Source: Suzuki Racing.

Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing tasted victory at the weekend as Martin Cardenas won the inaugural 2014 Superbike Shootout at California’s Auto Club Speedway on Sunday.

With more than two months between the season-opening round of AMA Pro Superbike at Daytona International Speedway in March and the upcoming second round, the Yoshimura Suzuki team participated in this new three-race series that combines the Pros with WERA’s semi-pro and amateur events.

Because the events are unaffiliated with the AMA Pro Racing series the team usually contests, the Yoshimura Suzuki squad treated this event as something of a large-scale test.

Cardenas got a good start on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 and was with the front-runners right off the bat. He battled for the lead for much of the race and made the most of the lapped riders. Towards the end of the 20 laps, he charged into the lead and held on to take the win.

“It was a good race,” said Cardenas. “I got a good start on the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 and I made a move with two laps to go and I was able to hold the position until the end. It was a very fine weekend and it was nice to race at Fontana again after several years.”

The podium was completed by Monster Energy Graves Yamaha duo Cameron Beaubier and Josh Hayes, while pole-setter Roger Hayden battled to fourth. First of the non-factory entries was Australian David Anthony in a solid fifth overall.

The 2014 Superbike Shootout will continue this weekend on 3-4 May at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California.

2014 Superbike Shootout
Auto Club Speedway, California

Superbike race results:
1. Martin Cardenas
2. Cameron Beaubier
3. Josh Hayes
4. Roger Hayden
5. David Anthony
6. Chris Fillmore
7. Chris Clark
8. Chris Ulrich
9. Daytona Anderson
10. Mathew Orange