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/128205
mile race in one hour, 46 minutes and 57.051 seconds at a record-setting average speed of 113.8 mph. With his fourth victory, DuHamel is just one behind Russell in all-time Daytona 200 wins, moving out of a tie for fourth with three-time winners Brad Andres, Kenny Roberts and Roger Reiman. "My bike was really good," DuHamel said. "I was really relaxed out there, and my energy was really high because I didn't have to work that hard. On my second stint, I had like a four-second lead at one point. I was like, 'This is good; I can start pulling away and win like I did in '91.' But I couldn't do it. The tire started coming a bit hot, and I guess I was giving it too much stick. My times went from 50s to 51 sand 52 and a 53. I was like, 'Well, that's not good; that's not going to work.' Sure enough here comes Kurtis, Ben, Yates, Santa Claus ... everybody went by me. My biggest thing today was, I didn't panic, even if I was fourth and fifth. As happy as I am and the fact that I controlled my destiny, this is Daytona, and there's always a bit of luck involved. I'm just happy it went my way, and I'm happy there was a race on Monday. I'm batting a thousand on Monday, so I'd like to talk to the AMA about that." Ben's second place was his best ever in his three Daytona 200 appearances. "I'm definitely pleased," Ben said. "These guys rode so hard, it was amazing. We took off on that first tire, and I didn't get through the traffic so good, and I saw the boys getting away from me there. A big thanks to my guys for great pit stops. I came out, got in the thick of the race, and it basically came down to that third tire there. That was the deal. Kurtis looked real strong, and I knew Miguel was back there waiting to pounce. I didn't know what to do, and these guys let me lead on the last lap. I just put my head down and even tried to backshift into first going into the chicane to throw these guys off. They just hooked me up and went by. A big thanks to Honda. I just got outsmarted today, and congratulations If Scott Russell with five victories at the fabled track is Mr. Daytona. then DuHamel must be the Prince of Daytona. or Mr. Monday. DuHamel has now carded four victories at Daytona. two of them in the only two Monday Superbike races ever run at the venue. to Miguel for making it number four." Kurtis' third-place finish matched his best ever at Daytona, the youngest son of Kenny Roberts having finished third in 2001. Kurtis had ridden quite a race, leading early, then having a miscue at the chicane that dropped him well behind. He was some 12 seconds behind the leaders after that, and a slower than normal pit stop also cost him some time. Still, he rode hard and battled back. "We didn't have the best pit stop in the race," Kurtis explained. "I came out, and I was over 16 seconds behind Miguel, and I just put my head down. I was surprised to be leading there before I pitted again. I thought, 'Jeez, if I get another tire like this, I'll be gone.' I came out of the pits right in front of Ben and just couldn't get away with lappers and so on. Towards the end of the race you stop taking as many chances because you've made it that long. It's not worth it to win here if there's a chance you can fall off. I figured I'd take my chances riding with Miguel and Ben and see how it paid off. It didn't work quite to our advantage, but I can't say enough about my crew and the RC51. To sweep the first race of the year with the new 1000cc four-cylinders that have some horsepower... well, at least we won't hear everyone in the paddock crying about our bike. They've got the same ccs, so it's just time for them to go and do their homework." Rain wreaked havoc on the schedule for the 62nd running of the race, with Friday's activities rained out and rescheduled for Sunday. Though the 600cc Supersport and BMW Boxer Cup events did run on Sunday morning, the skies opened again on Sunetll:y l'fi'Or to the scheduled start of the 200 t:t!ius, the event was moved to ~day. Predictably, the spectator crowd for the race was well down, as the Bike Week crowd had already departed. Also predictably, Monday's weather was perfect. A day late. Under sunny skies, the 69-riderstrong field headed down Pit Lane a~rflade a 1~~et'tu'r1iinto turn ~o sta~~2nd D~ona 200 By rai ~ughly llf't5 a.m~d le~r mg the way was birthday Mladin a~d t~ig &loY _--Ii, Yoshimura Suzllkl._f ~~tr-I by =ream Ra' ''l.aJ.TY.... I'I~. Pegram"O{I"11is Dllcati. Pe ram'1hen g~ed tel d entering e iltefnational r Iy t . bad_~"""'~" --.. . ~