Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

"The top two bikes were a little too strong for me today," Rose said. "1 was able to use the draft to nail down third on the final lap. I suffered through a couple of big slides in the early laps. That's one of the reasons r couldn't stay with the leaders. I definitely wanted to get a podium finish. That was my goal. I'm racing the entire series, so it's a good start to the season." Rose had won the first of the two three-lap EBC Brakes Sport Bike heats, using a draft pass on the run to th.e finish to beat Hayes. Rose led on the second and third laps before Hayes drafted by him entering the chicane. Second was the place to be for the run onto the East Banking, and Ro e made the right move. "The bike is running real good, and we had a great race," Rose said after winnihg by 0.353 seconds. ''It's going to be a little bit tougher tomorrow, but we're going to dig down deep and see what we can do." The second heat-race win went to Saeby. His win over Penguin Racing School's Eric Wood was even closer: 0.202 seconds after he, too, used a slingshot at the line for the win. "It feels great," Saeby said of being on the front row for the next day's race. '1t's crazy. It's my best Daytona. I can't describe how happy I am." Hayes got the jump in the main, taking Saeby with him, while the 48-rider field strung out behind them. The race quickly developed into a series of mini-races: Hayes and Saeby; Rose and Harrington, with Owen Weichel there for a while; and McGrath Racing's David McGrath against MLD Surfboards' Michael Luke. Because of the power of his Yamaha, Saeby wa n't letting go of Hayes; neither was he passing him. He stayed in his shadow the entire race and was in a perfect spot to make a move on the final -lap when they hit the backmarker in the econd horseshoe. Hayes chose a wide, outside line around the lapper, and it worked. Saeby thought he'd try to duck under him but was fatally balked when the lapper moved down and cut off his line. It gave Hayes enough ground to make sure that Saeby couldn't catch his draft, and he sped to the win. The battle for the final spot on the podium went back and forth. Harrington and Rose took turns in the spot, as their bikes were evenly matched. On the final lap, Harrington led going out of the infield and down the back straight, and that would prove to be a mistake. Rose took advantage of the draft and a strong tail wind to jump by Harrington down the front straight. The Suzuki-mounted Weichel, who looked like he was' 10 ing the tail end of the figh t for fifth, recovered nicely on the sixth lap and caught back up to Suzuki-mounted McGrath and Honda rider Luke. Heading onto the banking on the penultimate lap, Weichel was in fifth - a spot he'd hold to the finish. McGrath and Luke finished in his wake. The procession behind began with Chicago Performance Racing/Yamaha's Ken Krebs in eighth, followed by the Kawasakis of Emanuel Manusuthakis and Cliffords Cycles' James Milroy. _ Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida Results: February 28, 1999 (Round 1 of 7) EBC BRAKES SIJQRTBrKE: 1. Joshun Kurt Hayes (Suz); 2. Thorvald Saeby (Yam); 3. David Joseph Rose (Suz); 4. Todd Harrington (Kaw); S. Owen Weichel (Han); 6. David McGrath (Suz): 7. Michael Luke (Hon); 8. Ken Krebs (Yam); 9. Emanuel Manusuthakis (Kaw); 10. James Milroy (Kaw); 11. Mich.ael Barnes (Hon); 12. Scott Ackerman (Suz); 13. Brian Liven.sood (Suz); 14. Kenneth Snyder (Suz); 15. Kris Clubb (Kaw); 16. Steve Johnson (Suz); 17. Dave Rosno (Kaw); 18. Michael Fitzpatrick (Kaw); 19. Mark McCormick (Kaw); 20, Mark l....1wson (Hon); 21. Ryan Bank's (}(aw); 22. Brett Two of the top three finishers were disqualified from the Harley-Davidson Twin Sports final: race winner Jell Johnson (93) and third-place finisher Richie Morris (55). The win ended up going to second-place finisher Randy Texter (65), with Mike Ciccotto (11) moving up to second. Johnson (Suz); 23. Ed Bartoli

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