Yamaha R1Monster Energy

Josh Hayes 2011 Yamaha YZF-R1 AMA Superbike 
In Cypress, California, on February 16th 2011, Yamaha announced the complete road racing plans for the this coming season in US. It also presented the title sponsor, now Monster Energy drink, which will support Graves/Yamaha team featuring reigning AMA American Superbike champion Josh Hayes riding YZF-R1, with Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin on the YZF-R6.

“Creating the Monster Energy Graves Motorsports Yamaha team connects our brand with one of the most respected racing programs and two of the best riders in the country” said Alex Dunstan, Motorsports Manager for Monster Energy. “Having the American Superbike #1 plate represent the #1 energy drink in the U.S. is a natural fit for our company and we look forward to kicking off the season at Daytona!”
Additionally, three new teams will be welcomed back to the Yamaha family – the Yamaha Extended Service/ Pat Clark Sports/Graves Yamaha Team, HT Moto Racing, and Team LTD Racing.
The Yamaha Extended Service/ Pat Clark Sports/Graves Yamaha team will field AMA American Superbike contender Chris Clark on the championship winning YZF-R1 prepared by Graves Motorsports. Joining Chris on the team will be AMA Daytona Sportbike contender Tommy Aquino on the Graves Motorsports prepared YZF-R6.

“Yamaha Extended Service is very proud to be part of this racing effort,” said Mo Murray of Yamaha’s customer support group, “and we cannot think of a better way to show our support than with the excitement that road racing brings to thousands of our customers!”

Returning to Yamaha is history making racer Melissa Paris, the first woman to ever qualify for an FIM World Championship Supersport round. The wife of AMA American Superbike Champion Josh Hayes, Melissa will return to the AMA Daytona Sportbike class with the HT Moto Racing Team in 2011.
New to the Yamaha family but not new to winning is Team LTD Racing who will field Huntley Nash in the AMA Daytona Sportbike class and Thomas Puerta and David Gaviria in the AMA Supersport class. All three riders will be aboard the championship winning YZF-R6.
“Last season we showed what the R1 is capable of by winning the American Superbike title and we can’t wait to get started in 2011”, said Keith McCarty, Division Manager for Yamaha’s Racing Department.” From our new partner Monster Energy to all of our associated teams, we feel we have once again assembled the best teams in the paddock!”
The Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports/Yamaha team as well as the Yamaha Extended Service/ Pat Clark Sports/Graves Yamaha team has chosen to outfit their race machines with Yamaha’s exclusive line of GYTR (Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) products and YAMALUBE high performance lubricants. Team HT Moto racing will also use YAMALUBE for the 2011 season.
Yamaha is also pleased to continue to support road racing at all levels with our 2011 Road Race Contingency Program. Details and enrollment are available online at Yamaha Road Racing Contingency Program, R1, R6, Roadrace.

Look for all of the 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing Series action to kick off at the Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida for the opening round of the series on March 10 -12.