Joshua Hayes

As the 2026 MotoAmerica Supersport season kicks off, Josh Hayes continues to redefine the boundaries of longevity in professional motorcycle racing. Returning to the BPR Racing Yamaha squad, Hayes remains a premier threat in a field often half his age, proving that elite race craft and a relentless work ethic are timeless.

The 2025 season was nothing short of historic for the “Mississippi Madman.” While competing full-time aboard the Yamaha YZF-R9, Hayes achieved a milestone that resonated across the global racing community: scoring a victory at Barber Motorsports Park on his 50th birthday. That win not only added to his legendary tally but also cemented his place in the record books as the oldest rider to ever win a MotoAmerica race. He concluded the season a formidable 7th overall in the championship standings.

With four AMA Superbike Championships and an amazing 89 career victories across all classes, Hayes is the second-winningest rider in the history of American road racing. His transition to the next-generation R9 has been seamless, as he utilizes his unparalleled technical expertise to develop the machinery while consistently fighting for podiums.

Entering 2026, the fire remains unextinguished. For Hayes, the goal isn’t just to participate; it is to win. As he lines up on the grid once again for BPR Racing, the veteran icon continues to inspire a new generation of riders, proving every time he twists the throttle that his passion for the sport is as fierce today as it was three decades ago.

Little Known Fact: Married to racer and race team owner Melissa Paris. Josh bicycles as part of his training regimen and is a strong tennis player who has done well in sanctioned tournaments. Josh and Melissa have two children, Hawk and Bretley. Josh has also raced in the American Flat Track Championship. Josh is a native of Mississippi. Wrote a column for Roadracing World titled “Mississippi Madman.”

MotoAmerica Stats
Wins: 89 (61 in Superbike, 12 in Supersport, 13 in Formula Xtreme, 2 in Superstock, 1 in 750 Supersport)
Podiums: 185 (108 in Superbike, 26 in Supersport, 40 in Formula Xtreme, 9 in Superstock, 2 in 750 Supersport)

Career Highlights:
2025 – Finished 7th in MotoAmerica Supersport riding for BPR Racing Yamaha. Scored a victory on his 50th birthday at Barber Motorsports Park becoming the oldest rider to win a race in MotoAmerica. 2024 – Only ran in the Daytona 200 where he was hampered by mechanical issues on his machine and suffered a DNF.2023 – Secured third place in MotoAmerica Supersport with two wins (Brainerd and New Jersey) and eight total visits to the podium. Rode for Squid Hunter Racing on a Yamaha YZF-R6. 2022 – Raced select MotoAmerica Supersport rounds with Squid Hunter Racing and N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto, and won three races. Scored podiums in a total of six races and finished ranked sixth in the championship. 2018-2021 – Worked as riding coach to several MotoAmerica riders and continued racing in select endurance and international events. In both 2019 and 2020, he won a round of the International Island Classic Challenge at Phillip Island in Australia. 2017- Finished fourth in the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, reaching the podium seven times, which included a victory at VIRginia International Raceway. 2016 – Finished the MotoAmerica season just six points behind his teammate Cameron Beaubier, and it came down to the final race of the season at New Jersey Motorsports Park to decide it all. Won two races and earned 12 podiums total. 2015 – Notched 10 Superbike wins during MotoAmerica’s inaugural season. He also reached the podium in 16 out of 18 races and earned 5 pole positions. His Yamaha factory teammate Cameron Beaubier nipped him by just four points for the 2015 MotoAmerica Superbike title. 2014 – Won his fourth AMA Pro Superbike Championship on the strength of seven race wins and three second-place finishes out of 11 races. Raced for factory Yamaha. 2013 – Recorded eight pole positions, eight victories and 10 podiums, but fell just shy of his fourth consecutive AMA Pro Superbike Championship, finishing second in the final point standings to his teammate Josh Herrin. Raced for Monster Energy Graves Yamaha. 2012 – Scored a record 16 victories en route to his third straight AMA Pro Superbike Championship. Landed in the top five in 18 of his 20 starts. Raced for Monster Energy Graves Yamaha. 2011 – Won his second consecutive AMA Pro Superbike Championship with seven poles, three victories and nine additional podium finishes, only finishing off the podium twice. Rode for Team Graves Yamaha. Made his MotoGP debut at the 2011 Valencia Grand Prix riding the Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 as a replacement rider for injured countryman Colin Edwards. Hayes led the wet morning warmup session, and then, he went on to finish seventh in the race. 2010 – Won the AMA Pro Superbike Championship with seven victories and seven additional podium finishes, an accomplishment that included a 13-race podium streak. Rode for Team Graves Yamaha. 2009 – Finished second in Superbike, scoring seven wins. His first career win came at Sonoma and was followed by weekend sweeps of the Mid-Ohio, VIR and NJMP rounds. Led the Daytona 200 only to crash out in the final portion of the race. Raced with Factory Yamaha. 2008 – Finished second in Formula Xtreme and scored three-straight wins at Mid-Ohio, Virginia and Road Atlanta late in the season. Also crossed the finish line first in the Daytona 200 only to be disqualified for a technical infraction. Also had four second-place finishes. Competed in AMA Supersport as well and finished third in that championship with wins at Virginia and Road Atlanta on the same weekends he won the Formula Xtreme races. Raced with Erion Honda. 2007 – Won a second consecutive Formula Xtreme title with seven wins, one additional podium finish and seven poles. Also raced in AMA Supersport, earning four wins, one additional podium finish and three pole positions. Raced with Erion Honda. 2006 – Won the Formula Xtreme title with three wins and seven additional podium finishes, missing the top-three just once with a fourth-place finish at Sonoma. Raced in Superstock, earning six Top 5s. Raced with Erion Honda. 2005 – Raced in AMA Pro Superbike, earning a podium finish at Road America and two additional Top 5s in the series. Raced with Attack Performance Kawasaki. 2004 – Raced in AMA Pro Superbike, earning fifth-place finishes at Barber, Mid-Ohio and Road Atlanta. Raced in Superstock, earning second-place finishes at Road America and Brainerd. Raced with the Kawasaki Motors team. 2003 – Won the Superstock title with wins at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio, and five additional podium finishes. Raced in Formula Xtreme, earning a second place at Road America. Raced with Attack Suzuki. 2002– Competed in AMA Supersport, earning a second-place finish at Virginia. Raced in Formula Xtreme with a best result of fifth place at Mid-Ohio. Raced with Valvoline EMGO Suzuki. 2001 – Raced in AMA Supersport with a best result of fourth place at Sears Point Raceway. Raced in 750 Supersport, taking third place at the New Hampshire round. Also raced in Formula Xtreme, earning four podium finishes. Raced with Bruce Transportation Honda. 2000 – Endured lingering injuries all season, but still managed four second-place finishes in Formula Xtreme. Took seven Top 10s in 600 Supersport. Raced with Erion Honda. 1999 – Started his season with a victory in the 750 Supersport race at Daytona. Took six podium finishes in Formula Xtreme and finished the season ranked third. Also raced in 600 Supersport with a best result of fourth at Brainerd. Rode for Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki. 1998 – Participated in two Formula Xtreme events, finishing fifth in both. Won six non-AMA national titles, including Formula USA 103 HP, Suzuki Cup 600 and 1100 and WERA National 600 Superstock. 1997 – Co-rode with Team Suzuki Endurance in the WERA National Endurance Championship and was the 1100 Suzuki Cup Champion. Early Career – Turned Pro in 1995 and won the WERA National Endurance Series Heavyweight Superstock Championship with Airport Racing. First year racing was 1994 aboard a self-tuned Honda CBR600F2. Won three National Novice Championships.