Daytona Practice Report
Saturday, March 10, 2012 | 5:30 PM
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The rain that wasn’t supposed to come came to Daytona—and it went big. The riders logged their untimed free practice session and then the skies opened. That’s the worst-case scenario since the bikes had churned up the track, allowing the water to soak right in.
The AMA canceled the second practice session. This left just one timed session for each group at the regular 3:45 starting time. Considering the course had absorbed nearly an hour of rain—and even more yesterday—the track didn’t look too bad. Riders were jumping the jumps. But there’s only so much we can know from standing beside the track and watching. So we asked Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer what he thought.
“It’s pretty gnarly,” he said. “Gnarly. There’s standing water in spots, and deep ruts. It’s gnarly.”
But the riders are still jumping the triples. Still scrubbing and whipping over the finishline jump. How bad could it really be, Jake? “That’s what makes it worse,” he explained. “It’s really gnarly, but not so gnarly that you can’t jump anything. So it’s really muddy but we have to jump the jumps, too.”
We’ll see how it goes. There are still clouds overhead. Wait, we just heard it's raining again. Wow.
James Stewart was the fastest of the SX class by a long, long way. He logged a 1.21.9 to second-place Kevin Windham’s 1.24.4 and Ryan Villopoto’s 1.24.5. That’s three seconds faster than anyone else. Stewart also jumped the Gator Pit jump that he did last year on the very first lap of practice, however, he couldn’t do it in the mud. And while he was fast in the mud, the track was—as Weimer said—pretty gnarly. Anything could happen out there.
Justin Brayton, Broc Tickle, Weimer, Kyle Chisholm and Nick Wey rounded out the top ten.
In the Lites class, weather or track conditions don’t matter to Justin Barcia, he’s still crushing it. His 1.26.0 time bested Blake Baggett’s 1.26.8 and Ken Roczen’s 1.27.0. PJ Larsen and Blake Wharton rounded out the top five, with Darryn Durham, Justin Bogle, Alex Martin, Austin Politelli and Jake Canada rounding out the top ten.
And people are pumped over the performance of Ricky Renner. He qualified a solid 22nd in the Lites Class on his YZ125, easily putting himself into the night show. His brother Ronnie is spinning the wrenches, but says his job is easy because if something breaks, no one will even have any two-stroke parts for him to fix the bike with.
That's all. Let's go racing--be sure to tune into SPEED's live coverage at 7:30 eastern.
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i said it man. i thought malcolm would be fast too since daytona is their playground
How is it their playground?.....
Wow the lap times are realy spread out. And for the most part they dont even mater yet. Now unfortuatly the races wil be shorter? At least keep them long enough to make a race. Some people over 2 mnt lap times with the top at the low 120's it is going to be a scoring nightmare hope the transponders dont fail then it wil be a mes.
PS: Only at Daytona?
Remember that mudder when Reeds' bike died a few turns from the finish.!
Can't wait.just ordered my pizza and stocked on beer.@toothperry LOL!I am a Perry too..no shit!
Rather be lucky than good tonight in Daytona.
Wow the little 125 did it. I was thinking only the people in daytona would get to see it perform. Now it might actually get TV time. Props to RR
Rain. With Dungey out it would seem that Villopoto and Stewart are the lead contenders for the top spot on this week's podium. However, the old man, Windham is always a factor when the track gets muddy. K-Dub's technical ability coupled with his smooth, precise riding style take him to the top when conditions are gnarly and wet.
Nonetheless, I am hoping for a good race. I like Villopoto but I don't want to see him just walk away with it. I am sure Stewart will be fast but will he be able to keep it on two wheels this week. Or will it be another week of excuses for Stewart and his team this week. He was running his old number "259" in practice...maybe he will live up to his old moniker of "fastest man on the planet" tonight. We will have to wait and see...
yeah this should get real interesting! How is it that lil Stewie is 3 seconds a lap faster than Ryan? I am bummed that Dungey is out, I guess they'll hand the title over to RV tonight. Aynbody have any idea what dgizzy1 is talking aobut?
Ok Welker, who's your pick for the night?
@fred, ok you said lil Stewie and Kroc for the night, if not, you will be stuck with tons of fun for another week.
Think it was last year (Daytona) JS was ejected from his bike while leading. Man I'm gettin excited!
Since it's Daytona, they should have women mud wrestling at intermission. BTW...K-Dub have a transition planned for 2nite?
the fastest man on the planet in your face
@ CZmark and the rest of you,I am gona pick Brayton cause he grew up racing in a lot of mud and has not much to lose.as an old muder myself ya gota ride smart and smoth. Yes it is partialy my keyboard and some of you know my fingers are mesed up. A friend just brought me a keyboad wil put it on tom. the keys are not hiting it might be the beer I spiled on it the other day?
Gosh I hate waiting on the races and just saw on the pro twets they are knoking the trak down, oh well It is gona be a muder. Roczen should win this one also.
My bokie wont let me cfhange, just joking about the guy that said the races are fixed. I am gona shave a few points myself.
LETS RACE!
So if Villipoto crashes out with injuries then James can easily asume the championship making him the fastest man on the planet!!!
RV I am sure will manage this race with these hectic conditions but don't expect him to roll over for anyone. If anyone is going to crash out tonight my money would be on that Joe Gibbs dude but if he does not then a win is possible because he will be all out. I hate mud races now but in the day it as my favorite you don't even feel it when you fall. The secret to mud riding is going fast so all these guys won't have any problems. I hope RV runs those small brakes tonight the mud will slow it down.
surfrat is off tonight...anyone got a link to watch online?
rv crashing doesnt make him fastest man on the planet. he already is, even on a slower bike
i was actually joking! but james did race well and i am sure villipoto will still win the championship!!! Very happy for Windham, the one who i wanted to win!!
@CZmark well at least I got one this week.I don't know what Kroc's deal is.I for sure though he would win in the mud.I'm glad that I'm stuck with Tons of Fun for another week.We've had some fun thats for sure.But you have no idea how money that I've spent of food.That gal can eat.@mxsp17 what are you talking about?
Nobody is going to get Barcia in supercross, not this year. He waxed them in supercross last year and he is in a way better place now with Stanton in his corner.. Roczen isnt going to match Barcia in supercross. This is Roczens second year in supercross and I thought he would be faster, but it just hasnt happened.. By the time he gets it down the season will be over. Maybe he will get a win or 2 outdoors. But Barcia is the class of the East Coast again..
Alot of people are stating that they thought Roczen would be faster than he is at SX. I say he is flat out hauling a$$. When the season started alot of fans were predicting the German prodigy would be on the top of the box. When I found out he was competing against JB, I knew he would need a little luck on his side to get a win. I think Bam Bam would without a doubt be in contention for wins in the premier SX class. I cant wait to watch him smash Poto in a corner, or run Bubbles off the track. It is going to be all out war and Bam Bam will be right in the thick of things. The SX Big Boyz wont take it like the Lites riders though. Should be good to watch. Cant wait to watch Roczen outdoors, then he will live up to his potential.
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