Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126950
Seven-time British Champion Roger Marshall will ride a Suzuki as he leads a group of Europeans in the Daytona 200. DAYTONA. INVASION By Paul Fowler Photos by Phil Masters . In Europe, where 500cc twostroke road racing is still regarded as the ultimate track challenge, superbikes are booming. Which is curious since there are few places to race one.. This was to have been the year of the big worldwide superbike kicko[[, the year when the U.S.-inspired World Championship Superbike Road Race Series got 0[[ the ground to replace the World Championship Formula One Series. However, last minute lobbying by those with Formula One bikes they didn't want to become obsolete overnight saved that series and superbikes were put on the back burner, the series postponed for a year. But despi te the last minute reprieve for Formula One (not to be confused with the now defunC[ American Formula One, but a more street bikebased series with a heavy four-stroke bias), the European interest in superhikes is booming... Despite their disappointment at the fact that it'll be at least a year before there is a major international championship series for them to contest, European riders are gearing up for the inevitable. Trouble is, where to race? For many there'll be but one outing this year on their bikes in superbike form - the Daytona 200. Following the Florida classic most of the bikes will be converted to conform with one or another of the many varied European formulas from Germany's own Superbike to Britain's Superstock series. Roger !\o'arshall will ride a Skoal Bandit GSXR. Many in Europe predicted that Daytona would go right down the tubes once the U.S. Formula One bikes were replaced in the 200 by superbikes. But this year the interest across the Atlantic is keener than ever. Britain is providing both the biggest and the classiest of the European visitors this year. Seven-time British champ Roger Marshall was the number one casualty of Honda Britain's sudden decision to pull out ofracing last winter. Marshall, who at 36 reckons he's racing better than ever, switched to Suzuki and his main job will be to capture the final World Championship Formula One title for them. But Daytona is high on the list of his priorities. "There's always been that little bit of magic about Daytona and it's a victory that I'd dearly love to have to .my name," said Marshall who'll be racing the bike that Kork Ballington rode at Daytona last season, alongside Skoal Bandit Suzuki teammate Paul Iddon who proved his mettle by taking the runner-up slot in the Wotld Championship Formula One Series. Talented young Kenny [rons, the man who won the British Superstock Championship last season, was to have joined them for Suzuki but he's