Sign Of The (Lap) Times: Daytona
Supercross Lites
There was no question who was the best Lites-class racer last Friday night inside Daytona International Speedway, as Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ben Townley laid the fastest 250F lap time of the night, which came on lap four of the 15-lap main event. Team Honda’s Tommy Hahn had his breakout race in the tri-oval as well, finishing second to the former world champion. Hahn’s fastest lap was just over a half-second slower than BT101, and Red Bull KTM’s Mike Alessi, who finished third was third fastest.
Finish
|
Best Lap Time
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
1
|
1:13.379 |
Ben Townley
|
Kawasaki
|
2
|
1:13.949 |
Honda
|
|
3
|
1:14.641 |
KTM
|
|
8
|
1:15.194 |
Branden Jesseman
|
Yamaha
|
4
|
1:15.273 |
Honda
|
|
7
|
1:15.504 |
KTM
|
|
5
|
1:15:556 |
Yamaha
|
|
9
|
1:15.707 |
Honda
|
|
6
|
1:15.868 |
Darcy Lange
|
Kawasaki
|
12
|
1:16.024 |
Yamaha
|
|
10
|
1:16.447 |
Yamaha
|
|
11
|
1:16.625 |
Honda
|
|
15
|
1:16.664 |
Yamaha
|
|
17
|
1:16.693 |
Yamaha
|
|
13
|
1:16.803 |
Kawasaki
|
|
19
|
1:16.846 |
Robert Marshall
|
Kawasaki
|
20
|
1:17.662 |
Kyle Tobin
|
Yamaha
|
14
|
1:17.678 |
Kawasaki
|
|
21
|
1:17.796 |
Andrew McFarlane
|
Suzuki
|
19
|
1:18.022 |
Greg Schnell
|
Honda
|
But unlike the other supercross tracks, Daytona seemed to suit the 450cc machines much better, as Townley’s fastest lap is only seventh fastest in the AMA Supercross class.
Jesseman was on the gas in Daytona
Biggest surprise: PPG/Motoworldracing.com Yamaha’s Branden Jesseman. Branden’s speed shouldn’t really be a surprise, though, as Jesseman is the 2003 Eastern Regional 125cc SX champion (and he might have won this race that year if not for a bunch of crashes). Unfortunately a few mistakes cost Jesseman some time here too, and he finished eighth. He should be on the podium soon.
Supercross class
It looked like the streak was in danger of ending in Daytona. What streak am I talking about? The one that Monster Energy Kawasaki’s James Stewart has by setting the fastest main event lap time at every race this season. Chad Reed was the fastest rider in practice, giving him the first gate selection for the qualifiers, but Reed struggled to find that speed in the main event, as both #7 and #4 posted lap times over a second faster than the San Manuel Yamaha rider. In fact, Stewart’s average lap time of 1:11.977 was almost faster than Reed’s absolute fastest lap time! Be that as it may, Stewart was untouchable on the rough Daytona circuit, and with RC finishing between him and Reed, Stewart extends his lead in the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross series.
Finish
|
Best Lap Time
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
1
|
1:09.897 |
Kawasaki
|
|
2
|
1:10.130 |
Suzuki
|
|
3
|
1:11.433 |
Yamaha
|
|
4
|
1:12.528 |
Kawasaki
|
|
5
|
1:12.586 |
Honda
|
|
9
|
1:13.299 |
Honda
|
|
6
|
1:14.308 |
Suzuki
|
|
10
|
1:14.801 |
Honda
|
|
7
|
1:15.015 |
Yamaha
|
|
8
|
1:15.259 |
David Vuillemin
|
Honda
|
13
|
1:16.293 |
Honda
|
|
12
|
1:16.491 |
Suzuki
|
|
11
|
1:16.510 |
Honda
|
|
18
|
1:17.326 |
Eric Sorby
|
Kawasaki
|
15
|
1:17.483 |
Kevin Johnson
|
Yamaha
|
16
|
1:17.564 |
Honda
|
|
17
|
1:17.837 |
Honda
|
|
14
|
1:17.907 |
Kyle Lewis
|
Honda
|
19
|
1:20.847 |
Kawasaki
|
|