Daytona 200 results

[merv]

Ha you gotta pick a prefix here well I guess Daytona is in the North island of the Americas.

Anyway, the Daytona 200 results are interesting - see here http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Mar/sp2/080308b.htm its basically for 600's these days but the 848 were there too and the BMW HP2 racer.

Geez and then the first placed Honda was disqualified http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Mar/080308jhdqt.htm

As expected they are appealing http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Mar/080309a.htm

[BarryG]

It was a difficult day, cold and windy as hell, altho' the winds has dropped a bit by race time. The Superbike race was supposed to go off as the curtain raiser, but it took about three friggin' hours to get some airfence re-attached as it had blown off and they couldn't seem to get it to stay in place. I wandered the pits for a couple of hours during the delay, which was a nice way to spend the morning. They finally changed the schedule and the Supebikes ran after the 200.
Hayes and Zemke were in charge from early on. Miguel's bike crapped out on the second lap, he got on his spare and ran hard from the back of the field to second, but all along I was wondering 'he can't do that, can he?' and sure enough, no he couldn't, and he got the black flag about 10 laps from the end. Hodgson looked good, kept Hayes honest for a long time, then had a bit of a moment at the chicane, and dropped off about 30 seconds, still second tho', then that Honda stopped on him with three laps to go. Zemke had a big problem with the back wheel at the first pit stop, lost three laps, but when he finally got back into it was as fast as anyone. Chaz Davies rode a good race, Rapp not quite as quick, Pegram quick and steady on the 848. The unlikley BMW HP2's were a surprise, and sounded great. Two went out in the first few laps, both crashed, and it didn't look promising, but the other two hung on for 6th and 7th, so they'll be well chuffed about that.
Not so chuffed will be Josh Hayes and Erion, won on the road, dq'd in tech, leaving Chaz with the win. It's not particularly satisfying for anyone when this happens.
Superbike race predictible, Mladin and Spies off in the distance, altho' Desalvo did well to bring the Yamaha into 3rd. Miguel crashed, Hodgson nearly did(!), so not a good day for Honda all round, really.
A word of advice for anyone going to watch a race at Daytona - watch some of the race from the infield at the banking, where the bikes come out of the chicane and head towards the pit banking. You'll be stunned by the speed, the amount the riders are bouncing around flat on the tank, and the movement of the bikes as they pound along a few feet from the top wall. It will make you realise the riders must have nuts the size of watermelons, believe me. Most impressive.
Cheers
Barry

[denill]

A word of advice for anyone going to watch a race at Daytona - watch some of the race from the infield at the banking, where the bikes come out of the chicane and head towards the pit banking. You'll be stunned by the speed, the amount the riders are bouncing around flat on the tank, and the movement of the bikes as they pound along a few feet from the top wall. It will make you realise the riders must have nuts the size of watermelons, believe me. Most impressive.
Cheers
Barry

It must have been awesome to be there. Specially to watch Miladin. That man is a MACHINE. He must be amongst the most focussed, totally committed sportsmen in history.
Suzuki would have been well rewarded had they given him a GP ride. He only knows how to be first.