Going for the W: Daytona
Thursday, March 3, 2011 | 4:20 PM
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PrintDaytona has changed, folks. We need to look at it a little differently from here on out. The circuit has undergone quite a few changes, as the old design was more of natural track with long lap times, ruts, braking bumps and square edges. Today’s setup looks more like a traditional supercross. There’s some buzz right now over lap times going over a minute this weekend, which will give us twenty riders and twenty minutes. But I can remember watching a 30 man Daytona main event being roughly around 35 minutes! It was a real test of both speed and fitness, and that’s why names like Hannah, Stanton, Keidrowski and Carmichael won so much at the fabled car track. It just wasn’t a true supercross.
Nowadays a different crew builds the track. Carmichael lends his assistance for the layout, and it’s built by a man who surprisingly never won Daytona, three-time AMA 125 National and one-time AMA SX Champion Mark Barnett. Today’s Daytona features much shorter lap times, a 20-man main event and is now closer to last week’s Atlanta SX then we have ever seen before. The teams all run their supercross set-ups, the ruts aren’t as deep anymore and the races are run at night, not under the hot sun like it used to be. So using the old criteria of who’s a great motocross rider or who’s in the best shape doesn’t work so much anymore. So in looking at Daytona now, who’s going for the W this Saturday night?
Can Villopoto make it two in a row at Daytona?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Last year Ryan Villopoto won the race pretty handily and that wasn’t really much of a surprise. Although he’s been hurt and hasn’t been able to race much outdoors on a 450, RV can ride the berms, as his three Motocross Lites titles attest to. He’s rides with the rear of the motorcycle, he uses the throttle for control and simply wicks it on coming out of the turns. There’s a lack of precision in his riding, which is something that Daytona suits.
How will Stewart rebound after a crazy race in the A-T-L?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
James Stewart has won Daytona once (2007), but has also had a tough time at the track with an ugly first turn crash in 2009, and in 2006 he went flying over a berm and somehow did not get hurt. So there have been highs and lows for JS7 at the oval. He’s the most creative rider out there and when Daytona does get some square-edges and chop in it, Stewart’s the man who can look at something and figure out a different rhythm to save himself from an impact.
Reed has had success at Daytona, will this year be any different?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
There’s something about Daytona that Chad Reed loves, no doubt about that. Last year he came out rusty (Daytona marked his return to the scene after his Phoenix crash, and he was nursing a newly-cracked thumb from a crash days before) and still set the fastest time in practice. The pits were buzzing with anticipation of the main event, but he determined he wasn’t ready and parked the Kawasaki after practice. Reed has won Daytona three times and probably should have a fourth if it wasn’t for his Yamaha getting bogged down in all that water back in 2008. He loves the track and with his newfound speed the last few weeks, he’ll be right there on Saturday night.
Canard should be in the mix at Daytona after a podium finish last year.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Trey Canard has certainly been fast this season, but small rookie mistakes have been hurting him. He’s won a race this year and most everyone would agree that he should have some better results this year if you rated the guys on speed alone. Canard won Daytona in 2008 on a 250F and last season, in his fill-in rides on the Honda CRF450, he made the box with a solid third. You want to make a big splash for the Red Riders? Win the Daytona Supercross presented by Honda on a Honda.
Will Dungey get his first win of the season at Daytona.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Ryan Dungey is looking for his first win of the year and what better place to get it than Daytona? He’s never won there (second last year and tenth in 2008 when he was part-timer on the 450), but with his fitness, the grassy Florida dirt he’s used to and the fact that the champ has to win at least once race this year, well, doesn’t it seem like he’s due for one here?
Let’s do the math here. There have been eight races so far this year, which puts forty top five finishes up for grabs. And through eight races, the five guys above have taken 35 out of those 40 spots. Safe to say these five are the main contenders for the 2011 Daytona SX win.
So who’s it going to be? That’s what makes today’s Daytona so hard to figure. In the past you’d start looking at this race as a preview of the motocross season, with riders running outdoor setups and flexing some muscle near the 30-minute mark. Today, it’s still different, but much closer, to a typical supercross. And that’s good news right now, because we’ve seen five riders who are capable of taking the win on any given Saturday.
I’m really looking forward to seeing who takes this thing home and if you can’t be there in person, it’s live on SPEED TV on Saturday night. And as good of a season that this has been, keep in mind that’s it only half-way over after this!
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GO RV!!!
1. RV
2. JS
3. TC
4. CR
5. RD
JS
RV
TC
RD
CR
Have to go with JS,,,, he's a Florida Boy....
Would love to see them start 1-5 and have at it!!! Don't have a gut feeling yet on this race which is odd for me. Thats a good thing I guess too though. Can't F IN WAIT!!!
1. CR
2.TC
3, RV
4. RD
5. Shorty
7. ROX
8. JB
9. MA
10. DM
OH crap Stewart he semiretired and went to NASCAR!! jk (he'll be top 5)
I agree with BILLC, we know RV2 is fast outdoors, and Reed has killed on this track, 3 wins, should have been 4 but his bike sucked in water. And Stewie is probably still pissed after last week and has been killing starts. So its a who knows kind of week. But if they go 1-5 at the start, I will be thrilled.
RV
CR
RD
TC
BM
Stewart crashes out and barely makes top ten
I think it's a real shame they pulled the track design from Gary Bailey to stay "politically correct" and distance themselves from his legal situation a few years back. Gary made the track different, rough and gnarly and that's what made Daytona so special for us fans - his touch and personal link to the old style tracks. Normally I would think Stewart would have a huge advantage on this track but since he hasn't raced the nationals the last 2 years, it's anybodys race kind of like this whole awesome season so far. Great year to be an SX fan!
I would like to make a prediction but honestly cannot!! Thats the thing about this season, with 4 different winners this far and as crazy as it's been, it's nearly impossible to get a gut on it!! Is it Dungey's turn???????
Daytona win list 1. CR
2.RV
3.TC
4.KW
5.JS after a first turn crash
6.AS
JS
CR
RV
RD
TC
Just like atlanta without the big crash.
It will be Stewart on three accounts: If he holeshots, doesnt crash or gets taken out like in Atlanta! Stewart is the fastest but not always the smartest. This is what RV was talking about! Reed has a chance because he is more consistent when it comes to staying up and not crashing. RV needs a start. If he holeshots, he will have a chance. IF he holeshots with Stewart in second and Reed in third at the start, its anybody's game!
JS
CR
RV
TC
RD
Normally I'd say Daytona is Reed's track, but since RC chopped the track up so badly and half the racers may wipe out in the first corner, it will probably be anyone's game. I'm trying not to be negative, but that Daytona layout that RC did looks just terrible in every way. Hope I'm wrong and the racing is good, but I always remember Daytona as a great fast track that's good for passing and for the first time, it doesn't look like that way.
As long as JS doesnt hit and/or land on anyone else this weekend its gonna be him all the way! Hes proven all season so far he is the fastest man on the planet!
JS
CR
RV
RD
TC
It could be a good race for several riders. I think we will get a surprise this weekend. Anything can happen at Daytona
i dont know who will win, but i hope there are some battles and passes going on for 20 laps.
1. RV
2. CR
3. JS
4. RD
5. TC
1. CR
2. TC
3. RD
4. RV
5. KW
6. JS
Matthes, I agree with you about RV's style but, I think it's as much a function of the nature of those beastly Kawasakis that he rides off the back. No predictions other than the KTM's being fired up w/ Roczen on the line and with last weeks drama, should be a doozy!
Podium:
What I think is possible:
RV
CR
JS
What I think is probable:
RV
JS
CR
Assuming all the players get decent starts. Bad start or going down on start then all bets off.
Miguel,
Really? The top two in points and you have them that far down? Tell me you anticipate a crash because otherwise how do you honestly predict that? Or are you just throwing up want you want to see happen. :-)
James S.
RV
Skippy reed
RDun
Ivan Teds
A.short
RV better get his start togenther or say by by to JS,,,, CR better get his start together or its 4th place because TC gets good starts and can stay in front he has the stamina. RD may have a chance if and only if he holeshots... if RV is in the top 3 @ the first turn he will win, does anyone remember last year even JS stated he'd never seen anyone go that fast on a motorcycle RV obliterated the field.....
no body will beat rv2 at daytona or outdoors thats his thing hes not bad at supercross eather !!!
Of course Reed loves Daytona, thats where he undeservingly got points for 7th place, which he should have gotten 0, he DNF'd, who cares that he lapped all those riders, which part of DNF does the AMA not understand... If Reed would have got N0 points that day, KW would have been the 2008 SX champion.
So yeah Reed needs to bend over backwards for that track..
LIVE!?! I wish what changed? The schedule Racerx posted has it playing on Sunday @ 11p and my DTV (which blows away cable and dish(I have had both)) says its got live traffic scheduled at the time the sx is on. I would love to see this live.....please instruct! BTW thank RCX for the info but its not worth anything if its not info
http://www.racerxonline.com/2011/03/03/50-lawmakers-now-support-the-kids-just-want-to-ride-act
Go there, read it and act on it.
There is no way an uncrashed RV is going to get beat at Daytona, no effing way!
Are you joking!!! SOme really smart guy thought we all want to see more of a arenacross style track with really short lap times. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS SMOKING!!! What a JOKE!!! Datona is destroyed!! IT's going to be the same style track with the same style racing going on that we have been seeing ALL YEAR LONG!! Does anyone care about the races getting so short!!???
Jimmy thats the way it works, The guys who got lapped only did 19 laps, Reed did 19 3/4 laps so of all the guys who got lapped he was the leader of them so he get the points.
I am not sure what the rule is but there should be something in place that says you need to either:
get the checkered flag to actually earn the points for you position, OR you need to complete a certain percentage of the laps to get the points of your position. Say
Jimmy its not that hard to figure out, Reeds bike died and he did more laps than 90% of the field. why should they get points and Reed doesnt?? Just because you dont like him??
I agree that the old Daytonas were the stuff bada$$ dudes were made of.
SO, lets just hope that the track diagram does not do justice to how tough we hope it is and also that the lap times are in fact 1 minute plus
Live programming, which we all love and appreciate, might have sumpin to do with it.
we need a major points juggle, so,
RD, CR, TC, JS, KDub n RV ya that would be SICK !!!! no matter really, its going to be SICK anyway !!
I will guarantee the lap times will be well over 1 minute. I'm guessing around 1:20 to 1:30
you're right tgq25, Go Villo (& Reed:) !!!!