Josh Hayes has a two-race winning streak coming into Saturday’s Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series presented by HMR. The Erion Honda rider from Gulfport, Miss., is hoping to make it three straight at the famous Northern California circuit in round four of the 10 race series.
Hayes is the defending Formula Xtreme Champion and he’s bounced back after bike problems at Daytona to win last month at both of the Birmingham, Ala., and Fontana, Calif., rounds. Those victories have moved Hayes into the series lead, 10 points ahead of Bay Area native Steve Rapp, of Attack Kawasaki. Rapp won the series opener, the Daytona 200, in March.
Hayes gives much of the credit to his early season success to his Erion Racing Honda CBR600RR.
“The bike I rode to the championship last year was great and this year’s bike is everything that one was and more, ” said Hayes, who won the last round in Fontana by over six seconds. “I hope I can build leads like that at some of the other races this year, but I don’t expect to. I’m sure the other guys in this class are going to step up to the challenge. There’s a lot of talent in this field. Infineon is the one track where I didn’t earn a podium finish last year. We had a very successful test there and my confidence is building after these two wins, so I’m looking forward to the race. ”
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