Yoshimura Suzuki Riders Elias and Hayden Excel in MotoAmerica Superbike Testing

Mar 30, 2017

Toni Elias at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) testing

Toni Elias was the speedster of day one of the Dunlop tire testing at COTA (Photo: Brian J. Nelson)

If there was any doubt about how Roger Hayden and Toni Elias would adapt to the all new Suzuki GSX-R1000, those concerns were assuaged at the two-day Dunlop pre-season test at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in late March.

The stars of the K&N-sponsored Yoshimura Suzuki Superbike Team took turns posting blazing-fast times in the testing on the Austin, Texas, track. COTA will host round one of the MotoAmerica Superbike series.

On day one of testing, last year's COTA winner Elias topped his teammate Hayden by .556 in the final session. Elias claimed the overall best time, but the Spaniard was not totally satisfied with the feel of the front end on the new factory Suzuki.

“Today, I don't feel comfortable but I had the perfect lap,” Elias said. “The team worked hard and we improved, but I'm still missing some front information. With brakes, without brakes, it's the same feeling and we need to work on that."

Elias and Hayden with the new GSX-R100 at COTA testing

Elias (left) and Hayden show off the new GSX-R100 at COTA testing (Photo: Brian J. Nelson)

Hayden was happy with the work the team accomplished on day one of testing. However, the Yoshimura team veteran made it clear that bike set-up is a work in progress.

“It was nice to get a dry day in and get to learn more about the bike,” said Hayden. “We tried out a lot of things. Some were positive, some weren't, but we were pretty fast all day and that's good. We're always looking for a little more, but we were always toward the front every session and the bike, for me, is getting more comfortable.”

Hayden was the story of the circuit on the second day of testing. Not only did Hayden garner the fastest time of the day, but he did it with the fastest time a MotoAmerica Superbike has ever posted at COTA. That time of 2:08.305 on the 3.4-mile track edged out Elias’ second-day time of 2:08.432.

While both Elias and Hayden agree that there is much work to be done before the first race, the pre-season success of the Yosimura riders on the new Suzuki GSX-R1000 is very encouraging going into the 2017 campaign.

Day Two 2017 Dunlop Preseason MotoAmerica Superbike Test Results:

1. Roger Hayden (Suzuki) 2:08.305

2. Toni Elias (Suzuki) 2:08.432

3. Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha) 2:08.827

4. Josh Hayes (Yamaha) 2:09.696

5. Bobby Fong (Kawasaki) 2:09.745

6. Kyle Wyman (Yamaha) 2:10.521

7. Josh Herrin (Yamaha) 2:10.627

8. Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 2:10.977

9. Jake Gagne (Honda) 2:11.122

10. Cameron Petersen (Kawasaki) 2:11.506

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