, invitation-only Superprestigio of the Americas at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fifteen of those two-wheel athletes—road racers, supermoto specialists, a freestyle star, and even a hillclimb champion—were categorized as “All-Stars.”
Six of those pilots were selected from MotoAmerica’s KTM RC 390 Cup, Bazzaz Superstock 600, Superstock 1000, and Superbike classes. Two of them, Joe Roberts and Roger Hayden, qualified for eight-rider main event.
Superstock 600 champ Roberts finished fifth in the 15-lap race. Former AMA Supersport Champion Hayden ran up front early but later fell. He remounted to place seventh.
Three-time AMA Pro Grand National Champion Jared Mees won the main event and was joined on the podium by former champs Brad Baker and Kenny Coolbeth Jr.
A skilled flat-tracker, former AMA Superbike race winner Larry Pegram was fourth.
“I expected Larry and Roger to be the top guys to beat,” Mees said at the post-race press conference. “They are flat-track guys. Larry has won a couple Grand Nationals, and Roger has podiumed.
“They’re all really good motorcycle racers. In this little bullring short-track, anything can happen. That’s what makes it fun. Putting us on a half-mile would definitely separate us.”
Coolbeth and Baker were also complimentary. “The Haydens grew up racing flat-track,” Coolbeth said, “and Rog proved tonight he can ride with us. I think it’s pretty cool those guys take our form of racing and use it to train for theirs.”
Baker had a unique perspective. “My engine builder built engines for Larry back in the day, so for Larry and me to line up next to each other in the Super Final was really cool.
"Roger showed he hasn’t forgotten how to ride a dirt-track bike, either. It was a pleasure to ride with all of them.”
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