Sign Of The (Lap) Times: Daytona

March 13, 2007, 10:08am

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	Tommy Hahn	Honda
3	1:14.641	Mike Alessi	KTM
8	1:15.194	Branden Jesseman	Yamaha
4	1:15.273	Billy Laninovich	Honda
7	1:15.504	Jeff Alessi	KTM
5	1:15:556	Ryan Morais	Yamaha
9	1:15.707	Ryan Sipes	Honda
6	1:15.868	Darcy Lange	Kawasaki
12	1:16.024	Matt Goerke	Yamaha
10	1:16.447	Justin Brayton	Yamaha
11	1:16.625	Ricky Renner	Honda
15	1:16.664	Broc Tickle	Yamaha
17	1:16.693	Tucker Hibbert	Yamaha
13	1:16.803	Robert Kiniry	Kawasaki
19	1:16.846	Robert Marshall	Kawasaki
20	1:17.662	Kyle Tobin	Yamaha
14	1:17.678	Matt Boni	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	James Stewart	Kawasaki
2	1:10.130	Ricky Carmichael	Suzuki
3	1:11.433	Chad Reed	Yamaha
4	1:12.528	Tim Ferry	Kawasaki
5	1:12.586	Kevin Windham	Honda
9	1:13.299	Davi Millsaps	Honda
6	1:14.308	Ivan Tedesco	Suzuki
10	1:14.801	Josh Summey	Honda
7	1:15.015	Grant Langston	Yamaha
8	1:15.259	David Vuillemin	Honda
13	1:16.293	Ryan Clark	Honda
12	1:16.491	Michael Byrne	Suzuki
11	1:16.510	Heath Voss	Honda
18	1:17.326	Eric Sorby	Kawasaki
15	1:17.483	Kevin Johnson	Yamaha
16	1:17.564	Jason Thomas	Honda
17	1:17.837	Jacob Saylor	Honda
14	1:17.907	Kyle Lewis	Honda
19	1:20.847	Jacob Marsack	Kawasaki

Davi Millsaps is gradually getting up to speed

Biggest surprise (though it’s probably not a surprise to some) is that Team Honda’s Davi Millsaps was able to click of some really fast laps—sixth fastest in the Supercross class—including a lap time that would best all the Lites riders. Millsaps is still trying to get back to 100 percent, and he should be there by the time the gate drops at the Hangtown National.