Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via E-mail:

Racing has extreme highs and extreme lows. It almost seems like there’s no in-between when you race at the level that I do. For me, after racing 170 grueling miles, I realized that I had a chance to win the race.

With about eight laps to go, I came up on some lapped riders. I set up to pass, using the same racing line that I’d been using on this part of the track all day – in both the 200 and in the 600 SuperSport race.

I came through on the brakes on the outside and in my peripheral vision I saw a rider stand his bike up. So I got on the brakes harder and stood my bike up a bit to give him some room. But I was running out of racetrack.

We went down and were sliding toward the wall and I was honestly thinking that I was going to break both of my legs. Thankfully, the impact was softer than I’d anticipated. I got up thinking that I’d raced 49 laps with eight left to go and a second-place finish in the Daytona 200 was down the drain.

I couldn’t believe that this was actually happening. But I never had any intention of hurting anyone. The last thing that I want is for people to get hurt at the track. This is not the way that I wanted to look back on Daytona ’04. And this is definitely not what I want the race fans to think of when they think of me.

I’m just so sorry that the whole incident ever happened. And I’m sorry if my actions offended or disappointed anyone.

Aaron Yates