The Emperor’s New Clothes — Josh Hayes’ Style for 2013

Three-time and defending AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Champion, Josh Hayes (above right), and 2012 AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Rookie of the Year, Josh Herrin, are ready to debut new livery on their Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1 next week in Daytona. Joining them are 2012 AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race winner, Cameron Beaubier, and 2012 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport race winner, Garrett Gerloff, on their Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Daytona SportBike YZF-R6s.

The four riders and their machines recently completed a photo session at Yamaha’s U.S. headquarters in Cypress, California, where they were joined by a quartet of Monster Energy and Yamaha Extended Service Umbrella Girls. It was a “tough day” for Josh, Josh, Cameron, and Garrett under those hot lights, but nobody said professional motorcycle road racing is easy.

“We’ve changed things up a little bit for 2013,” says Keith McCarty, motorsports racing division manager for Yamaha. ”All of our familiar team partners are back with us again, including Monster Energy and Yamaha Extended Service, so our colors are pretty much the same. But, we’re going with a fresh, new, trick-looking matte finish on our R1 and R6 racebikes. The new look photographs well and really helps our team partners’ logos and colors to ‘pop’. We’re really excited about the new livery.”

After the shoot, defending SuperBike Champ Josh Hayes said, “I already thought my #1 R1 was the best-looking bike in the paddock, but this new livery really kicks things up a notch. I can’t wait to show it off to fans at Daytona next week.”

The two Josh’s #1 and #2 Yamaha R1 SuperBikes, as well as Cameron’s #6 and Garrett’s #8 Yamaha R6 Daytona SportBikes will soon be loaded on-board the team transporters for the cross-country haul to Daytona Beach, Florida. If you see the big, blue Yamaha trucks on the highway, make sure you motion to team drivers Pat Muras, John Buanno, and Mitch Leonard to honk their horns. They’ll be happy to oblige.

By Tom Roderick