Roger Hayden Of K&N Supported Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing 2-Time Indy Runner Up

MotoAmerica fans at Indy took photos all weekend of the special red and black 30th anniversary GSX-R750 color scheme used on Hayden's Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike

Roger Hayden led many laps on his K&N air filters equipped Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing GSX-R1000, but ultimately settled for close runner-up finishes in both legs of the historic MotoAmerica AMA Superbike races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. These races were part of a combined MotoGP/MotoAmerica weekend of racing. It marked the first Superbike races ever at the fabled 106-year-old racing facility and Hayden, teammate Jake Lewis, as well as the entire Yoshimura Suzuki squad were major players in the momentous occasion.

Roger Lee Hayden opened the weekend strong with a special Thursday practice session where he topped the charts. In Friday's qualifying, Roger Hayden qualified second with a time of 1:37.949. Lewis was a bit off in the session, only managing sixth in the combined Superbike/Superstock 1000 qualifying, but he would find speed later in the weekend. Prior to the first race Roger Hayden said, “We were excited to qualify on the front row. We need to make a few changes and hopefully get the bike better for the race, but so far everything's going good here in Indianapolis.”

Rain began falling, and an epic battle for the finish was out of the question when the race was red flagged two laps early which placed Hayden second behind Beaubier

In Saturday's race one Roger Hayden led the way for many laps on his K&N powered Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 while battling back and forth with Cameron Beaubier. On the last lap Hayden was trying to get a great drive out of the final turn to attempt to set up a draft move. However, Hayden spun up just a little bit and lost drive. He gathered it back and mounted a last gasp charge coming up just .040 of a second short at the finish line. Lewis meanwhile had an excellent race; in which he both caught and battled defending MotoAmerica champ Josh Hayes for much of the race, before ending up fourth.

Roger Hayden led many laps on his K&N equipped Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing GSX-R1000, but had to settle for close runner-up finishes in both MotoAmerica races

Sunday's race, held in front of an estimated 67,648 fans, was another great scrap between Hayden and his rival Cameron Beaubier, as well as Josh Hayes. Unfortunately rain began falling, and an epic battle for the finish was out of the question when the race was red flagged two laps early. Scoring reverted back a lap and that placed Hayden second behind Beaubier, just .015 of a second from the win. “It's a little disappointing to keep getting second by point zero something,” Hayden said. “But the whole Yoshimura Suzuki team has given me a great bike. It's fun fighting with the two leaders. We want to win and we only have two races left to try to get one. I'm looking forward to New Jersey already and we'll try to get a win there.”

For Jake Lewis, Indianapolis was especially sweet, because he battled Josh Hayes for so long in Saturday's race with many friends and family on hand to watch him at Indy

For Lewis, Indianapolis was especially sweet, not only because he battled Hayes for so long in Saturday's race, but like Hayden he had many friends and family on hand to watch him at Indy since he lives in neighboring Kentucky. “This was probably my best week on a Superbike so far even though it was two fourth places,” said Lewis. “On Saturday I got a bad start, but was able to reel Josh (Hayes) in and had a great battle with him. In race one I was about six seconds back from the winner and today only five seconds. I really wanted to get a podium, especially here at Indy, and I came up just short, but I'm still pretty happy with the weekend. I'm looking forward to New Jersey.”

In addition to the great racing on the track, fans had their phones and cameras out in force all weekend taking photos of the special red and black 30th anniversary color scheme used on Hayden's Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike. The color scheme was nearly identical to the one used by Kevin Schwantz when he first introduced the Suzuki GSX-R750 to AMA Superbike racing in 1986 with Yoshimura Suzuki.

Next up for Team Yoshimura Suzuki is the MotoAmerica season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey on September 11-13, 2015. Team Yoshimura Suzuki is grateful for the support of its sponsors: Yoshimura R&D, Suzuki Motor of America, Motorex, Parts Unlimited, Dunlop, Shorai, Sunstar, K&N Performance Filters, NGK Spark Plugs, RK Racing Chain, Genmark Automation, Pilot, Chicken Hawk Racing and Zeta.