DAYTONA BEACH — You assume the Daytona 500 is a novel occasion inside
In sure elements, it has nothing on its two-wheeled companion, the which roars to life for the 83rd time Saturday afternoon at 1:10 — 57 laps across the 3.51-mile Daytona Worldwide Speedway street course.
Bike racing in Daytona Seaside — or on Daytona Seaside, to be extra correct — goes again so far as stock-car racing right here. Effectively, nearly — the primary beach-and-road auto race was in 1936, with the primary Daytona 200 the following 12 months.
NASCAR moved off the seaside and to the large new Speedway in 1959, whereas the cycles adopted two years later and, throughout the motorcycle-racing business, the Daytona 200 matched the five hundred’s esteem. However over time, technological advances interfered — will increase in horsepower and the hundreds placed on the skinny cycle tires weren’t suitable with the 31-degree Daytona banking.
DAYTONA CYCLE SCHEDULE
The evolution took a number of turns and the Daytona 200 wound up an outlier in at this time’s cycle racing. It’s the one race lengthy sufficient to mandate pit stops. And since engine-vs.-tire points by no means went away, Daytona’s race doesn’t even function the highest bikes of the large American sanctioning physique — MotoAmerica. As a substitute of the top-tier Superbikes, the Daytona subject might be made up of the SuperSport division.
As a substitute of topping out at 210 to 220 miles per hour by the tri-oval, the highest speeds are within the 180 vary.
Daytona 200 maintains its standing in cycle world
If all that seems like a downer, don’t be fooled. It’s nonetheless Daytona, there’s nonetheless a Rolex for the winner’s wrist, and riders across the globe appear to be taking a renewed curiosity.
“I have a look at it just like the NASCAR guys have a look at the five hundred,” says Josh Herrin. “It’s an excellent vital race to me. Been round it since I used to be a child. Been round it since 2006. All the fellows in Europe used to actually like coming and racing right here, and it’s beginning to develop into that once more.”
Herrin is partial for an excellent purpose. He first gained the Daytona 200 in 2010, and 13 years later, he gained it once more. Then he gained it once more final 12 months, and whereas a number of riders have loved runs of Daytona dominance, Herrin is hoping to develop into the primary back-to-back-to-back Daytona 200 champ.
“Daytona is simply such a particular place,” Herrin says. “I get goosebumps simply speaking about it. It truly is the World Middle of Racing.”
Herrin must earn a 3rd straight Daytona win Saturday. The sector consists of riders from six international locations upon 5 completely different makes of bike. Among the many entries are a pair of greats who constructed their legends within the famed Isle of Man races — Englishman Peter Hickman and North Eire’s Michael Dunlop, the Isle of Man’s all-time race winner with 29.
“It looks as if individuals from Europe, the Daytona 200 is what they learn about American racing,” Herrin says. “It’s Daytona, you realize.”
Herrin likens the name-associating facet to the model of bike he at the moment mounts.
“Daytona is type of like Ducati,” he says. “Since I’ve been with Ducati, it doesn’t matter who you’re speaking to. In the event that they ask, ‘What do you do?’ and I say ‘I race bikes,’ they ask what sort of bike. I’ll say Ducati they usually’ll say, ‘I do know that, that’s so cool.’ For those who say every other model, greater than probably, they’re not that .
“Similar with tracks. With race tracks, right here in America, I feel there are two tracks which might be family names in bike racing — Laguna Seca and Daytona. These are the 2 tracks in our sport … you’ll be able to say these two names to anyone they usually know what you’re speaking about.”
What time is it? Time to win a Rolex Daytona
There’s one other model on the market changing into fairly synonymous with Daytona: Rolex. It was once, the famed Rolex Daytona watch was solely given to winners of the Rolex 24. Is smart. However in recent times, Rolex’s relationship with Daytona has elevated and now all Daytona winners — on 4 wheels or two — get a watch.
Herrin desires a 3rd.
Seems, the custom hadn’t but began when he gained his first Daytona 15 years in the past. In 2010, Herrin’s profitable share of the general prize purse was lower than $10,000, however contractual bonuses by his producer and different sponsors introduced him a payday of $150,000.
“Again then, you solely acquired the Rolex if you happen to gained the pole, and I wasn’t superb at qualifying,” Herrin says. “However the final two instances I gained, I acquired the watch. It doesn’t matter how a lot cash somebody throws at you, the watch undoubtedly means extra to me than any amount of cash I’ve been given to race.”
Daytona Cycle Racing Schedule for Friday
Inside Speedway
1:45 p.m.: Mission Tremendous Hooligan Race 1
2:30: SC Undertaking Twins Cup Race
3:05: King of the Baggers Race 1
Daytona Flat Observe
7 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies
7:15: AFT Singles Warmth 1
7:20: AFT Singles Warmth 2
7:25: AFT SuperTwins Warmth 1
7:30: AFT SuperTwins Warmth 2
7:35: Royal Enfield BTR Warmth
8: AFT Singles LCQ
8:05: AFT SuperTwins LCQ
8:10: AFT SuperTwins Mission #2Fast2Tasty Problem
8:15: Royal Enfield BTR Essential Occasion
8:45: AFT Singles Essential Occasion
9:15: AFT SuperTwins Essential Occasion
Daytona schedule for Saturday
Inside Speedway
10:20 a.m.: Mission Tremendous Hooligan Nationwide Championship Race 2
11: SC-Undertaking Twins Cup Race 2
1:10 p.m.: Daytona 200 (57 laps)
4:05: Mission King of the Baggers Race 2 (8 laps)
