On-track action opened at Daytona International Speedway in Florida on Thursday, March 7, in preparation for Saturday’s scheduled 82nd running of the 200-mile motorcycle road race on the 5.65km course. The opening race of the MotoAmerica season, but not a points round of the middleweight Supersport category, Daytona has enjoyed a rebirth since a change in rules, sanction and tire requirements in 2022.
Twelve Canadians were scheduled to compete, the strongest entry ever from North of the border, and it looks like nine or ten will make the race. As well, racers from other countries and classes, with non-spec-tire Dunlop rubber choices, have made this a race with a full selection of potential victors.
Thursday featured one morning practice session for each of the two groups that will form the grid for the 57-lap race, and then a longer Q session in the late afternoon’s cooling conditions in a warm and sunny day at the Speedway.
The slower “B” group was up first, with many of the Canadians grouped together. Third overall and top Canuck of the session was Sebastien Tremblay at 1:55.8 on his borrowed Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja backed by Turcotte Performance, Seb overall pleased with his progress in his second appearance at the unusual tri-oval focused venue.
Right behind was rookie Pro Mavrick Cyr in fourth, having also run last fall in CCS action along with Tremblay. Aboard his R2R Rizzin-backed Triumph, Cyr looked unintimated among strong company in his career first MotoA effort.
Fifth in the session went to Alex Coelho with his MTRS Kawasaki, up to speed quickly at a track where he has shown well previously. Quebec City’s Sam Guerin was next up in sixth, offering a strong start with a borrowed Kawasaki in his debut in the class and circuit.
Seventh in Group B went to Brad Macrae with his Mac Yamaha YZF, scrambling to get the correct bodywork to match the homologation pieces for his era of R6. Macrae got help from fellow Yamaha racer Matt Simpson, and long-time supporter “Jammin’ Jeff” Williams rushed to Orlando to get another set of appropriate glass fibre, as Macrae’s father planned a painting effort for the chosen bright yellow/green livery.
The sixth and last of a strong group of CSBK racers, all supported by Bridgestone, was Alex Michel, the 20-year-old another seemingly unintimidated by the famed Speedway. Simpson struggled with figuring out the track’s first Horseshoe turn, but still earned 18th in Group B.
Next up, after an oil clean up or two and a fire at the Chicane (first race of the season, and, you know…Daytona), was the awaited “A” Group featuring the Team Battlax Suzukis of Ben Young and Trevor Daley, as well as the Econo Lube supported Warhorse works Ducati Panigale of Trevor Dion.
When the dust settled on a hectic opener, Dion was quickest of the group in 21st with a tour at 1:52.08, while Young was 25th (1:52.8) and Daley 27th with a best of 1:53.6. All were out for most of the session, with Young fast but not as quick as he expected. Daley caught up to Young late in the red-interrupted running.
Best of all was the Suzuki of Richie Escalante, an almost winner last year, at 1:48.9 – his best effort of last year was the existing lap record of 1:48.133. Escalante’s archrival from last year, victor Josh Herrin, was second overall in the combined results with the lead Warhorse Ducati, while the second Vision Wheels M4 Suzuki of double previous victor Brandon Paasch scooped third.
After lunch, Qualifying got underway with Group “A” up first, a session surely to produce the top time of the opening day. The works Suzukis were working the slip stream together, with Escalante earning top time of 1:47.833, a new lap record with Q2 and Time Attack to follow tomorrow. Tyler Scott on another top GSX-R750 had held top spot initially, and wound up second overall, but a big crash late in the session is a worry.
Hayden Gillim contradicted those who think he is too big to run at the front, setting third best time on the Vesrah Suzuki.Herrin was fourth, with much more expected tomorrow.
Young improved to 18th, even though both he and teammate Daley were experiencing front brake issues – an area of focus for the crew heading to Daytona. Dion was 26th and suffered a fall entering the infield about halfway through the session. 27th went to Daley.
In Group “B,” Tremblay was fourth (1:54.3) followed closely by Guerin in fifth, Macrae in sixth and then eight placed Cyr. 16th went to Michel, with Simpson 20th and Coelho unable to register a time after falling and getting run over exiting the first Horseshoe.
However, mandatory post Q tech was offered to several entries in Parc Ferme, and both Tremblay and quickest in Group “B” Diego Perez were DQ’d. Spanish ace Perez had been fast in the morning before a crash and fire in the Chicane forced him onto a back-up rental machine.
While no information was immediately available about the reasons for the rulings from MotoAmerica, it seemed likely the Tremblay ruling involved missing elements of the stock bodywork. Tremblay will need to set a time on Friday.
When the sessions were combined to establish the day’s overall running order, Guerin earned 33rd, Macrae moved to 34th, Cyr is 37th, Michel 45th and Simpson 49th. All these racers look well within the mandated 110 percent Rule.
In summary, illustrating a significant increase in pace year to year, 30 racers got into the 1:57s (or lower) last year, and so far, this year 52 competitors are at that pace, at least. This is a deep field.
On Thursday of 2023, eventual top Canadian in the 200 Elliot Vieira was 29th on a rented Yamaha, a similar result to Daley’s today. The main difference: Daley’s best lap was just over four seconds faster. There is even more to come.
- From Colin Fraser / Presented by AIM Insurance
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