Josh Hayes is hoping to return Honda to prominence in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei. So far, so good for the Gulfport, Mississippi rider. Hayes, of Erion Racing Honda, leads the series standings coming into round four at Infineon Raceway, in Sonoma, Calif., on Sunday May 20. A few weeks ago Hayes was tied for the series lead with Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Roger Hayden, but after scoring a runner-up finish last month in Fontana, Calif., to Hayden’s third, Hayes has opened up a narrow four-point gap on his rival. Both riders are seeking their first Supersport win at Infineon.
After the opening round of the series at Daytona International Speedway in March, it looked as if the AMA Supersport class was going to be a Kawasaki benefit, after Hayden and teammate Jamie Hacking dominated the rest of the field. Hayes and Honda responded by running away with round two at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. It was two-time series champ Hacking then who roared back with authority at California Speedway to earn the victory, making it three winners in three rounds leading up to this Sunday’s race.
