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/128602
Miguel DuHamel BY PAUL CARRUTHERS PHOTOS BY HENNY RAY ABRAMS tm\ he image of Miguel DuHamel getting on and off .~ his RC45 during Bike Week at Daytona last year is one that won't go away. When he would mount the bike by himself, he would take his left leg and lift it over the seat with his arms. When things really got bad, his crew would step in and pick up his entire body to remove him from his motorcycle. DuHamel was a physical wreck, and the fact that he was even riding was miraculous. The fact that he went out and won both the 600cc Supersport final and the Daytona 200 on the same day was nothing short of phenomenal - the stuff from which legends are made. As far as the Daytona 200 goes, DuHamel is definitely a legend. His victory in the Daytona 200 last year was his third and a win in this year's race would put him just one shy of Mr. Daytona himself, Scott Russell. This year, DuHamel faces another challenge as he attempts to win the race on the new Honda RC51 Vtwin, a brand new bike that is expected to go through some teething problems early in the season. And let's not forget that DuHamel is coming back from injury again after having suffered a broken leg (yes, the same one) in a crash at Road Atlanta last year. But counting out DuHamel is always a risky thing to do. Last year he didn't stand a chance in hell of winning the Daytona 200, but he did. And against much bigger odds than just showing up with a brand-new motorcycle. We caught up with the winningest rider in AMA Superbike history between workouts as he prepared for the 200 at his home away from home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Q A So the number-one question on everyone's mind is: How good is this Honda RCS1? lt's really good. I've only had a very short experience with it, but it's all been terrific. 1 think it's definitely looking good. The only bad thing is that I feel I left a lot of wins and maybe some championships on the table because of getting injured the past couple of years with the RC45. That bike was so good, but I find it very comforting that the RC51 is by no means a step backwards. The bike is definitely going forward and it works really well. How much time have you actually spent 'ding the new bike? Very little. At the Daytona tire test I did a few laps. The day that I had the bike to myself, I was pretty sick and didn't do very well - but I still got some laps on it. Basically, we didn't even touch the bike, didn't change anything. Then we had a mixture of testing and media day at Willow Springs. and it was pretty cold and even started raining - so we got maybe 10, 151aps out of the bike. And they weren't quality laps, so it's still very early in the game for us. A Q Does one thing stand out as being the most different when you compare the RCS1 to the RC4S? The funny thing is how similar they are for bikes that are completely different - as far as one being a V-four and the other being a V-twin. They're quite similar. They're both easy to ride, really stable. The RC51 seems to be a little taller than the RC45, but besides that -with the limited amount of time I've been on it - they seem similar. A Does it make you more confident when you hear how successful Honda's tests have been with the World Superbike team? Definitely. Putting that with the lap times I was able to do at Daytona, and knowing the bike was working there. There seems to be nothing but good things coming from the bike this year. Also, my skin's been toughened up quite a bit from 1994 when we tested at the end of the season with the RC45. We were able to turn that bike into something special, and I think this bike is a leap forward. Q IS it unrealistic to think that you can compete at Daytona this year? Q I don't think so. I think Honda has put a lot of effort and a lot of work into this machine. It has performed right out of the box, so we'll see. The Daytona 200 has always been a race that really tests both the man and the machine, so it will be a hell of a baptism for the first race of the season. I'm very confident in Honda Japan and I'm also very confident in my team here at American Honda. For Day- A tona, you always need a strong and powerful engine. Honda is confident that the bike will do really well in that area at Daytona. As far as the chassis goes, right off the bat I did some 51 s on the new bike and that pretty much shows that the chassis is pretty good. I didn't even complain or change anything. AS far as your team goes, you have a completely new cast of mechanics for 2000. How has that been thus far? Everything is going really good. John Ethell and Mitch Leonard are working really well and Ray [Plumb - the crew chiefj has been stepping it up quite a bit to help the guys get their sea legs with the team. For sure Daytona will be a big jump for everyone because it will be our first race together. I think patience on both my side and the mechanics side is necessary for this. Q A Next to Scott Russell, you're the most successful of the modern-day racers in the Daytona 200. Is there a reason for that? Do you have a mastery over Daytona International Speedway? l know I have a love affair with the racetrack and place itself that goes way back. It's just really special for me to be out there to try and win it and we've been fortunate to have those three victories. Stamina-wise, I think I'm pretty strong and my 24hour endurance race experience from Europe may help. I just think that being highly motivated goes a long way for me at Daytona. If I'm not winning the race, I've been very competitive. I always seem to be up there. Daytona is so special that anything less than a podium - or first place - is a disappointment. There is only one way to savor Daytona fully and that's from the highest step of the podium. Q A 16 MARCH 1, 2000' c u e I e ne"".