Here are some news briefs from the world of MotoGP.
"Dovizioso plays down Ducati time gains"
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/189245/1/dovizioso_plays_down_ducati_time_gains.html
"Ducati Team Partners With Kobo For 2013 MotoGP Season"
http://ultimatemotorcycling.com/ducati-team-partners-with-kobo-for-2013-motogp/
"Rookie Ianonne top Ducati on final day"
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/189297/1/rookie_iannone_top_ducati_on_final_day.html
"MotoGP Signs Three-Year Deal with Fox Sports 1/SPEED"
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/motogp-fox-sports-1-speedtv-deal/
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
MotoGP testing at Jerez
Here are articles chronicling the recent two day test session for MotoGP riders and teams at the Jerez circuit in Spain, before the season begins in a few short weeks.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-rain-in-spain-spoils-test-opening-day/
...and
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-rossi-steps-forward-on-day-two
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-rain-in-spain-spoils-test-opening-day/
...and
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-rossi-steps-forward-on-day-two
Friday, March 22, 2013
Yamaha MotoGP 2013 team launch
Here are links to photos and video, from the launch for the 2013 factory Yamaha MotoGP squad.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/video-motogp-yamaha-factory-racing-launch/
...and
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/photos-motogp-yamaha-team-launch/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/video-motogp-yamaha-factory-racing-launch/
...and
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/photos-motogp-yamaha-team-launch/
Thursday, March 21, 2013
AMA DSB: Huge Daytona For Triple Crown/RMR Racing
Feature story about the success of Triple Crown/RMR Racing during Daytona bike week last week, for their riders, including Stefano Mesa, and Bobby Fong.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-dsb-huge-daytona-for-triple-crown-rmr-racing/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-dsb-huge-daytona-for-triple-crown-rmr-racing/
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Other races from Daytona
Here are the winners from other races held at Daytona during the Daytona 200 weekend.
In the Supersport race (race one), Tommy Puerta had pole. Puerta led early. David Sadowski Jr. and Matt Sadowski, came out of nowhere to battle. Stefano Mesa was the winner on bike #37. In race two, Matt Sadowsky went off the road. Hayden Gillam got the launch. But Tommy Puerta won the race over Charles Weaver. The Vance & Hines XR1200 race wnt well. Steve Rapp broke early. Steve Crevier came to the front. But, Tyler O'Hara beat Kyle Wyman and Bobby Fong. It's been quite a weekend of racing. Now, it is official. There will be no races for two and a half months, and the next race won't be until June.
In the Supersport race (race one), Tommy Puerta had pole. Puerta led early. David Sadowski Jr. and Matt Sadowski, came out of nowhere to battle. Stefano Mesa was the winner on bike #37. In race two, Matt Sadowsky went off the road. Hayden Gillam got the launch. But Tommy Puerta won the race over Charles Weaver. The Vance & Hines XR1200 race wnt well. Steve Rapp broke early. Steve Crevier came to the front. But, Tyler O'Hara beat Kyle Wyman and Bobby Fong. It's been quite a weekend of racing. Now, it is official. There will be no races for two and a half months, and the next race won't be until June.
Monday, March 18, 2013
AMA Superbike: Daytona, race 2
Here are the highlights of race two for the AMA National Guard Superbikes.
The track is not as up to temperature as it could be, as the bikes are running a pace lap behind the safety car. Safety car is in. Ready for the start.
Taylor Knapp had a big wreck. But, he still makes it to the grid. He has to stay with his KTM team mate Chris Fillmore. The EBR's are also in development. Two of them, won't start. Cory West and Dustin Dominguez for RS Racecraft. Larry Pegram got a podium in yesterday's race, but feels he can do better on his new Yamaha R1. Robertino Pietri is running well on his Kawasaki (the #88 bike). Martin Cardenas is also looking to do well. Fifteen laps are scheduled once more for this race.
Tayler Knapp had a high side on his KTM, and has a backup bike. But, the bike won't start. What will he do? The start has been delayed so he can go to his grid spot. Aaron Yates also came in. He might have some issues. Knapp will start caboose on the field. Here we go. Everyone's set. Ready to race. Race two is on!
At the start, Josh Hayes and Martin Cardenas both get good starts. Josh Herrin and Larry Pegram are in this thing early, too. Hayes, Herrin, Cardenas, Pegram. Herrin stayed with Hayes yesterday. One wonders about race two. Herrin couldn't find the setup yesterday. He's still dealing with an imperfect setup on the bike. Hayes and Herrin use the curb in the chicane, while Martin Cardenas doesn't. He'll have to see what happens. Here comes Cardenas, pulling the Suzuki around the Yamaha. Right now, Danny Eslick is struggling, but he had a clean start. Eslick paused, and got swamped.
He's doing well running with Michael Jordan Motorsports, along with team mate Roger Hayden. The top four pull away from the rest of the pack. Will Herrin change his line? You've got to slow the bike in the middle of the corner, and stay off the edge of the tire. Watch the lean angle. Herrin runs a 1:37.5. Hayes and Herrin are a tad slower. Geoff May is running well on the EBR. Hayes and Herrin are glued together through the tri oval. Hayes runs a 1:37.63.
Four laps in the books. Josh Hayes and Josh Herrin continue leading, with Martin Cardenas falling back just a bit. Herrin looks to get by Hayes. Meanwhile, Aaron Yates is having trouble with the EBR. The tire balance is off, creating a vibration. He will continue, more than likely. You don't want a vibration on a bike at 200 miles an hour. Five laps done. Ten to go. Yoshimura Suzuki could not adjust Cardenas' bike between the races, because of the colder temperatures. He'll have to work around any handling issues with the motorcycle.
The rider makes the difference as to how the bike handles. Cardenas, Herrin, and Hayes all run in the 1:37s, within mere milliseconds of each other. Larry Pegram is finding his comfort zone, and has to keep things together He is going for points, riding his race. The race is half over. Cardenas closes up on the Yamaha's. Now, Martin Cardenas solidly moves into second, past Josh Herrin. Cardenas will hound Hayes in these last few laps. Herrin ran wide and Cardenas found an opening through the International Horseshoe. Martin Cardenas takes the lead.
Herrin might have an issue with his arm tensing up. It is hard to just relax and breathe when you are in close competition on these high powered motorcycles. The race is half over. Into the second half now. Maybe Herrin hit a false neutral in the gearbox. That's Hayes, not Herrin. Hayes runs a 1:38.6 for his last lap time. Martin Cardenas gets a good drive off of the corners on his Suzuki GSXR1000. Hayes stretches his lead as Herrin passes Cardenas. Can Cardenas pass? No. Herrin runs off the road! He goes wide into turn one on the road course.
Herrin went to shift, hit a false neutral, and had to stop the bike, and restart it. He is still third. Larry Pegram probably won't reel him in. Meanwhile, Hayes increases his lead, with just four laps left to run. Pegram has more speed than previously thought, and he could pass Herrin to get on the podium. Pegram went to Yamaha because of the tech support. He loves the bike. Hhe had a real issue with the BMW he ran last year because it was too fast. Uh oh. Hayes is in trouble. He pulls off the road. He's a retirement. The motor is gone!
The motor blew up. Smoke came out of the left side of the motor. Hopefully there is no oil down. Daytona has not been too friendly to Josh Hayes. He'll have to fight for the title this year. We'll see how the rest of the season develops. Martin Cardenas has to be consistent. He sems to be sailing. Geoff May and Cory West, as well as Tayler Knapp. Daytona eats motors alive. Pegram slides past Josh Herrin who slid a bit. Pegram is into second! Herrin has issues with his bike, too. What is happening? He may have a shifter issue.
Herrin is being pressed by Pegram. He will settle into third place. His arm is still bugging him, and he probably can't squeeze the brake lever as firmly as he wants to. Just a lap and a half remain in Superbike race two. Geoff May fried the clutch at the start of the race, and he didn't last long. Lots of horsepower through sticky, slick tires, can be stressful on the mechanical end of the motorcycle. It's the last lap now. Cardenas leads by eleven seconds. Herrin and Pegram battle for second. Roger Hayden and Danny Eslick run fourth and fifth on the Jordan Suzuki's.
Herrin is trying to pass Pegram. Meanwhile, Cardenas wins. But, Herrin beats Pegram. Hayden beats Eslick, and Chris Clark is sixth. So, Martin Cardenas wins race two.
#36 Martin Cardenas Suzuki GSXR1000
Round two for the Superbikes won't be until early June at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. So the riders will have a long time to regroup and test. It was thought there'd be a race inbetween Daytona and Road America. But, that isn't the case. So long, until June, AMA fans.
The track is not as up to temperature as it could be, as the bikes are running a pace lap behind the safety car. Safety car is in. Ready for the start.
Taylor Knapp had a big wreck. But, he still makes it to the grid. He has to stay with his KTM team mate Chris Fillmore. The EBR's are also in development. Two of them, won't start. Cory West and Dustin Dominguez for RS Racecraft. Larry Pegram got a podium in yesterday's race, but feels he can do better on his new Yamaha R1. Robertino Pietri is running well on his Kawasaki (the #88 bike). Martin Cardenas is also looking to do well. Fifteen laps are scheduled once more for this race.
Tayler Knapp had a high side on his KTM, and has a backup bike. But, the bike won't start. What will he do? The start has been delayed so he can go to his grid spot. Aaron Yates also came in. He might have some issues. Knapp will start caboose on the field. Here we go. Everyone's set. Ready to race. Race two is on!
At the start, Josh Hayes and Martin Cardenas both get good starts. Josh Herrin and Larry Pegram are in this thing early, too. Hayes, Herrin, Cardenas, Pegram. Herrin stayed with Hayes yesterday. One wonders about race two. Herrin couldn't find the setup yesterday. He's still dealing with an imperfect setup on the bike. Hayes and Herrin use the curb in the chicane, while Martin Cardenas doesn't. He'll have to see what happens. Here comes Cardenas, pulling the Suzuki around the Yamaha. Right now, Danny Eslick is struggling, but he had a clean start. Eslick paused, and got swamped.
He's doing well running with Michael Jordan Motorsports, along with team mate Roger Hayden. The top four pull away from the rest of the pack. Will Herrin change his line? You've got to slow the bike in the middle of the corner, and stay off the edge of the tire. Watch the lean angle. Herrin runs a 1:37.5. Hayes and Herrin are a tad slower. Geoff May is running well on the EBR. Hayes and Herrin are glued together through the tri oval. Hayes runs a 1:37.63.
Four laps in the books. Josh Hayes and Josh Herrin continue leading, with Martin Cardenas falling back just a bit. Herrin looks to get by Hayes. Meanwhile, Aaron Yates is having trouble with the EBR. The tire balance is off, creating a vibration. He will continue, more than likely. You don't want a vibration on a bike at 200 miles an hour. Five laps done. Ten to go. Yoshimura Suzuki could not adjust Cardenas' bike between the races, because of the colder temperatures. He'll have to work around any handling issues with the motorcycle.
The rider makes the difference as to how the bike handles. Cardenas, Herrin, and Hayes all run in the 1:37s, within mere milliseconds of each other. Larry Pegram is finding his comfort zone, and has to keep things together He is going for points, riding his race. The race is half over. Cardenas closes up on the Yamaha's. Now, Martin Cardenas solidly moves into second, past Josh Herrin. Cardenas will hound Hayes in these last few laps. Herrin ran wide and Cardenas found an opening through the International Horseshoe. Martin Cardenas takes the lead.
Herrin might have an issue with his arm tensing up. It is hard to just relax and breathe when you are in close competition on these high powered motorcycles. The race is half over. Into the second half now. Maybe Herrin hit a false neutral in the gearbox. That's Hayes, not Herrin. Hayes runs a 1:38.6 for his last lap time. Martin Cardenas gets a good drive off of the corners on his Suzuki GSXR1000. Hayes stretches his lead as Herrin passes Cardenas. Can Cardenas pass? No. Herrin runs off the road! He goes wide into turn one on the road course.
Herrin went to shift, hit a false neutral, and had to stop the bike, and restart it. He is still third. Larry Pegram probably won't reel him in. Meanwhile, Hayes increases his lead, with just four laps left to run. Pegram has more speed than previously thought, and he could pass Herrin to get on the podium. Pegram went to Yamaha because of the tech support. He loves the bike. Hhe had a real issue with the BMW he ran last year because it was too fast. Uh oh. Hayes is in trouble. He pulls off the road. He's a retirement. The motor is gone!
The motor blew up. Smoke came out of the left side of the motor. Hopefully there is no oil down. Daytona has not been too friendly to Josh Hayes. He'll have to fight for the title this year. We'll see how the rest of the season develops. Martin Cardenas has to be consistent. He sems to be sailing. Geoff May and Cory West, as well as Tayler Knapp. Daytona eats motors alive. Pegram slides past Josh Herrin who slid a bit. Pegram is into second! Herrin has issues with his bike, too. What is happening? He may have a shifter issue.
Herrin is being pressed by Pegram. He will settle into third place. His arm is still bugging him, and he probably can't squeeze the brake lever as firmly as he wants to. Just a lap and a half remain in Superbike race two. Geoff May fried the clutch at the start of the race, and he didn't last long. Lots of horsepower through sticky, slick tires, can be stressful on the mechanical end of the motorcycle. It's the last lap now. Cardenas leads by eleven seconds. Herrin and Pegram battle for second. Roger Hayden and Danny Eslick run fourth and fifth on the Jordan Suzuki's.
Herrin is trying to pass Pegram. Meanwhile, Cardenas wins. But, Herrin beats Pegram. Hayden beats Eslick, and Chris Clark is sixth. So, Martin Cardenas wins race two.
#36 Martin Cardenas Suzuki GSXR1000
Round two for the Superbikes won't be until early June at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. So the riders will have a long time to regroup and test. It was thought there'd be a race inbetween Daytona and Road America. But, that isn't the case. So long, until June, AMA fans.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Winner of the Daytona 200
On pole for the Daytona 200 is Cameron Beaubier. He didn't compete in the Daytona 200 last year, after crashing and being injured for a good part of the season. 31 bikes will start the race. The distance will be 57 laps, 200 miles on the combined Nascar tri-oval and infield road course at Daytona International Speedway.
Riders must run flat out, have perfect pit stops, and take major chances, in order to be a Daytona 200 champion. It was once an endurance event. But, it is now, a sprint. Who will the winner be? This is is the 72nd running of the Daytona 200. It used to have more international flavor. But it is still important. This will be a two pit stop race, and at least the rear tire will need to be changed. In last year's race, it was i ntense. Joey Pascarella is the defeending champion. Pit stops will determine the winner, more than likely. It is the only race with pit stops. The rider gets off the bike, while the bike is refueled and has the tires changed.
Dane Westby had a bad stop last year. Things might not go right on pit stops, even if the crews practice. It should be a 15 second pit stop. The corners on the road course are very difficult. There are a lot of fast sweepers. Triangulate and double apex the corners. Turn six, coming up to the banking is a big deal. The rider's can slingshot down the back straight, through the chicane, coming through Nascar turn four. The chicane was a big deal with a new tire compound and cool temperatures. A lot of riders fell down.
The temperatures today are warmer. The bikes are on their warmup lap. We're ready to race. But first, we'll meet the riders. Cameron Beaubier won seven races last year. This will be his third Daytona 200, and he's on pole position. Beaubier's pole time was a 1:49.612. Garrett Gerloff broke his leg in qualifying before the Daytona 200. But this year, he's back, ready to race in his first time in this great race. Bobby Fong starts third, with a new team, and a new bike (a Yamaha YZF R6).
Jake Zemke is back on a Ducati. He is a former Daytona 200 winner. Zemke fills in for another rider. Dane Westby is hurt, and will not start. In his place, on the Geico Honda, is motorcycle road racing veteran Steve Rapp. Dane Westby was doing well on the bike, crashing, and injuring himself. Dane Westby is here, watching the race. Joey Pascarella is the defending champion of this race. Can he win two in a row on his Triumph Daytona?
Rookie rider Elena Myers is riding a Triumph Daytona 675 in her first Daytona 200. She was successful in Supersport last year. Jason DiSalvo won the 2010 Daytona 200, and finished second in last year's Daytona 200 on his Triumph. He could come to the front. We are ready to get the Daytona 200 underway. Some former winners will race. John Ashmead, Joey Pascarella and Jason DiSalvo, just to name a few. Ashmead, won the Daytona 200 back in 1989, aboard a Honda Superbike.
At the start, Garrett Gerloff got a good start, but here comes Jake Zemke. Cameron Beaubier looks to be in the lead. The bikes get through the first corners cleanly. The bikes go up on the banking. The new tire is going to be a factor. Steve Rapp is doing real well in Dane Westby's place. The tires are coming in, hopefully. The bikes fly through the tri oval. Cameron Beaubier and Bobby Fong pass Jake Zemke. Huntley Nash runs wid and continues. Through the international horseshoe they come. Oops. Pit stop early. It's Joey pascarella, the defending champion of the Daytona 200. He's got a mechanical issue, in the shift linkage.
He might get back out there. But he won't be in contention to win this year. Four bikes battle into Nascar turns three and four. The draft starts as some are four wide! James Rispoli is moving up, last year's Super Sport champion. J.D. Beach is also back there, with Jake Lewis. Rispoli and Lewis are racing the Daytona 200 for the first time, after being in Super Sport last year. Cameron Beaubier runs fast lap. Not sure what the time was. This is frantic action so far. Three laps complete of 57 scheduled. The plan is to stay in touch with the lead group before pit stops.
The lap times are in the 1:51 bracket as Jake Zemke tries to pass Bobby Fong, but thinks better of it. Garrett Gerloff is coming back up, with Jake Gagne and James Rispoli, just behind. Jason DiSalvo is now into the top ten. Fong tries to draft past, but he won't get by. Zemke is still pushing. But, for Joey Pascarella, the defending champ, it might be game over. Beaubier still leads. Bobby Fong runs second. Benny Solis runs with Huntley Nash and Jason DiSalvo. Jake Lewis falls behind the loead pack just a shade.
J.D. Beach passes Rispoli. Jake Gagne makes a move, too. Zemke picks up the lead. Fong is second followed by the Yamaha's of Beaubier and Gerloff. Zemke runs a 1:51.470. Beaubier isn't pushing just yet. Gerloff drafts by the other riders running four wide. Beach and Rispoli are cleanly racing each other. Jason DiSalvo pits. He's got an issue. This is too early for stops. The bike wasn't running. For DiSalvo, it could be game over. The bike re-fires. Maybe he could come back, just like last year. DiSalvo must get back into the race if he wants to be a contender.
Jake Zemke retakes the lead from Bobby Fong. Cameron Beaubier is third. J.D. Beach loses the train. DiSalvo is back out, but he's a lap down. He'll need a miracle to win. Something went wrong in the shift linkage. Kenny Riedmann on a sister Triumph is out, with clutch issues. The tall transmission gears affect the clutch, and burns it out. Rispoli almost crashed into someone at top speed on the banking! Yikes! James Rispoli goes back to fourth, being passed by Zemke. Beaubier has good pace, and could be the fastest bike right now. Benny Solis pits.
Solis might have annissue. No one knows what is wrong with the Honda CBR600. He could be a retirement. Beaubier opens a gap over Bobby Fong and Jake Zemke. Beaubier opens his lead, eleven laps into the race. Beaubier runs fastest lap at 1:50.6. Jason DiSalvo is back in the pits, with smoke out of the Triumph. It's truly game over for him this time. That's a shame. The Triumph is a cool, unique sounding motorcycle. Jake Zemke runs a 1:51 flat. Could someone brake away into a lead? That would be a first in Daytona Sportbike at the 200.
Benny Solis is back on track. The bike is fixed. So, Solis will go after points. He comes out, blending in with the leaders, even though he is a few laps down. Make lemonade from lemons. That's Solis' duty now. Jake Gagne battles with Jake Gagne. Rispoli is getting used to the Sportbikes after being on a Super Sport bike last year. There is a light headwind down the front straight, which would be different for a rider and bike, than a tailwind. Solis pits, and, it's game over. He's a DNF.
Beaubier is ahead by 1.6 seconds, running in the 1:50 bracket, as is Jake Gagne who sets fast lap at 1:50.087. Gagne passes Zemke. Pit stops are coming and the window opens. But, Jake Lewis has some issues. It is his first Daytona 200. One wonders what is wrong with the bike. Garrett Gerloff pits. Less than 40 laps to go. This is a perfect, quick stop. Jake Lewis is a retirement from this race. He takes over the Meen Motorsports bike from Bobby Fong. Cameron Beaubier pits.
One mistake could cause panic for the crew and the riders. So far so good. Fuel, tires, and away. No worries. However, Joey Pascarella's fraught race continues. He'll retire the bike. He looks up and is like, "oh no. It's done." Steve Rapp pits. Fuel, and a rear tire. It was a very clean, calm pit stop. Zemke runs a 1:51.609. 20 laps now complete. Eight laps to halfway. Fong and Gagne pit. Both tires are changed. Jake Gagne also has a good stop for the Road Race Factory team. Elena Myers will also pit. It's an unscheduled stop, and a bit slower.
They had a slight delay with the fuel, and with the air wrench for the rear wheel. But, she's back out on track. Here comes Jake Zemke, from the lead. James Rispoli is also in. There was some issue with the tire. Slower stops for the Ducati's. J.D. Beach makes a really good pit stop! A flyer! Zemke tries to pass Rispoli through turn six and does. Melissa Paris pits, and has a good stop. She's run a good race all day. Some riders are going out in pairs, with a drafting partner, just like Nascar.
Huntley Nash pits, and almost knocks the bike down. Nash takes a drink, but has a slow pit stop. It was a slight issue. But, it can still cost time, working lap 22. Beaubier runs a lap at 1:50.815. Cameron Beaubier has a six second lead, and his rivals will have to catch him. Mr. Beaubier is flying, turning a 1:50.529. He passes Elena Meyers and Melissa Paris. Luke Mossey, a Brit, is racing in the Daytona 200, and will contest the British Superbike series for the rest of the year. Mossey's father ran the Daytona 200 years ago. Bobby Fong is third. Fong took a swig of energy gel, which is sugar and electrolytes that cyclists use.
Riders need fuel as much as the bikes do. Jake Gagne is running well, and has fastest lap at a 1:50 flat. That's fastest lap of the race. Steve Rapp is up to ninth. Huntley Nash is also riding well. Fernando Amantini is also running quicker. He is one of the mid field riders, as Beaubier completes lap 26. A couple laps to halfway, which will be lap 28. Amantini is on his own team's Yamaha YZF R6, bike #7. Melissa Paris is still running well, with Elena Myers right behind. Luke Mossey is also in this battle. This race is at halfway, on lap 29.
Beaubier is cruising. He has a ten second lead on everyone else. He runs a 1:51.233. Steve Rapp is now up to eighth. As far as Beaubier, his team owner, former racer, Chuck Graves, is really impressed. Dane Westby is disappointed he can't race. Westby had a crash. He'll be back for the next race. There is a gap, because it is not known when or where the second race of the season will be. A cold track, and the sharp curves in the chicane, were a bad comibation for many riders. J.D. Beach is holding off Supersport champ, James Rispoli. Rispoli is running laps in the 1:54 flat range.
We are now into the second half of this race, working lap 32. Jake Zemke slows, pulling off the road, parking the Ducati 848 at a corner station. Not good. The motor died as he rolled off the throttle. Zemke will not win a second Daytona 200 today. Ducati has only had one win at Daytona, and for the most part, have had bad luck. Garrett Gerloff, Bobby Fong, and Jake Gagne run second, third and fourth. Beaubier extends his lead to thirteen seconds. He's been on top all weekend.
Garrett Gerloff is still running consistently. There is one last round of pit stops to go. Melissa Paris and Bobby Fong still run well. Fong holds third place, but has Jake Gagne behind him. Rispoli and Beach are still battling for fifth place. Beaubier leads by fourteen seconds, with sixteen laps to go. The second round of pit stops, come soon. Unlike last year, there's no real battle for the lead. Beaubier has it, and is consistent. He could very well win. But, twenty laps still remain. Garrett Gerloff makes his second pit stop. Two tires and changed. The fuel is in, and he's back on track.
Elena Myers pits. It's only a rear tire change, and there is a struggle with the fuel. But, she is learning, and should finish this race. Steve Rapp also pits. Only the rear tire is changed, and the fuel is done. Good stop. Beaubier pits. He's got twenty seconds in hand. He knows he's going to win it. Eighteen laps remain. Bobby Fong pits. Jake Gagne makes a pit stop. Can Gagne catch Fong? Melissa Paris pits from tenth spot. Paris got out of the pits just in front of J.D. Beach. Wow!
Paris had her weight on her good leg. The time you stop is important. But, the in lap and out lap are important. In the old days, the riders could fly down pit road. Beaubier wiggled. But, he'll get back into a rhythm. James Rispoli has yet to pit. Fifteen laps to go. These riders are going to be really sore after this race, because their bodies are locked into one spot on the bike, tucked for aerodynamics. The compression into the banking, goes against how you move. But, the riders are used to it. We are coming towards the finish at Daytona.
Rispoli needs to pit. He's losing time. Now, he comes down the pit lane. Rispoli gets a rear tire and fuel. Actually, both tires were changed. But this is a slow, disastrous pit stop for Rispoli. He'll get enough points towards the season championship. The rest of the year, there will be two races. Not for this event. It's the crown jewel. Cameron Beaubier leads, and the field is spread out. Usually, this race is calamity. Not this year. Riders are just riding around. This is special, seeing Beaubier dominate. Once you win one, you want another. It's just like car racing. Beaubier could race in Europe in the future. World Superbike, or, MotoGP could be an avenue in the future.
Garrett Gerloff still needs to pit. But, it could be a risk. James Rispoli runs five seconds behind Steve Rapp. Game over for Huntley Nash. The engine in the bike, went ka blammo. Ten laps to go. Steve Rapp has run very consistently, running sixth. Rapp is the 2007 Daytona 200 winner. Melissa Paris is getting a "meatball" flag, which is a mechanical black flag (a black one, with a big red dot). There were too many crewmen over the wall. Paris' penalty will drop her down the order. What a shame. Five people were over the wall. Rider cannot touch the bike. There were six men over the wall.
Elena Myers will take the spot from Melissa Paris. Bobby Fong slowed dramatically, as he probably overshot the chicane. Fong will get on the podium. Paris is doing a ride through penalty, shaking her headm, understandably upset. It wasn't the crewman who gave her a water jug. But, it was the same crewman, carrying a tire back over the pit wall. Cameron Beaubier has a 23 second lead, and will lap Elena Myers and John Ashmead, again, the 1989 Daytona 200 champ.
Beaubier has lapped the field up to seventh. No battles. It's just single file racing. This is unheard of in the Daytona Sportbike division. A lot of the heavy hitters have fallen by the wayside. Beaubier books it by James Rispoli. Jake Gagne will get fast lap. But, it seems that 1:50s are possible. But Beaubier is the only rider who can run consistent fast laps. Five laps to go. Should Beaubier do it, this will be the 22nd win for Yamaha at Daytona. They had a streak, winning each race for over a decade, between 1973 and 1984.
Cameron Beaubier is about to lap Steve Rapp. Rapp of course, filling in for Dane Westby. Give a call to J.D. Beach. He's stuck with the pack. Ditto for Jake Gagne, his team mate. How will the rest of the season shake out? We'll see. Steve Rapp is going very well on Westby's bike. He's done well. Westby will get to ride in the next race. But that next race isn't for a couple months, and the venue is still up in the air. Jordan Racing is working on James Rispoli's bike, and it's their first foray into Sportbike, after running Superbike for some time.
Two laps to go. Garrett Gerloff will get a solid second place. Gerloff didn't race last year, and Tommy Hayden filled in for him. But, now, Cameron Beaubier, is going to win the Daytona 200. This guy is on his way to being a legend of motorcycle road racing, perhaps. It's the last lap, out of the bus stop chicane. The #6 YES Graves Yamaha, wins it! Cameron Beaubier is a Daytona 200 champion! Gerloff gets second. Graves Yamaha gets a 1-2. Melissa Paris will finish tenth. Bobby Fong gets third, and is on the podium. But, it's all Beaubier's race. We'll focus on other AMA races later. That includes, highlights of the second Superbike race, showing later today. That race will be published tomorrow. But, for now, the Daytona 200 is in the books for 2013.
#6 Cameron Beaubier Yamaha YZF R6
Congratulations, Cameron Beaubier! Yamaha scores their 22nd Daytona 200 triumph, first winning with Don Emde in 1972. They were on a roll, winning every Daytona 200 between 1972 and 1984. Other Yamaha riders to win the Daytona 200 include Giacomo Agostini, Gene Romero, Johnny Cecotto, Steve Baker, Graeme Crosby, Kenny Roberts, Dale Singleton, Patrick Pons, David Sadowski, Eddie Lawson, Scott Russell (who also won on a Muzzy Kawasaki a few times), Ben Bostrom, Josh Herrin, and Joey Pascarella.
So long for now, motorcycle racing fans. What a great Daytona 200 this was.
Riders must run flat out, have perfect pit stops, and take major chances, in order to be a Daytona 200 champion. It was once an endurance event. But, it is now, a sprint. Who will the winner be? This is is the 72nd running of the Daytona 200. It used to have more international flavor. But it is still important. This will be a two pit stop race, and at least the rear tire will need to be changed. In last year's race, it was i ntense. Joey Pascarella is the defeending champion. Pit stops will determine the winner, more than likely. It is the only race with pit stops. The rider gets off the bike, while the bike is refueled and has the tires changed.
Dane Westby had a bad stop last year. Things might not go right on pit stops, even if the crews practice. It should be a 15 second pit stop. The corners on the road course are very difficult. There are a lot of fast sweepers. Triangulate and double apex the corners. Turn six, coming up to the banking is a big deal. The rider's can slingshot down the back straight, through the chicane, coming through Nascar turn four. The chicane was a big deal with a new tire compound and cool temperatures. A lot of riders fell down.
The temperatures today are warmer. The bikes are on their warmup lap. We're ready to race. But first, we'll meet the riders. Cameron Beaubier won seven races last year. This will be his third Daytona 200, and he's on pole position. Beaubier's pole time was a 1:49.612. Garrett Gerloff broke his leg in qualifying before the Daytona 200. But this year, he's back, ready to race in his first time in this great race. Bobby Fong starts third, with a new team, and a new bike (a Yamaha YZF R6).
Jake Zemke is back on a Ducati. He is a former Daytona 200 winner. Zemke fills in for another rider. Dane Westby is hurt, and will not start. In his place, on the Geico Honda, is motorcycle road racing veteran Steve Rapp. Dane Westby was doing well on the bike, crashing, and injuring himself. Dane Westby is here, watching the race. Joey Pascarella is the defending champion of this race. Can he win two in a row on his Triumph Daytona?
Rookie rider Elena Myers is riding a Triumph Daytona 675 in her first Daytona 200. She was successful in Supersport last year. Jason DiSalvo won the 2010 Daytona 200, and finished second in last year's Daytona 200 on his Triumph. He could come to the front. We are ready to get the Daytona 200 underway. Some former winners will race. John Ashmead, Joey Pascarella and Jason DiSalvo, just to name a few. Ashmead, won the Daytona 200 back in 1989, aboard a Honda Superbike.
At the start, Garrett Gerloff got a good start, but here comes Jake Zemke. Cameron Beaubier looks to be in the lead. The bikes get through the first corners cleanly. The bikes go up on the banking. The new tire is going to be a factor. Steve Rapp is doing real well in Dane Westby's place. The tires are coming in, hopefully. The bikes fly through the tri oval. Cameron Beaubier and Bobby Fong pass Jake Zemke. Huntley Nash runs wid and continues. Through the international horseshoe they come. Oops. Pit stop early. It's Joey pascarella, the defending champion of the Daytona 200. He's got a mechanical issue, in the shift linkage.
He might get back out there. But he won't be in contention to win this year. Four bikes battle into Nascar turns three and four. The draft starts as some are four wide! James Rispoli is moving up, last year's Super Sport champion. J.D. Beach is also back there, with Jake Lewis. Rispoli and Lewis are racing the Daytona 200 for the first time, after being in Super Sport last year. Cameron Beaubier runs fast lap. Not sure what the time was. This is frantic action so far. Three laps complete of 57 scheduled. The plan is to stay in touch with the lead group before pit stops.
The lap times are in the 1:51 bracket as Jake Zemke tries to pass Bobby Fong, but thinks better of it. Garrett Gerloff is coming back up, with Jake Gagne and James Rispoli, just behind. Jason DiSalvo is now into the top ten. Fong tries to draft past, but he won't get by. Zemke is still pushing. But, for Joey Pascarella, the defending champ, it might be game over. Beaubier still leads. Bobby Fong runs second. Benny Solis runs with Huntley Nash and Jason DiSalvo. Jake Lewis falls behind the loead pack just a shade.
J.D. Beach passes Rispoli. Jake Gagne makes a move, too. Zemke picks up the lead. Fong is second followed by the Yamaha's of Beaubier and Gerloff. Zemke runs a 1:51.470. Beaubier isn't pushing just yet. Gerloff drafts by the other riders running four wide. Beach and Rispoli are cleanly racing each other. Jason DiSalvo pits. He's got an issue. This is too early for stops. The bike wasn't running. For DiSalvo, it could be game over. The bike re-fires. Maybe he could come back, just like last year. DiSalvo must get back into the race if he wants to be a contender.
Jake Zemke retakes the lead from Bobby Fong. Cameron Beaubier is third. J.D. Beach loses the train. DiSalvo is back out, but he's a lap down. He'll need a miracle to win. Something went wrong in the shift linkage. Kenny Riedmann on a sister Triumph is out, with clutch issues. The tall transmission gears affect the clutch, and burns it out. Rispoli almost crashed into someone at top speed on the banking! Yikes! James Rispoli goes back to fourth, being passed by Zemke. Beaubier has good pace, and could be the fastest bike right now. Benny Solis pits.
Solis might have annissue. No one knows what is wrong with the Honda CBR600. He could be a retirement. Beaubier opens a gap over Bobby Fong and Jake Zemke. Beaubier opens his lead, eleven laps into the race. Beaubier runs fastest lap at 1:50.6. Jason DiSalvo is back in the pits, with smoke out of the Triumph. It's truly game over for him this time. That's a shame. The Triumph is a cool, unique sounding motorcycle. Jake Zemke runs a 1:51 flat. Could someone brake away into a lead? That would be a first in Daytona Sportbike at the 200.
Benny Solis is back on track. The bike is fixed. So, Solis will go after points. He comes out, blending in with the leaders, even though he is a few laps down. Make lemonade from lemons. That's Solis' duty now. Jake Gagne battles with Jake Gagne. Rispoli is getting used to the Sportbikes after being on a Super Sport bike last year. There is a light headwind down the front straight, which would be different for a rider and bike, than a tailwind. Solis pits, and, it's game over. He's a DNF.
Beaubier is ahead by 1.6 seconds, running in the 1:50 bracket, as is Jake Gagne who sets fast lap at 1:50.087. Gagne passes Zemke. Pit stops are coming and the window opens. But, Jake Lewis has some issues. It is his first Daytona 200. One wonders what is wrong with the bike. Garrett Gerloff pits. Less than 40 laps to go. This is a perfect, quick stop. Jake Lewis is a retirement from this race. He takes over the Meen Motorsports bike from Bobby Fong. Cameron Beaubier pits.
One mistake could cause panic for the crew and the riders. So far so good. Fuel, tires, and away. No worries. However, Joey Pascarella's fraught race continues. He'll retire the bike. He looks up and is like, "oh no. It's done." Steve Rapp pits. Fuel, and a rear tire. It was a very clean, calm pit stop. Zemke runs a 1:51.609. 20 laps now complete. Eight laps to halfway. Fong and Gagne pit. Both tires are changed. Jake Gagne also has a good stop for the Road Race Factory team. Elena Myers will also pit. It's an unscheduled stop, and a bit slower.
They had a slight delay with the fuel, and with the air wrench for the rear wheel. But, she's back out on track. Here comes Jake Zemke, from the lead. James Rispoli is also in. There was some issue with the tire. Slower stops for the Ducati's. J.D. Beach makes a really good pit stop! A flyer! Zemke tries to pass Rispoli through turn six and does. Melissa Paris pits, and has a good stop. She's run a good race all day. Some riders are going out in pairs, with a drafting partner, just like Nascar.
Huntley Nash pits, and almost knocks the bike down. Nash takes a drink, but has a slow pit stop. It was a slight issue. But, it can still cost time, working lap 22. Beaubier runs a lap at 1:50.815. Cameron Beaubier has a six second lead, and his rivals will have to catch him. Mr. Beaubier is flying, turning a 1:50.529. He passes Elena Meyers and Melissa Paris. Luke Mossey, a Brit, is racing in the Daytona 200, and will contest the British Superbike series for the rest of the year. Mossey's father ran the Daytona 200 years ago. Bobby Fong is third. Fong took a swig of energy gel, which is sugar and electrolytes that cyclists use.
Riders need fuel as much as the bikes do. Jake Gagne is running well, and has fastest lap at a 1:50 flat. That's fastest lap of the race. Steve Rapp is up to ninth. Huntley Nash is also riding well. Fernando Amantini is also running quicker. He is one of the mid field riders, as Beaubier completes lap 26. A couple laps to halfway, which will be lap 28. Amantini is on his own team's Yamaha YZF R6, bike #7. Melissa Paris is still running well, with Elena Myers right behind. Luke Mossey is also in this battle. This race is at halfway, on lap 29.
Beaubier is cruising. He has a ten second lead on everyone else. He runs a 1:51.233. Steve Rapp is now up to eighth. As far as Beaubier, his team owner, former racer, Chuck Graves, is really impressed. Dane Westby is disappointed he can't race. Westby had a crash. He'll be back for the next race. There is a gap, because it is not known when or where the second race of the season will be. A cold track, and the sharp curves in the chicane, were a bad comibation for many riders. J.D. Beach is holding off Supersport champ, James Rispoli. Rispoli is running laps in the 1:54 flat range.
We are now into the second half of this race, working lap 32. Jake Zemke slows, pulling off the road, parking the Ducati 848 at a corner station. Not good. The motor died as he rolled off the throttle. Zemke will not win a second Daytona 200 today. Ducati has only had one win at Daytona, and for the most part, have had bad luck. Garrett Gerloff, Bobby Fong, and Jake Gagne run second, third and fourth. Beaubier extends his lead to thirteen seconds. He's been on top all weekend.
Garrett Gerloff is still running consistently. There is one last round of pit stops to go. Melissa Paris and Bobby Fong still run well. Fong holds third place, but has Jake Gagne behind him. Rispoli and Beach are still battling for fifth place. Beaubier leads by fourteen seconds, with sixteen laps to go. The second round of pit stops, come soon. Unlike last year, there's no real battle for the lead. Beaubier has it, and is consistent. He could very well win. But, twenty laps still remain. Garrett Gerloff makes his second pit stop. Two tires and changed. The fuel is in, and he's back on track.
Elena Myers pits. It's only a rear tire change, and there is a struggle with the fuel. But, she is learning, and should finish this race. Steve Rapp also pits. Only the rear tire is changed, and the fuel is done. Good stop. Beaubier pits. He's got twenty seconds in hand. He knows he's going to win it. Eighteen laps remain. Bobby Fong pits. Jake Gagne makes a pit stop. Can Gagne catch Fong? Melissa Paris pits from tenth spot. Paris got out of the pits just in front of J.D. Beach. Wow!
Paris had her weight on her good leg. The time you stop is important. But, the in lap and out lap are important. In the old days, the riders could fly down pit road. Beaubier wiggled. But, he'll get back into a rhythm. James Rispoli has yet to pit. Fifteen laps to go. These riders are going to be really sore after this race, because their bodies are locked into one spot on the bike, tucked for aerodynamics. The compression into the banking, goes against how you move. But, the riders are used to it. We are coming towards the finish at Daytona.
Rispoli needs to pit. He's losing time. Now, he comes down the pit lane. Rispoli gets a rear tire and fuel. Actually, both tires were changed. But this is a slow, disastrous pit stop for Rispoli. He'll get enough points towards the season championship. The rest of the year, there will be two races. Not for this event. It's the crown jewel. Cameron Beaubier leads, and the field is spread out. Usually, this race is calamity. Not this year. Riders are just riding around. This is special, seeing Beaubier dominate. Once you win one, you want another. It's just like car racing. Beaubier could race in Europe in the future. World Superbike, or, MotoGP could be an avenue in the future.
Garrett Gerloff still needs to pit. But, it could be a risk. James Rispoli runs five seconds behind Steve Rapp. Game over for Huntley Nash. The engine in the bike, went ka blammo. Ten laps to go. Steve Rapp has run very consistently, running sixth. Rapp is the 2007 Daytona 200 winner. Melissa Paris is getting a "meatball" flag, which is a mechanical black flag (a black one, with a big red dot). There were too many crewmen over the wall. Paris' penalty will drop her down the order. What a shame. Five people were over the wall. Rider cannot touch the bike. There were six men over the wall.
Elena Myers will take the spot from Melissa Paris. Bobby Fong slowed dramatically, as he probably overshot the chicane. Fong will get on the podium. Paris is doing a ride through penalty, shaking her headm, understandably upset. It wasn't the crewman who gave her a water jug. But, it was the same crewman, carrying a tire back over the pit wall. Cameron Beaubier has a 23 second lead, and will lap Elena Myers and John Ashmead, again, the 1989 Daytona 200 champ.
Beaubier has lapped the field up to seventh. No battles. It's just single file racing. This is unheard of in the Daytona Sportbike division. A lot of the heavy hitters have fallen by the wayside. Beaubier books it by James Rispoli. Jake Gagne will get fast lap. But, it seems that 1:50s are possible. But Beaubier is the only rider who can run consistent fast laps. Five laps to go. Should Beaubier do it, this will be the 22nd win for Yamaha at Daytona. They had a streak, winning each race for over a decade, between 1973 and 1984.
Cameron Beaubier is about to lap Steve Rapp. Rapp of course, filling in for Dane Westby. Give a call to J.D. Beach. He's stuck with the pack. Ditto for Jake Gagne, his team mate. How will the rest of the season shake out? We'll see. Steve Rapp is going very well on Westby's bike. He's done well. Westby will get to ride in the next race. But that next race isn't for a couple months, and the venue is still up in the air. Jordan Racing is working on James Rispoli's bike, and it's their first foray into Sportbike, after running Superbike for some time.
Two laps to go. Garrett Gerloff will get a solid second place. Gerloff didn't race last year, and Tommy Hayden filled in for him. But, now, Cameron Beaubier, is going to win the Daytona 200. This guy is on his way to being a legend of motorcycle road racing, perhaps. It's the last lap, out of the bus stop chicane. The #6 YES Graves Yamaha, wins it! Cameron Beaubier is a Daytona 200 champion! Gerloff gets second. Graves Yamaha gets a 1-2. Melissa Paris will finish tenth. Bobby Fong gets third, and is on the podium. But, it's all Beaubier's race. We'll focus on other AMA races later. That includes, highlights of the second Superbike race, showing later today. That race will be published tomorrow. But, for now, the Daytona 200 is in the books for 2013.
#6 Cameron Beaubier Yamaha YZF R6
Congratulations, Cameron Beaubier! Yamaha scores their 22nd Daytona 200 triumph, first winning with Don Emde in 1972. They were on a roll, winning every Daytona 200 between 1972 and 1984. Other Yamaha riders to win the Daytona 200 include Giacomo Agostini, Gene Romero, Johnny Cecotto, Steve Baker, Graeme Crosby, Kenny Roberts, Dale Singleton, Patrick Pons, David Sadowski, Eddie Lawson, Scott Russell (who also won on a Muzzy Kawasaki a few times), Ben Bostrom, Josh Herrin, and Joey Pascarella.
So long for now, motorcycle racing fans. What a great Daytona 200 this was.
Friday, March 15, 2013
AMA Superbike: Daytona, race 1
Here are the highlights of race one of the 2013 AMA Superbike season. It's race one of two, at Daytona International Speedway. This is race one. Race two takes place later in the weekend, and will be blogged here, Sunday night. Stay tuned for more 2 wheeled action. For now, let us focus on race one for the Superbikes.
Josh Hayes is still the man to beat, after dominating last year, and winning the last three consecutive championship titles. The guy set records last year. However, there are some more good riders. Chris Ulrich, Dustin Dominguez, Martin Cardenas, and others, are in it to win it, this season. Martin Cardenas ran Superbikes a few years ago, but he's back. He ran Daytona Sportbike last year. Danny Eslick is now running for Michael Jordan Racing on the Suzuki. Aaron Yates is making his return to AMA Superbike after a big crash at Auto Club Speedway years ago.
The west banking has been eliminatied, but the back straight chicane (the Bus Stop) is still there. Many riders have fallen. But, it's been clean in practice and qualifying. Larry Pegram laid down his Yamaha, but qualified sixth. Martin Cardenas put in some good laps, too. Roger Hayden is back with his same Suzuki mount this year. Josh Herrin, is Josh Hayes' team mate. He passed Cardenas in qualifying, going for it. But, he was having handling issues with the bike through the washboard surface of turn six on the road course. Danny Eslick did a wheelie, and got into the wall. Josh Herrin brough him back to the pits.
The bikes are rolling off on their warmup lap. The bikes are behind the safety car, running their pace laps. They are taking up their starting places on the grid. This race will be 15 laps.
At the start, Josh Hayes gets a launch and so does Martin Cardenas. Roger Hayden crashes immediately into the grass. What happened? Oh. He got caught out in turn four, overcooked the corner, and slid off the bike. There is a gap between the two Monster Yamaha's. Hayes leads Herrin. Larry Pegram goes to fourth on the Yamaha. Chris Clark a nd others are gaining places. Twenty bikes started this race. These bikes fly down the straight and on the banking. They are twenty miles per hour faster than the Daytona Sportbikes that will run the Daytona 200 tomorrow.
Hayes and Herrin still run 1-2. Into the chicane, these two are hounding each other. Hayes goes very tightly into the double right hander on the back part of the course. He can't drift out to the dirty line. The emphasis is on the exit of the corner. Eslick, Chris Clark, and Geoff May are running up front. May might be the only EBR in Superbike this year. This is the 15th year for Chuck Graves and Yamaha. Graves is a former rider. Herrin runs a 1:37.748. He's quicker than Hayes.
Cardenas runs a 1:36 flat, and Larry Pegram, a 1:36.8. Josh Herrin takes the lead into the chicane. Five laps run, ten remain. Yamaha is having some issues. Josh Hayes is the one with issues on his bike. He did not pit. He needs points for the championship, right from the get go. Herrin runs a 1:38.9 and Martin Cardenas, a 1:38.3. He has pressure from Cardenas. Herrin runs a 1:37.5. Danny Eslick gets around Josh Hayes, but both bikes run off the road, slightly. Eslick was trying to pass through turns four and five. Hayes will pit. The three-time defending champion is in trouble. Cardenas wiggles, but holds onto the bike. Chief Mechanic Jim Roach, is looking at the handlebars, and the traction control system. But, Hayes' race is run. The engine is shut off.
Cardenas is running 4/10ths quicker than Herrin, and Herrin, is 2/10ths up on Larry Pegram. Cardenas eats 3/10ths of a second out of Herrin's lead. This race is half over. Pegram could get a podium place out of this. He's been racing for a long time, and he keeps going. His run with a BMW S1000RR was not too good last year. But, the Yamaha R1 seems to be fitting Pegram well. There's a giant battle for sixth. Chris Fillmore, Roberto Pietri, Geoff May, and others, are in it. Josh Hayes scores no points today. He'll come back for tomorrow's race.
Cardenas continues chasing Herrin. Larry Pegram, on an identical Yamaha, is still in this fight. Cardenas reels in Josh Herrin. He's getting better towards the end of the race. Five laps remain. Cardenas runs a 1:38.9. The pace is frantic. Herrin is unstable in the corners. He's got to finesse the throttle. Aaron Yates is way back. He's been in Superbike before, and has won a championship. But, he's not having a good race today. Dustin Dominguez runs 20th. Caboose on the field. This race is nearly over. Herrin leads Cardenas. Larry Pegram will likely score a podium.
Herrin's bike is still really jumpy. He's still going through trying to find good setups. But, he cannot get a hold of this bike right now. Maybe, it will be better in race two. Chris Clark and Roberto Pietri scrap for fifth. Geoff May is also there. This is another good battle, right off the lead. But, there only two laps remaining. Roberto Pietri has a new motorcycle for this season. One lap remains. Will it be Cardenas or Herrin? Pegram, is third, Eslick is fourth. Cardenas is sizing up Herrin.
Aaron Yates is actually coming back. It's Yates, Chris Fillmore, and Taylor Knapp. Knapp and Fillmore, are KTM team mates. Herrin runs wide. Is he challenging Cardenas? This is the last lap., and it will be the final corner. Cardenas drops a wheel, losing ground. It's going to be Herrin. Herrin wins Superbike race one!
#2 Josh Herrin Yamaha R1
What a great race. What a win for Josh Herrin. It was thought he was going to be a sitting duck. But, Cardenas' wheelie, is what made the difference. Herrin is champ in race one. Race two comes up on Sunday night, after the Daytona 200. So, the motorcycle action from Daytona, is far from over. Stay tuned, fans.
Josh Hayes is still the man to beat, after dominating last year, and winning the last three consecutive championship titles. The guy set records last year. However, there are some more good riders. Chris Ulrich, Dustin Dominguez, Martin Cardenas, and others, are in it to win it, this season. Martin Cardenas ran Superbikes a few years ago, but he's back. He ran Daytona Sportbike last year. Danny Eslick is now running for Michael Jordan Racing on the Suzuki. Aaron Yates is making his return to AMA Superbike after a big crash at Auto Club Speedway years ago.
The west banking has been eliminatied, but the back straight chicane (the Bus Stop) is still there. Many riders have fallen. But, it's been clean in practice and qualifying. Larry Pegram laid down his Yamaha, but qualified sixth. Martin Cardenas put in some good laps, too. Roger Hayden is back with his same Suzuki mount this year. Josh Herrin, is Josh Hayes' team mate. He passed Cardenas in qualifying, going for it. But, he was having handling issues with the bike through the washboard surface of turn six on the road course. Danny Eslick did a wheelie, and got into the wall. Josh Herrin brough him back to the pits.
The bikes are rolling off on their warmup lap. The bikes are behind the safety car, running their pace laps. They are taking up their starting places on the grid. This race will be 15 laps.
At the start, Josh Hayes gets a launch and so does Martin Cardenas. Roger Hayden crashes immediately into the grass. What happened? Oh. He got caught out in turn four, overcooked the corner, and slid off the bike. There is a gap between the two Monster Yamaha's. Hayes leads Herrin. Larry Pegram goes to fourth on the Yamaha. Chris Clark a nd others are gaining places. Twenty bikes started this race. These bikes fly down the straight and on the banking. They are twenty miles per hour faster than the Daytona Sportbikes that will run the Daytona 200 tomorrow.
Hayes and Herrin still run 1-2. Into the chicane, these two are hounding each other. Hayes goes very tightly into the double right hander on the back part of the course. He can't drift out to the dirty line. The emphasis is on the exit of the corner. Eslick, Chris Clark, and Geoff May are running up front. May might be the only EBR in Superbike this year. This is the 15th year for Chuck Graves and Yamaha. Graves is a former rider. Herrin runs a 1:37.748. He's quicker than Hayes.
Cardenas runs a 1:36 flat, and Larry Pegram, a 1:36.8. Josh Herrin takes the lead into the chicane. Five laps run, ten remain. Yamaha is having some issues. Josh Hayes is the one with issues on his bike. He did not pit. He needs points for the championship, right from the get go. Herrin runs a 1:38.9 and Martin Cardenas, a 1:38.3. He has pressure from Cardenas. Herrin runs a 1:37.5. Danny Eslick gets around Josh Hayes, but both bikes run off the road, slightly. Eslick was trying to pass through turns four and five. Hayes will pit. The three-time defending champion is in trouble. Cardenas wiggles, but holds onto the bike. Chief Mechanic Jim Roach, is looking at the handlebars, and the traction control system. But, Hayes' race is run. The engine is shut off.
Cardenas is running 4/10ths quicker than Herrin, and Herrin, is 2/10ths up on Larry Pegram. Cardenas eats 3/10ths of a second out of Herrin's lead. This race is half over. Pegram could get a podium place out of this. He's been racing for a long time, and he keeps going. His run with a BMW S1000RR was not too good last year. But, the Yamaha R1 seems to be fitting Pegram well. There's a giant battle for sixth. Chris Fillmore, Roberto Pietri, Geoff May, and others, are in it. Josh Hayes scores no points today. He'll come back for tomorrow's race.
Cardenas continues chasing Herrin. Larry Pegram, on an identical Yamaha, is still in this fight. Cardenas reels in Josh Herrin. He's getting better towards the end of the race. Five laps remain. Cardenas runs a 1:38.9. The pace is frantic. Herrin is unstable in the corners. He's got to finesse the throttle. Aaron Yates is way back. He's been in Superbike before, and has won a championship. But, he's not having a good race today. Dustin Dominguez runs 20th. Caboose on the field. This race is nearly over. Herrin leads Cardenas. Larry Pegram will likely score a podium.
Herrin's bike is still really jumpy. He's still going through trying to find good setups. But, he cannot get a hold of this bike right now. Maybe, it will be better in race two. Chris Clark and Roberto Pietri scrap for fifth. Geoff May is also there. This is another good battle, right off the lead. But, there only two laps remaining. Roberto Pietri has a new motorcycle for this season. One lap remains. Will it be Cardenas or Herrin? Pegram, is third, Eslick is fourth. Cardenas is sizing up Herrin.
Aaron Yates is actually coming back. It's Yates, Chris Fillmore, and Taylor Knapp. Knapp and Fillmore, are KTM team mates. Herrin runs wide. Is he challenging Cardenas? This is the last lap., and it will be the final corner. Cardenas drops a wheel, losing ground. It's going to be Herrin. Herrin wins Superbike race one!
#2 Josh Herrin Yamaha R1
What a great race. What a win for Josh Herrin. It was thought he was going to be a sitting duck. But, Cardenas' wheelie, is what made the difference. Herrin is champ in race one. Race two comes up on Sunday night, after the Daytona 200. So, the motorcycle action from Daytona, is far from over. Stay tuned, fans.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Daytona 200 preview
All the usual suspects in AMA Daytona Sportbike could be in contention to win the 72nd Daytona 200. Here is a preview of this weekend's race. The names in the article, should be familiar to fans who follow this blog.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-dsb-72nd-daytona-200-preview/P1
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-dsb-72nd-daytona-200-preview/P1
Monday, March 11, 2013
AMA SBK: Hayes vs. All Comers at Daytona
Will it be another brilliant, potential championship season for Josh Hayes in AMA Superbike this year? Here's a preview of the Daytona 200. Will Hayes equal and even surpass some of the great riders in AMA history this season? Only time will tell. The race broadcast times are in the article. Yours truly, will be watching, and blogging the races.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-hayes-vs-all-comers-at-daytona-opener/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-hayes-vs-all-comers-at-daytona-opener/
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Video: AMA SBK: Yamaha Daytona Teaser
Fans, are you ready for the Daytona 200 next weekend? Here's a preview video to light the fire for AMA 2013.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/video-ama-sbk-yamaha-daytona-teaser/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/video-ama-sbk-yamaha-daytona-teaser/
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
AMA DSB: ZX-6R Homologated For SportBike Competition
Kawasaki has officially homologated the 2013 version of it's ZX-6R sportbike for the AMA Daytona Sportbike division, so that racers, can actually race the bike. It is open to use not only in AMA sanctioned events, but in other professional or amateur motorcycle road racing championships as well.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-dsb-zx-6r-homologated-for-sportbike-competition/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-dsb-zx-6r-homologated-for-sportbike-competition/
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
AMA SBK: Yamaha USA Unveils '13 Livery
Check out the Yamaha USA livery for the 2013 AMA Superbike and Daytona Sportbike championships. It was released, today.
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-yamaha-usa-unveils-13-livery/
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-yamaha-usa-unveils-13-livery/
Monday, March 4, 2013
Darius Glover
I don't really follow motocross racing. But, this story is very inspiring. A motocross racer, who was paralyzed in a crash. But, he's come back from the crash, to ride again.
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/see-this-paralyzed-motocross-riders-inspiring-story/#continued
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/see-this-paralyzed-motocross-riders-inspiring-story/#continued
Saturday, March 2, 2013
In memoriam: Henny Ray Abrams (Cycle News)
Yours truly is relatively new to motorcycle racing, and writing about it. But, just came across this story. Well known motorcycle and motorcycle racing journalist Henny Ray Abrams, has died. Abrams wrote for Cycle News.
Abrams covered motorcycle racing for them for four decades. Links to the story, and to the magazine's website, are listed, here:
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-henny-ray-abrams-rip/
http://www.cyclenews.com/
Check out Cycle News. Rest In Peace, Henny Ray Abrams.
Abrams covered motorcycle racing for them for four decades. Links to the story, and to the magazine's website, are listed, here:
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-sbk-henny-ray-abrams-rip/
http://www.cyclenews.com/
Check out Cycle News. Rest In Peace, Henny Ray Abrams.
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