VIR: Supersport race notes

He's back! Hayes completes VIR 600 sweep

Erion Honda's Josh Hayes completed a spectacular weekend at VIRginia International Raceway on Sunday by securing his second straight VIR 600cc sweep, backing up Saturday's runaway FX win with a dominating outing in Sunday's Pro Honda Oils Supersport contest.

The Mississippian was perfect in both classes during the weekend, claiming both poles, leading every lap of both races, and taking the checkered flag first both times out in convincing fashion.

Hayes fought his way into first on the race's opening lap and set about wearing down his opposition. Graves Motorsports Yamaha teammates Josh Herrin and Ben Bostrom put up a dogged pursuit but eventually the two-time defending FX champion eked away at the front.

Over the course of 17 laps Hayes ultimately built up a 5.781-second margin of victory en route to his first AMA Supersport win of the season, as Hayes finally looks to have returned to the tremendous '07 form that was knocked away from him following his Daytona 200 disappointment.

Title leader Bostrom managed to get past his young teammate to finish in second, further opening up his points lead on rival Jake Zemke, the two tangling in the race's first turn. Zemke eventually finished fractions of a second behind Team M4 EMGO Suzuki's Blake Young in fifth.

While the result aided his title hopes, Bostrom no longer has an opportunity to equal Miguel DuHamel's magical nine-win '95 Supersport season.

Like Hayes, Herrin enjoyed a return to form, claiming his first podium result since opening the season with three straight top threes, the teenager also regaining some lost confidence in the process.

Three Erion Hondas finished in the top six in the Supersport final, as Shea Fouchek enjoyed a strong weekend. Graves Motorsports-backed Tommy Aquino also impressed in seventh, with Matsushima Performance Suzuki's Danny Eslick, Young's teammate, Cory West, and Bettencourts' Jeff Wood.

-credit: ama