Eslick Puts Triumph On Pole Position For 73rd Daytona 200

Eslick Puts Triumph On Pole Position For 73rd Daytona 200

© 2014, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Championship

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

March 14, 2014

Provisional Combined Qualifying Results (3.5-mile course, all on Dunlop tires):

1. Danny Eslick (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:49.292

2. Garrett Gerloff (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.065

3. Jake Lewis (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.148

4. Jason DiSalvo (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:50.337

5. Dane Westby (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.598

6. Jake Gagne (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.682

7. JD Beach (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.462

8. Tomas Puerta (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.677

9. Luke Stapleford (Tri Daytona 675), 1:51.811

10. Luke Mossey (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.889

11. Joey Pascarella (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.925

12. Bobby Fong (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:52.073

13. Kyle Wyman (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.385

14. Bostjan Skubic (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.443

15. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.717

16. Barrett Long (Duc 848EVO), 1:52.860

17. Benny Solis (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.982

18. Joe Roberts (Hon CBR600RR), 1:53.151

19. Elena Myers (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:53.259

20. Shane Narbonne (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.473

21. Steve Rapp (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:53.678

22. Fernando Amantini (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.766

23. Kenny Riedmann (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:53.870

24. Blake Young (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.934

25. Bryce Prince (Yam YZF-R6), 1:54.178

26. Chad Lewin (Yam YZF-R6), 1:54.651

27. Tucker Lancaster (Yam YZF-R6), 1:55.156

28. Garrett Willis (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:56.231

29. Frank Babuska (Suz GSX-R600), 1:56.444

30. Melissa Paris (Hon CBR600RR), 1:56.451

31. Eric Pinson (Yam YZF-R6), 1:57.208

32. Ricky Orlando (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:57.478

33. Dustin Apgar (Yam YZF-R6), 1:58.113

34. Roberto Vargas (Yam YZF-R6), 1:58.682

110% of Fast Time: 2:00.221

35. Donny Wright (Suz GSX-R600), 2:00.268

36. John Ashmead (Kaw ZX-6R), 2:00.437

37. Roi Holster (Yam YZF-R6), 2:00.590

38. Shane Horton (Suz GSX-R600), 2:02.056

39. Lee Farmer (Tri Daytona 675), 2:02.137

40. Shaun Summers (Tri Daytona 675), 2:03.887

41. Jordan Imrie (Duc 848), no time recorded

42. Anthony Fania (Yam YZF-R6), no time recorded

43. Eric Haugo (Yam YZF-R6), no time recorded

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.:

Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Rider Garrett Gerloff Earns Front-Row Start For Daytona 200; Teammate JD Beach Starts Seventh

Daytona Beach, FL – March 14, 2014 – Provisional polesitter for the 73rd running of the Daytona 200, Garrett Gerloff, will start on the front row for tomorrow’s race. The rider of the #8 Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6 will start in second position for the 57-lap event.

Joining Garrett for the Daytona 200 is teammate JD Beach, who was seventh-fastest on the day and will be looking to get a good start from the third row of the grid in Sunday’s race.

Commenting on his qualifying effort, Garrett said, “Man, I wanted that (Rolex) watch! I felt pretty good, and I don’t think that’s the fastest I can go around here. It’s a long race with a couple of pitstops along the way. My team has a lot of experience with the quick-change equipment that we use here at Daytona, so we’re definitely in good shape for the 200. We’ll be ready.”

The Daytona 200 is set to begin tomorrow, Saturday, March 15, at 1:00 PM EST. You can watch the entire race live online at FansChoice.tv.

For more racing news, results, photos, videos, and more, be sure to check out “YamahaMotorUSA” on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Triumph’s Danny Eslick Captures Daytona 200 Pole; Hayes Wins Opening Round of AMA Pro SuperBike

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Triumph rider Danny Eslick captured the pole on Friday afternoon for Saturday’s 73rd Daytona 200 AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike race at Daytona International Speedway.

During the timed qualifying session, Eslick, riding the No. 69 Triumph Daytona 675, lapped the 3.51-mile road course in one minute, 49.292 seconds to secure the pole for the historic 57-lap, 200-mile race.

It’s the first time since 1971 that a Triumph has sat on the pole in the Daytona 200 and it’s the second career Daytona 200 pole for Eslick, a native of Broken Arrow, OK.

“My pole lap was amazing,” Eslick said. “I got a good clean run through the infield. It’s all about the draft here at Daytona and I caught the draft just perfect out of the chicane and around to the start/finish line and nailed it.”

After Thursday’s practice sessions, Eslick felt like he had a good opportunity to earn the Daytona 200 pole and the coveted Rolex watch that comes with it.

“I knew I had a shot at winning it when I had the fastest trap speed from the first practice yesterday,” Eslick said. “For me, I’ve never been the one to have the fastest bike or the fastest trap speed.”

As Eslick chases his first Daytona 200 victory, his strategy for Saturday’s grueling 57-lap, 200-mile race is simple.

“Try not to fall down and lead the last lap,” Eslick said.

Rounding out the front row for the Daytona 200 are Yamaha riders Garrett Gerloff and Jake Lewis and Triumph’s Jason DiSalvo.

Gerloff, who turned a time of 1:50.065 seconds, said following the qualifying session that he left some speed on the track.

“I don’t think that was the fastest I could go this weekend,” Gerloff said. “I’m disappointed I didn’t get the pole position but I’m not concerned about the race.”

AMA SuperBike Round 1

The opening round of the AMA Pro SuperBike race came down to a three-bike battle with Graves Yamaha riders Josh Hayes and Cameron Beaubier and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Roger Hayden.

On Lap 14, Beaubier, who won last year’s Daytona 200, entered Turn 1 aboard his No. 2 Yamaha too hot and ran wide leaving Hayes and Hayden to settle the victory.

Hayden attempted to draft Hayes coming to the checkered flag but Hayes used side drafting to win by .025 seconds.

The victory was Hayes’ second Daytona SuperBike triumph.

“It was a really fun race, a very nerve-wracking race,” Hayes said. “It’s hard to see plus 1 on your board for a few laps and watch that dwindle away to a zero. Then you just see if you can keep yourself up at the front.

“All-in-all I’m extremely happy. At the end of the day it’s not just about being fast, I’ve got to win races. I’m glad I was able to pull this one off.”

SuperBike Race 2 is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m.

SuperSport, Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series

Celtic/Hvmc Racing finished 1-2 in the 10-lap SuperSport race. Pole winner Corey Alexander, riding the No. 5 Suzuki, led nine laps on his way to a 7.923-second victory.

“Getting away and breaking the draft is the biggest part of the race,” Alexander said. “That is all I really wanted to accomplish . . . just maintaining that gap so they can’t really draft you back. I’m obviously really happy for whole team. Having Wyatt (Farris) up here is a great showing for us in showing that we’re here for a good year.”

Teammate Wyatt Farris finished second and Dustin Dominguez on a Yamaha was third.

SuperSport Race 2 is set for Saturday at 10 a.m.

In the seven-lap Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series, Kyle Wyman survived a furious finish to win by .068 seconds.

The Daytona victory was Wyman’s third in the past four years.

“This is the third win for me and I just love this place,” Wyman said. “It’s the reason I love coming here and spending all winter thinking about Daytona. I couldn’t imagine going to the first race to a track that I don’t like because it would make the winter even more miserable. I get to look forward to Daytona. I’m just so happy to be up here. It was a long year last year and I feel like we’re off on the right foot.”

Tyler OHara, who nipped Wyman for the victory in last year’s race, finished second this year followed by Gage McAllister.

For more information and tickets for the remaining Daytona 200 Week events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for the latest news all season long. Fans can also follow the latest on DAYTONA Rising, the $400 million frontstretch renovation at the “World Center of Racing” by using #DAYTONARising on Twitter or visiting www.daytonarising.com.

More, from a press release issued by Yamalube Westby Racing:

DANE-TONA QUALIFYING: YAMALUBE/WESTBY RACING READY FOR 200-MILE RACE

Daytona Beach, FL (March 14, 2014) — Yamalube/Westby Racing’s Daytona week saw more steady progress as qualifying for Saturday’s 200-mile race took place on Friday. Dane Westby secured fifth place on the timesheets, good enough for a second row start at the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway circuit.

“It’s been a smooth week,” said Westby. “I’m more of a racer than a qualifier. I wasn’t going to take a crazy risk to jeopardize our race tomorrow for a place or two in qualifying. I’m looking to put the Yamalube gold shining in front of the cameras during the race. Our time was pretty close but the best lap I had, it was by myself with no draft. Most of my laps were in the 1:51’s, a serious race pace. I tried to get hooked up with another rider because points were awarded for qualifying but it didn’t happen. The goal for me is to finish in the top three for the championship and I am really feeling good about tomorrow.”

Westby’s best lap time was 1:50.598.

Team manager Chuck Giacchetto said, “It’s the best qualifying Dane’s ever had at Daytona but I’m really pleased with how the crew has worked and where Dane is at with his riding. He pushed all the air himself today and still went 1:50.5. That’s probably going to be the race pace and I know he has something going for him tomorrow.”

The 73rd Daytona 200 begins at 1:00 PM local time on Saturday. 

More, from a press release issued by Triumph:

DANNY ESLICK AND RIDERS DISCOUNT WIN TRIUMPH’S FIRST DAYTONA 200 POLE POSITION IN FOUR DECADES

Three Of The Top 10 Qualifiers Are Riding Triumph’s Daytona 675

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 14, 2014) – Two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike champion Danny Eslick and the #69 Riders Discount Triumph team won the pole position for the 73rd running of the Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway. It was the first time a Triumph won the pole for this prestigious race in 43 years, when Paul Smart rode a Triumph Trident 750 in 1971.

“Winning the pole at Daytona is always special, but this one is really sweet since it’s the first Daytona 200 pole for Triumph since 1971,” said Eslick. “Everything just clicked with the bike, the team, and working the draft. It was a smoking hot lap for sure.”

The fastest lap Eslick turned in with his #69 Triumph Daytona 675R was 1:49.292, nearly three-quarters of a second faster than the second place qualifier. His top speed was 182.629mph on the 675cc machine.

“Congratulations to Danny and the Riders Discount team for their achievement, and to all of the Triumph riders and teams,” said Greg Heichelbech, CEO of Triumph North America. “It’s a great feeling to see such a strong showing of Triumph’s at Daytona. We’re looking forward to a great race.”

This is the third time that a Triumph won the pole for the Daytona 200. Gene Romero was fast qualifier in 1970 with his 750cc Triumph Trident, and Paul Smart backed it up in 1971. While the machines that Eslick, Smart and Romero rode are separated by more than 40 years of technology, all three machines feature Triumph’s signature inline triple engine.

Jason DiSalvo, the 2011 Daytona 200 winner, qualified fourth with his #40 Sportbike Track Time/Castrol/Triumph.

“We had a solid day and the team’s really pumped up about the race tomorrow,” said DiSalvo. “It’s fantastic that so many Triumph’s are in the top ten today. I think we’re going to see even more Triumph’s in the top ten tomorrow during the race.”

Qualifying seventh is British Supersport competitor Luke Stapleford of Leicestershire, England. Stapleford and his # 68 Profile Racing team traveled to Daytona because “This is a nice chance to get in a bit of riding before the British Supersport season.” Stapleford continued, “The race distance is quite difficult mentally. A top six is the aim in the race and I’d class that as a job well done.”

There are six other Triumph riders in the Saturday, March 15, race at Daytona International Speedway. Those riders and their qualifying positions are:

12. #50 Bobby Fong, Latus Motors/Castrol/Triumph

19. #21 Elena Myers, Apex Manufacturing/Castrol/Triumph

21. #15 Steve Rapp, D&D Cycles/Castrol/Triumph

23. #42 Kenny Riedmann, RRM/Castrol/Triumph

39. #71 Lee Farmer, Apex Race Services

40. #62 Shaun Summers, D&D Cycles/Castrol/Triumph

A Triumph has won the Daytona 200 three times. Don Burnett won in 1962, Buddy Elmore won in 1966, and Gary Nixon won in 1967. The first Triumph Daytona production motorcycle appeared in 1967, the Tiger T100R Daytona, as a tribute to Elmore’s victory.

Watch the Daytona 200 live at the newly launched fanschoice.tv. Pre-race ceremonies begin at 12:00pm EST and the race at 1:00pm EST.

About Triumph

Triumph Motorcycles is the British motorcycle marque that produces a wide range of sport, cruiser, adventure and touring motorcycles. From the storied Bonneville to the class-leading Speed Triple and Daytona 675R, Triumph offers a blend of design, character and performance that result in truly distinctive motorcycles. First established in 1902 and now located in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, Triumph has always set the pace for category-winning machines. The company is solely owned by Bloor Holdings Ltd., and its North American operations are based in Atlanta. To see the full range of Triumph motorcycles visit TriumphMotorcycles.com.

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