Smith Optics Track Walk: Daytona

For this week’s Smith Optics Track Walk of the Daytona Supercross by Honda, we had the designer himself, Ricky Carmichael, take us on a lap of the Ricky Carmichael Signature Design Supercross course:

I wanted to switch it up a little bit this year. It just always seemed like the start was kind of in no-man’s land, so I wanted to move it to bring it closer to the fans. I also wanted to have the finish line closer to where the NASCAR finish line is. I think it’ll be cool for the fans to be close and able to see the finish. I really think with the start and finish there, the fans will feel more a part of the race. Also, the track will be the same for the amateur supercross on Sunday, but we’re just going to tone it down for everyone.

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You see where it says “Start?” If you drew a line below the word, right there is where I'd try to line up, a little left of the dog house. You then go into a left-hander, and then go into a little tabletop. You’re just going to roll over it.

1 - After that, there’s a set of whoops, which will be the longest set on the track. They’ll be rough and chewed up; typical Daytona whoops.

2 – Then, you go into a left turn there and there’ll be a little double, and then into a right-hander and there’ll be a three-footer, then a roof-peak jump, and you can either go triple-triple or double-double-double into the corner. This left-hander will get some good grooves in it and it’ll be pretty much the same as years past.

3 - This next section, some riders will probably choose to hit the first three-footer and go all the way onto the tabletop, off the table onto the first single, then double, triple out. There’s a little single after that, just to slow the riders down, then they go into a little chicane. It’s hard to determine which line will be the fastest here, as the track will change throughout the day.
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4 -5 Where the old finish line was, they’re going to have a tunnel so we can get the bikes onto the starting line, so this will be a pretty basic jump onto a table. You’ve then got a little straightaway and then a little indentation into the dirt, a dragonback, and then another indentation, similar to what they had last year. It’s a really cool section. It gets all rutted up and it’s a fun place to watch as the riders will come into this wide open.

6 - Next is a little tabletop, and the popular line will be to land in the pit, and then they’ll jump out of the pit into the whoops. You make a tight left next, which is where the start used to be, and that’ll get really rutted and rough coming in and out. I’m sure there’ll be multiple lines here.

7 - Next is a four-jump section, but it’ll probably be triple-single, or double-double – no quad. But this depends on how steep the take-off is. You may have someone go for the quad!

8 – Then, you turn left and there’ll be three small tabletops. You turn right and hit two tabletops, which the guys will probably try jumping table-to-table.

9 – 10 - Another right-hand 180-degree turn here, which leads directly into a small whoop section. Since it’s a short run leading into them, I think most guys will be jumping through them. Then, you turn left, another 180, and you go into a five-jump section, which will be double-triple, or triple-double. Most of the Lites guys will probably be going double-triple.

For more information on the 2010 Daytona Supercross by Honda, including ticket information, a rider list and a special Ricky Carmichael video invitation to the fans, click here.