Yoshimura Suzuki Wraps Up a Season of Dominance in MotoAmerica Superbike

Nov 14, 2017

Toni Elias racing in the MotoAmerica Superbike series

Toni Elias won 10 races on his way to the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike title

The three stars of the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike series all emerged from the Yoshimura Suzuki race tent. Racers Toni Elias and Roger Hayden were clearly the cream of the crop in the American Superbike paddock. However, the 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000 has to be given a spot in the limelight as well. Here is a look the three K&N-sponsored Superbike standouts.

Toni Elias

In just his second season in MotoAmerica Superbike, Toni Elias dominated the series like few others have. Elias racked up a staggering 10 wins on his way to the 2017 Superbike title. He now has 16 Superbike wins overall, which places him in a tie with racing legend Wayne Rainey for eighth overall in career wins in MotoAmerica/AMA Superbike history.

“This year was a dream season for me,” said Elias. “I again want to thank...everyone on the Yoshimura team who helped make it possible.”

Roger Hayden racing in the MotoAmerica Superbike series

Roger Hayden secured the most Superpoles of all riders over the 2017 MotoAmerica season

Elias’ series win gave Suzuki a record 14th MotoAmerica/AMA Superbike championship. It also solidifies Yoshimura Suzuki’s return to an elite level as the team to beat in the premier racing class in America.

Roger Hayden

Showing amazing resilience and the heart of a champion, Roger Hayden fought through family tragedy to earn three wins over the course of the 2017 season. Those wins, combined with double-digit podium finishes secured second place in the series for Hayden.

Hayden, who now has seven career MotoAmerica/AMA Superbike victories, also claimed a series-leading seven Superpoles in 2017. In the last leg of the MotoAmerica season at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, Hayden added both a win and another Superpole.

“I really like racing at Barber and my crew gave me a great motorcycle,” Hayden said. “It felt good to come out and win a race like that, leading every lap. It was a great way to close out the year and makes me really look forward to next season.”

The new GSX-R1000 gets more horsepower from K&N filtration

2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000

To call the debut season of the all-new Suzuki GSX-R1000 a success would be a profound understatement. The 2017 Gixxer was clearly the class of the field from start to finish in the MotoAmerica Superbike season.

The fact that they were given such a fast bike on which to shine is not lost on either Elias or Hayden. “I want to thank Suzuki for giving us such a great weapon in the GSX-R1000,” said Elias.

If, like Elias and Hayden, you ride the newest version of the GSX-R1000, K&N has some great products for your Suzuki. K&N has developed the SU-1017 direct replacement air filter for street use and the race-specific K&N SU-1017R for the closed-course.