Yoshimura Suzuki Riders Fighting for Superbike Championship

Elias has reason to smile with a legitimate chance at a Superbike title

There may be no other company with a name more inseparably linked to championship motorcycle racing than Yoshimura. Since 1954, when Hideo "Pops" Yoshimura started the company in Japan, the family business has been tuning and squeezing every bit of power out of motorcycle engines. Yoshimura produces arguably the most legendary and recognizable high-performance exhaust systems in the world.

Since the inception of the AMA Superbike class in 1979, Yoshimura has been a major player on the circuit. In fact, Yoshimura is the most decorated team in the history of the series with 13 championships. It is no surprise that Yoshimura Suzuki riders and bikes are again poised near the top of the standings in the 2016 MotoAmerica AMA Superbike season.

With one stop left in the 2016 championship season, the Yoshi team has two riders in serious championship contention. Toni Elias is sitting in third position in America’s premier road racing class. Elias is only a scant 6 points out of second place and 25 points out of first. Elias is a seasoned racer having won a championship at the MotoGP Moto 2 level. Just behind Elias is teammate Roger Hayden who is also within striking distance of a season top three finish. Hayden is in his third year with the Yoshi team. Throughout the 2016 season, Elias and Hayden have been ultra competitive with repeated podium finishes. The combination of immensely talented riders and the rock-solid backing of the progressive Yoshimura racing empire is a clear recipe for Superbike success.

Elias dragging a knee and showing off his K&N decal

Not surprisingly, K&N Engineering is a long-time sponsor of the Yoshimura Superbike team. For a company like Yoshimura, that is known for high performance exhaust systems, to be partnered with the undisputed leader in intake filtration technology is a no-brainer. The race-hot exhaust exiting those Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 headers, pipes, and mufflers enters as clean, cool air through K&N filters. A free-flowing exhaust requires a free-flowing intake. Yes, K&N and Yoshimura is a match made in racing heaven.

K&N performance is not just available to Toni Elias and Roger Hayden. We mere mortals can bolt on high-performance K&N filter technology to our bikes as well. Any late-model Suzuki GSX-R1000 can benefit from the proven filtration and increased air-flow of a SU-1009 air filter. A closed-course GSX-R can breathe through the race-specific SU-1009R. To keep that hot oil clean, try the screw-on KN-138 oil filter or the chrome-plated KN-138C. Remember that K&N oil filters not only feature excellent internal filtration technology, but also the convenient 17mm end nut for easy installation and removal. Take a look at K&N’s easy-to-navigate online catalog to find parts for your particular motorcycle application.

Hayden heating up the pavement on his GSX-R1000

As far as Yoshimura Suzuki’s bid for the MotoAmerica AMA Superbike crown, the final round at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 9-11 will tell the tale. Roger Hayden and Toni Elias will push their GSX-Rs to the limit on the 2.25-mile track which features 12 corners and a half-mile straightaway. The racers should be familiar with the layout since this is the second visit to NJMP on the Superbike schedule. In addition to the Superbike races, the weekend will feature Superstock and Supersport racing.

For you gear-heads and race fans, here are the specs on the Yoshimura Suzuki race bikes:

Bike - 2016 Suzuki GSX-R1000
Engine - Yoshimura-tuned 998.6cc, 4-stroke, 4 cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve
Transmission - 6-Speed
Exhaust - Yoshimura Special Tapered Alpha Titanium 4-1 Full System

Hayden and Elias share the podium and some champagne at Road Atlanta