Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies has won the 2007 AMA Superbike Championship from team mate Mat Mladin at Sunday’s final round at Laguna Seca in California as Suzuki GSX-R1000s swept the first three places - and dominated the entire series.
The Texan rider, defending his first title, beat the six-time champion after sitting behind the Australian for most of the 28-lap race, winning the title by just over two seconds after slowing on the final lap to celebrate to his fans.
Spies, who went into the event three points behind Mladin, took the title just one point ahead - 652 to 651.
Newly-crowned Spies’ victory also belongs to the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, which won all 19 AMA Superbike races this year - the first time a manufacturer has accomplished this feat.
Ben Spies:
“We came into 2007 looking to win two championships - Superstock and Superbike - and I told myself I wouldn’t be satisfied with anything less than that. We got the Superstock title in Atlanta and now we won the Superbike Championship. I’d like to thank Yoshimura Suzuki and my crew for working hard all year and for giving me a great bike to race in the GSX-R1000. With this win, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. At the beginning of the race, I thought about the fact that we only had 45 minutes left in the season. I knew it was time to get it done. “
Mat Mladin:
“Ben was stronger all weekend and I knew it. He got a chance to get by me and I didn’t so much as pass him back as get sucked in. I had a few problems with lappers and Ben had put his head down. I did everything I could but in the end we just weren’t fast enough today. Now I’m looking forward to the off-season to try and pick up my pace a little more and see if we can give it another shot next year. “
Aaron Yates:
“I got a decent start on the Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 but Mat and Ben were already pulling away. We’ve been struggling all weekend in the first six-to-eight laps. It takes a little while to get the bike to work like I need it. But then I put my head down and the bike was getting better and I was able to get into third place and bring it home. “
Tommy Hayden:
“Today’s race was all right. I was working my way up in the race and ended up seventh. My times on the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 were better than we’ve been running. Hopefully, in the off-season I can get healthy again and come back strong next year. ”
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