Last season’s MotoGP Championship runnerup Jorge Martin started his 2024 season on top of the timesheets, under the race lap record set last year by Enea Bastianini as practice got underway in Qatar.
Prima Pramac Ducati’s Martin clocked a 1:52.624, 0.047 seconds quicker than Aleix Espargaro on the factory Aprilia, with rookie Pedro Acosta on the GASGAS Tech3 third on his MotoGP debut. Marc Marquez was fourth on the 2023 Gresini Ducati, ahead of Red Bull KTM factory rider Brad Binder and Castrol Honda LCR’s Johann Zarco.
American Trackhouse Racing’s Miguel Oliveira was 12th, with teammate Raul Fernandez 14th.
Winner of the last four Moto2 races of 2023, Fermin Aldeguer picked up where he left off, topping a tightly packed field in the first practice at Qatar.
Aldeguer turned a 1:58.373 on his Boscoscuro, edging a pack of Kalex machines, led by Zonta van den Goorbergh and Celestino Vietti. The top 18 machines were separated by less than a second.
American Joe Roberts was 26th on his return to the American Racing Team, half a second behind teammate Marcos Ramirez.
Ivan Ortola took his MT Helmets – MSI KTM to the top of the timesheets in the first Moto3 practice of the 2024 season. His 2:04.205 was less that two-tenths slower than the outright lap record of 2:04.075 set by Darryn Binder in 2021. Jose Rueda and David Munoz followed, the top three covered by 0.240 seconds.
Provisional Royal Enfield BTR Main Event (10 Laps) Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Taia Little (Roy), 10 laps
2. Kenzie Luker (Roy), -1.805 seconds
3. Mya Maffei (Roy), -5.382
4. Shasta L’Heureux (Roy), -9.571
5. Mikaela Nichols-Lionetti (Roy), -12.845
6. Hannah Lange (Roy), -17.863
7. Hannah Robertson (Roy), -1 lap
8. Kristiana Ross (Roy), -1 lap, 12.111
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event (6 Minutes + 2 Laps) Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Kody Kopp (KTM), 22 laps
2. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -1.502 seconds
3. Trent Lowe (Hon), -5.136
4. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -5.445
5. Justin Jones (Hus), -8.678
6. Tyler Raggio (KTM), -9.139
7. James Ott (Hus), -11.481
8. Travis Petton (KTM), -11.562
9. Jared Lowe (Hon), -11.892
10. Logan Eisenhard (KTM), -12.240
11. Evan Renshaw (Hon), -12.545
12. Tarren Santero (Hon), -13.261
13. Chad Cose (KTM), -13.875
14. Hunter Bauer (Yam), -15.415
15. Tom Drane (Yam), -1 lap
16. Landen Smith (KTM), -1 lap, 3.547 seconds
17. Jacob Vanderkooi (Hus), -1 lap, 3.864
18. Aidan RoosEvans (Yam), -3 laps
19. Evan Kelleher (KTM), -19 laps
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event (10 Minutes + 2 Laps) Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Dallas Daniels (Yam), 35 laps
2. Brandon Price (Yam), -3.769 seconds
3. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -4.162
4. Davis Fisher (Ind), -4.952
5. Sammy Halbert (Har), -6.685
6. Jared Mees (Ind), -7.042
7. Jarod VanDerkooi (Ind), -7.230
8. Briar Bauman (KTM), -9.594
9. Cameron Smith (KTM), -9.798
10. Dan Bromley (Hon), -14.433
11. Trevor Brunner (KTM), -15.556
12. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -17.511
13. Ben Lowe (KTM), -1 lap
14. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -1 lap, 4.743 seconds
15. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -1 lap, 5.615
16. Declan Bender (Ind), -1 lap, 5.923
17. Wyatt Vaughan (Kaw), -1 lap, 9.270
18. Morgen Mischler (Yam), -1 lap, 10.070
19. Logan Mcgrane (Kaw), -23 laps
More, from a press release issued by American Flat Track (AFT):
Daniels Increases Daytona Win Streak to Three in Dramatic Progressive AFT Opener
Dallas Daniels (32), Brandon Robinson (44), and Brandon Price (92) in action at Daytona Short Track I. Photo by Tim Lester, courtesy AFT.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 7, 2024) – The opening Mission SuperTwins victory of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, season went to Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) in a Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I that contained far more drama than Daniels’ final 3.769-second margin of victory would seem to indicate.
For much of the night – including the opening half of the Main Event – the fans that packed the Daytona International Speedway Flat Track grandstands thought they just might just witness Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol Harley-Davidson XR750) give the iconic Harley-Davidson XR750 its 503rd Grand National Championship race win more than five decades after its first.
In fact, Halbert topped a session in both practice and qualifying, won his heat race, and then proved victorious in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge aboard the venerable machine. He followed that up by grabbing the holeshot in the Main Event and then stretching open more than a second’s worth of padding at the front.
That advantage was further aided by the stiff fight Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) provided all comers while running second despite the likes of Daniels, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) all seeking a way through.
Daniels finally managed to make a pass that stuck a little over six minutes remaining on the clock and immediately went about eating up the gap to Halbert. However, what promised to be a thrilling dogfight for victory was spoiled when Halbert’s machine began to smoke heavily with half of the race still remaining.
The Estenson Racing Yamaha ace dove through to steal away first. Moments later, the black flag was (first) shown to Halbert, who continued to push for several laps before finally heeding the instruction.
Halbert’s misfortune saw Price move back up into second with Bauman third, while Daniels weaved his way through traffic out front en route to victory.
After the contest, Daniels – who will now look to equal last year’s season-opening double victory at the venue – said, “This track was so technical. It was nothing like last year where you could just kinda go in and get it on. What a ride for the team. We kind of struggled all day, and I was just chipping away. I started catching up to Sammy, and he started to blow up and coolant was getting in my face. (Once in front), I started looking back a lot. For some reason I got nervous, but the last five laps, I really buckled down and those were my fastest laps of the race.
“After Springfield, we left a little bitter. It didn’t feel good. That whole offseason we worked hard. To get three in a row at Daytona feels good. That Main Event, I had so much fun plugging away. I would prefer to get the holeshot and be out front but being able to come through and dig my way to the front felt good.”
Price held on for a most welcome runner-up finish in his all-new team’s maiden outing, while Robinson moved through on a fading Bauman to earn the final spot on the podium.
In fact, Bauman’s tumble down the order wouldn’t end there, as he was also displaced by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), nine-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) before finishing seventh in the end.
Cameron Smith (No. 34 RVR/KTM/Schaefer’s Motorsport KTM 790 Duke) picked up eighth, one spot ahead of Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Red Super Twins/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp), who took ninth in the new Honda-powered effort’s debut. Mission SuperTwins rookie Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke) completed the top ten.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Double defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) opened his quest for an unprecedented third class crown in near-perfect fashion, walking away with the Main Event after earlier winning both his heat and the Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge.
It was a fine way to not just start his title defense but also an all-new partnership after joining the Rick Ware Racing outfit just days prior to the opener.
While Kopp claimed the checkered flag running alone in the end, it wasn’t quite that simple in the doing. Despite grabbing the holeshot, he was actually overhauled by former class champ Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) before completing the first lap.
Gauthier then pulled some space at the front while Kopp had his hands full with projected title rivals Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R).
But Kopp found his groove at mid-distance, putting in a charge that allowed him to reclaim the lead and power forward to secure the victory by 1.502 seconds over Gauthier.
“We just kept our heads on straight the whole offseason,” said Kopp. “I love this track, and I love Daytona. Huge shout out to Rick Ware for coming on the program a little over a week ago. We pulled it together, and we got a win tonight. Wally Brown built one heck of a KTM 450 – arguably even better than the factory bikes I might say.”
Meanwhile, the final spot on the box went to neither Drane – who crashed on the last lap and was ultimately credited in 15th – nor Saathoff. Rather it was Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who finished third by battling his way back through the pack after being pushed wide and well down the order in the early stages of the Main.
Saathoff finished fourth another 0.309 seconds back with Justin Jones (No. 91 J&H Racing Husqvarna FC 450) rounding out the top five.
Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions/Media HT Husqvarna FC450), Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) finished sixth through tenth, respectively.
Earlier in the evening, Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) kicked off the Main Event program by winning the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. season opener in runaway fashion.
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at http://flosports.link/aft.
FOX Sports coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, March 16, at 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT), while the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II will air the following day, Sunday, March 17, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT).
Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. Progressive American Flat Track is televised on FOX Sports and streams live via FloRacing. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on X, and check us out on Instagram.
Defending Champion Tyler O’Hara earned provisional pole position during MotoAmerica Roland Sands Design (RSD) Mission Super Hooligan Qualifying One (Q1) Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.
Riding his S&S Indian FTR, O’Hara covered the 3.51-mile infield road course in 1:52.781, which was good enough to top the field of 36 entries and shatter Jeremy McWilliams’ lap record of 1:53.545.
Cory West was second-best with a time of 1:53.931 on his Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America.
O’Hara’s new teammate, Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss was third-quickest with a 1:54.410.
West’s teammates Travis Wyman (1:54.609) and Jake Lewis (1:55.050) were fourth and fifth, respectively, in Q1.
The TOBC – Triumph racing team, supported by FreedomRoad Financial, returns to the Daytona 200 this weekend with Danny Eslick back on the track for another year.
Heading in to 2024, the TOBC – Triumph team have come together to reinforce the competitiveness of the TOBC Triumph team and the Street Triple. This also makes two teams supported by FreedomRoad Financial in the legendary race this weekend. Eslick will once again pilot a Triumph Street Triple, which powered his TOBC teammate to the top of the 2022 podium and now has five seasons of outstanding performance and reliability as the exclusive engine in the Moto2™ World Championship.
A victory for Danny Eslick would put the veteran racer in the company of few, tied for most wins all-time with five. Lindsay has already made history as the only female team owner to reach the top of the Daytona 200 podium, and a 5th win would further add to her legacy.
Michelle Lindsay – Owner, TOBC Racing
“I am excited to bring TOBC Racing back for another opportunity to compete in the Daytona 200 thanks to the support from Triumph and FreedomRoad Financial. It takes a team, and we wouldn’t’ be here without everyone working together to make it happen.”
Rod Lopusnak – General Manager, Triumph Motorcycles America
“The Daytona 200 continues to capture the world’s attention among racing events across the globe, As we gear up for the upcoming race, our focus remains on showcasing the unparalleled power and agility of the Triumph Street Triple and its 765 three-cylinder engine. Backed by Michelle and her TOBC Racing team, alongside the skills of Danny, we present a formidable force on the track. We extend our gratitude to FreedomRoad Financial for their unwavering support. Together, we aim to secure another victory and add to our legacy.”
Tom Collins – Managing Director, FreedomRoad Financial
“We are proud to have Triumph as our longest tenured OEM relationship as we’ve been their retail finance partner since 2008. We continue to be proud of the team’s performance on and off the track and we are excited to support them again in 2024.”
More, from a press release issued by TOBC Racing Owner Michele Lindsay:
When the band gets Themselves back together.
The phrase “Let’s get the band back together” resonates with many, but for me, as the team owner of TOBC racing, this year presented immense challenges. Balancing a battle with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, a demanding yet fulfilling career, and the joys of parenthood with a newborn son made the idea of racing impossible. I firmly believe in giving my all and dedicating 150% to my commitments, and my team deserves nothing less. The Daytona 200 was just not in the cards for 2024. Despite two attempts to sell the team and infrastructure, life had other plans.
The inception of TOBC was fueled by the passion of our founder, Jon Couch, who had a deep love for racing and a commitment to building a family-like team culture both on and off the track. After his unexpected and sudden passing in 2014, I purchased and took on the responsibility of leading his team to carry forward his legacy. Jon’s philosophy of treating team members like family led to remarkable achievements, including three full MotoAmerica seasons, finishing second, and fourth twice in the 1000 Superstock Championship, top 10 in Superbike, and four Daytona 200 victories, on three brands with two riders. His passion became my own, and with the support of my husband Myles Wilson, we continued the team for another six years.
The love for racing never truly fades, but for the sake of our growing family, I made a promise to focus on my career, health, and most importantly, nurturing my role as a mother to baby Holden, born shortly after the 2023 Daytona 200.
In late January this year, the reality of NOT being at the 200 sank in. I called Harry Houck, who became an invaluable member of the team at Daytona in October of 2021. I asked him, “How do I make peace with NOT being there?”
His response was nothing short of surprising.
“I have been waiting for this call, Boss,” he said, “Let ME run it…let me get the team to the 200.”
TOBC Racing Team Owner Michelle Lindsay (right) and Harry Houck (left). Photo by Myles Wilson.
His unexpected offer to lead the team to the 200 this year was touching, but knowing all that goes into it and Harry being a new father himself, I had doubts about its feasibility.
A few weeks went by without news, and I resigned myself to TOBC Racing’s absence from the 82nd running of Daytona 200. Then, a few days later, a call from Harry changed everything.
“It’s happening, Boss. The team is committed and covering their expenses to be there.”
Team members for TOBC come from as far as Norway, so this is no small feat.
Tears filled my eyes as gratitude washed over me. The camaraderie and dedication of my team and sponsors over the past decade proved truly exceptional.
Approaching my 11th year at the Daytona 200 (my 10th year running it) with the chance to secure Danny Eslick’s fifth win, my heart swells with gratitude and anticipation unique to Daytona.
Few team members now knew or had the opportunity to work with Jon, but carrying over the values and legacy of a family team and culture from Jon’s days, to mine, has now carried over yet again to Harry running it much the same. It makes a person feel like they did something right in the world. I am so incredibly honored.
I express heartfelt thanks to my team and sponsors for making this journey possible, not just for me, but for Danny as well. Most of all to Harry and his family….who is just passionate and crazy enough to take the torch and run with it!
Special thanks to Treemendous Tree Care, Triumph Motorcycles, Wild MFG, Pirelli Tires, K-Tech, Michael Matassa, sponsor of the Daytona Beach IFBB Pro-Am Body Building Competition, Full Spectrum Power, and our long-term sponsor and friend, Mark Matovina of Daytona-based Politus and Matovina Attorney’s at Law.
Your unwavering support has turned this dream into a reality.
TOBC has always embodied dedication and heart. I can’t believe I/we get to be here again, this time with my son fielding a bike at the iconic World Center of Racing. It is surreal. Can’t wait to see you there!
Richie Escalante earned provisional pole position during MotoAmerica Daytona 200 Qualifying One Thursday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway.
Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750, the Mexican rider lapped the 3.51-mile infield road course in 1:47.833, which surpassed his own Daytona 200 Lap Record of 1:48.133 from 2023.
Escalante’s teammate Tyler Scott was second-best with a 1:48.045, but on Scott’s next lap he crashed at high-speed in the chicane. Scott was taken to the infield medical care center, but according to Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Vice President of Operations Chris Ulrich, the 18-year-old is relatively uninjured and expected to ride later in the weekend.
Hayden Gillim was third-quickest with a 1:49.045 on his Vesrah Racing Suzuki GSX-R750.
Josh Herrin, winner of the 2023 Daytona 200, did the fourth-fastest lap at 1:49.302 on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2.
Bobby Fong rounded out the top five with a 1:49.372 on his Wrench Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R750.
Xavi Fores, the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, earned the final spot on the provisional second row (sixth) with a 1:49.859 on his Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha.
Former British Superstock 1000 Champion Richard Cooper finished the session seventh with a 1:49.933 on his PHR Performance Triumph Street Triple 765 RS.
Two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch was eighth with a 1:49.938 on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.
Stefano Mesa did a 1:49.947 on his Boulder Motor Sports Ducati and ended up ninth.
Four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick completed the top 10 provisional qualifiers with a 1:50.156 on his TOBC Racing Triumph Street Triple 765.
Escalante Takes Provisional Pole For 82nd Running Of The Daytona 200 Aussie Rookie Troy Herfoss Fastest King Of The Bagger, Rodio Quick In BellissiMoto Twins Cup And Tyler O’Hara Leads Super Hooligan National Championship Qualifying
Richie Escalante (54). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (March 7, 2024) – Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante took a big step towards making up for last year’s crash from the lead in the Daytona 200 by earning provisional pole position on a sunny Thursday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway.
Escalante’s lap of 1:47.833 is a new record and he was the only rider in the 68-rider strong field to lap in the 1:47s. The Tizayuca, Hidalgo, Mexico resident did his best time at the very end and modestly gave credit for the lap to a two-rider draft. Escalante, however, had earlier done a 1:48 lap by himself so his quick pace is obvious.
Escalante hasn’t forgotten last year when he was in a battle with Josh Herrin when the two came together in turn one and Escalante crashed. He’s hopeful of this being a redemption race and he’s determined to make that happen.
“For sure I’m really happy to be back,” Escalante said. “I feel great and the first day was amazing – P1. I made an amazing lap and I’m happy again to be racing in the 200. After last year I really want to come back and battle for the win again. Now I will keep working for the race. So, thanks to my team, Vision Wheel M4 Suzuki, and to all the fans.”
Escalante’s teammate Tyler Scott, meanwhile, ended up second, just .212 behind Escalante, but his session came to a painful conclusion with a crash in the chicane on his final lap. Scott was in the low 1:48s, with a 1:48.045.
Vesrah Racing’s Hayden Gillim gave the Suzuki GSX-R750 a sweep of the provisional front row with Gillim and his 1:49.301 the third fastest time of the session.
Defending Daytona 200 Champion Josh Herrin was fourth fastest on the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2 and just .001 of a second from the front row.
Next up was Wrench Motorcycle’s Bobby Fong in fifth, followed by Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Xavi Forés, Brit Richard Cooper, two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch (on another Vision M4 ECSTAR Suzuki), Boulder Motor Sports’ Stefano Mesa and four-time Daytona winner Danny Eslick rounding out the top 10 on the TOBC Triumph.
Troy Herfoss (17). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Mission King Of The Baggers – A Quick Study
Just a session after his first go at Daytona International Speedway, Australian Troy Herfoss went from “I’ve never been more scared in my entire life” to an impressive effort in the first qualifying session to earn provisional pole position.
Herfoss and his S&S/Indian Motorcycle-backed Challenger not only earned provisional pole, but he also set a new Mission King Of The Baggers lap record at Daytona International Speedway with his 1:50.017 besting Kyle Wyman’s lap of 1:50.563 from a year ago.
Harley-Davidson Factory Racing’s Kyle Wyman ended up second after leading most of the session, just .180 of a second off Herfoss’s lap. Herfoss’s teammate Tyler O’Hara completed the provisional front row and was the last rider to lap in the 1:50s with his 1:50.599 also under the lap record.
Harley-Davidson Factory Racing’s James Rispoli, RydFast Racing’s Kyle Ohnsorg and Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson’s Travis Wyman rounded out the top 10 on Wednesday.
BellissiMoto Twins Cup – Rodio All Day
Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering’s Gus Rodio picked up where he left off from his three-win 2023 Twins Cup season that netted him second place in the championship behind Blake Davis on day one at Daytona, with the New Jerseyan earning provisional pole.
Rodio did a fastest lap of 1:56.257 to best Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing’s Dominic Doyle with the South African .342 of a second behind Rodio and .256 ahead of 2023 Junior Cup Champion Avery Dreher and his TopPro Racing Team.
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki’s Rocco Landers ended up fourth on the day in his debut on the new GSX-8R. S.E. Composites Racing’s Ed Sullivan rounded out the top five, the crew chief for former Westby Racing Superbike rider Mathew Scholtz.
Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – The Champ’s Day
Last year, Tyler O’Hara won five of eight races en route to the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship and he looks like he’s ready to double down on that. O’Hara and his S&S/Indian Motorcycle FTR1200 was over a second quicker than his closest competition while earning provisional pole position on Friday afternoon at the Speedway.
O’Hara’s 1:52.781 put him over a second ahead of the Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson Pan America ridden by Cory West with O’Hara’s new teammate Troy Herfoss ending up third on his first day at Daytona International Speedway. West’s two teammates, Travis Wyman and Jake Lewis, were fourth and fifth, respectively.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. To watch all things MotoAmerica, subscribe to MotoAmerica’s live streaming and video on demand service, MotoAmerica Live+
More, from a press release issued by Rahal Ducati Moto:
DAYTONA 200
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024 | PRACTICE & QUALIFYING 1
Thursday’s on-track activities marked the first official sessions of the Rahal Ducati Moto Supersport campaign. Daytona International Speedway saw clear skies, providing excellent conditions to work on the mechanical and electrical foundations of the bikes, and service any issues that could arise within a new program.
Tomorrow’s schedule hosts Qualifying 2 with all three Rahal Ducati Moto riders competing in Group A. The session will be green from 10:10 AM to 10:40 AM with the fastest 12 riders combined from both groups advancing to the Time Attack round. Time Attack will be held from 1:15 to 1:30 PM, concluding the qualifying efforts and setting the field for Saturday’s 57-lap race.
PJ JACOBSEN
No. 15 XPEL DUCATI PANIGALE V2
PRACTICE: P35 (No Time Recorded) – GROUP A
QUALIFYING 1:: P24 (1:51.839) – GROUP A
NOTES: Issue with bike transponder in FP1 resulted in failure to record a lap time, requiring Jacobsen to return to the pits to fix // Upon exit, the No. 15 suffered a technical issue leading to contact with the track and significant damage to the racing machine // The XPEL crew was successful in getting the Ducati back in race condition in time for the first qualifying session.
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “For Practice 1, we went out there and ran some laps, but unfortunately we had a mechanical problem. I high-sided myself and slid up the banking. I found out after the practice when I looked through the electronics that it was something out of our control, which really upset our day.
“I still don’t feel that great [after Qualifying 1]. I think that there’s a lot of work to be done on our side of things so I’m hoping we can figure things out this evening, regroup, and positively focus on a better tomorrow, because honestly, today’s been a negative start for us. We’ll take some time to go over some things, figure out tomorrow, and try to move the No. 15 XPEL Ducati forward to the front”.
KAYLA YAAKOV
No. 19 XPEL DUCATI PANIGALE V2
PRACTICE: P30 (1:54.965) – GROUP A
QUALIFYING 1:: P28 (1:53.154) – GROUP A
NOTES: Ran her first-ever laps on the Daytona track in preparation for the Daytona 200 // Struggled with gearing issues, resulting in minimal track time // Also suffered minor electronics issues, a setback the team is confident will be solved by Qualifying 2
WHAT SHE’S SAYING: “Today was pretty eventful. It was the first day at this track on the new bike, with a new team, and new sponsors – so a lot of new for me, but we made the best of it. We had some small issues today that hopefully can get worked out for tomorrow. I think overall the day went pretty well, track-learning-wise, but we are definitely looking for a little bit more. We’re hoping for a good Q2 and to make a big step in the morning. Hopefully, some of the changes will buy us some time on the track and a good starting position for the No. 19 XPEL team.”
COREY ALEXANDER
No. 23 ROLLER DIE + FORMING DUCATI PANIGALE V2
PRACTICE: P29 (1:54.910) – GROUP A
QUALIFYING 1:: P30 (1:54.689) – GROUP A
NOTES: Drove a clean FP1 and Q1 earning quality time on the Roller Die + Forming bike ahead of the first race // Led the Rahal Ducati Moto team through FP1
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “It was a good first day on the Roller Die + Forming Ducati! We had bikes that ran so that was positive, and with no major mechanical issues overall. We need to make some big steps for the rest of the weekend, but we will do some homework tonight and have a better day tomorrow.”
BEN SPIES
RAHAL DUCATI MOTO TEAM PRINCIPAL
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “Today was another day of testing for us. It wasn’t an easy day, but we did learn a lot. We had a setback with PJ’s crash, which was not his fault, as he had a small issue with the bike and luckily he’s okay. We have a lot of things to work on tonight, and if we can put it all together for tomorrow and the race, I think we can still start clawing back through the field. We definitely had a rough first day but those happen in racing and we just have to get through it”.
WILLOW SPRINGS GRAND PRIX APRIL 13th & 14th – ROSAMOND, CA
The Willow Springs Grand Prix returns to Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California, on April 13th & 14th. The 3rd annual event, celebrating classic racing motorcycles and the folks who pilot them, will happen at the historical Big Willow track, heralded as the first purpose built road-racing track still in use today. There will be an abundance of attractions for spectators of all ages and opportunities for moto-centric businesses to engage their audience in a relaxed environment.
From vintage to modern and traditional to outrageous, every brand, year and type of motorcycle will be represented at the two-day Willow Springs Grand Prix road races. Last year Rob North and friends brought more than a dozen Triumph & BSA triple road racers to compete and display, the most of these machines ever in one place in history. This year’s poster honors Willow icon, Curtis Adams, who will be on hand for stories, photos & autographs as the official grand marshal. We are excited to see what legends & legendary motorcycles will show up this year!
We welcome Classic British Spares as the title sponsor of this year’s GP. Located in the heart of Lancaster, just a few miles away from the track, Classic British Spares is your parts provider in the desert! With over 10,000 parts in stock, CBS has what you need to get your British bike back on the road or the track. Check ‘em out: www.classicbritishspares.com.
The Performance Motorcycle Show will take place Saturday afternoon and is free to enter. Classes include: Road Racer, Off-Road, Flat Tracker, Speedway, Drag Bike, Track Bike, Street Café & Street American Performance. Display your ride for the chance to win a radical trophy and prizes from our sponsors! Then, Saturday evening transitions into grudge drag racing under the lights on Big Willow’s front straight. Hosted by Speedkings, the drags drew thousands of folks in the Antelope Valley and beyond to show what their bike is made of or root for their favorite rider. It’s only $20 to compete and you only need street gear to participate.
We cannot make this event happen without the generous support of our class sponsors. Thank you Willow Springs Raceway, Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, Barnett Clutch & Cable, Moto Chop Shop, JRC Engineering, SoCal Motorcycles, San Diego BMW, McMarro Family Restaurants, Oxford Suites, Danny’s Electric, Moto Republic, Biltwell & Speedkings!
All race class information & event schedule can be found on the website. General admission fees are $25 for a one-day pass, $40 for two days and children under 8 years old are free. Swap meet spaces & overnight camping are free with paid entry. Vendor, swap meet & event info can be found at www.bradywalker.com , via email [email protected] or phone 310-980-7129. Track info can be found at www.willowspringsraceway.com or by calling 661-256-6666. We look forward to seeing you at the races!
EVENT INFO
The Willow Springs Grand Prix
Willow Springs International Raceway
3500 75th St W, Rosamond, CA 93560
April 13 & 14, 2024
Two days of road racing, swap meet, vendors, bike show & drag racing!
Reigning Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss earned provisional pole position during MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Qualifying One (Q1) Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.
Riding his S&S Indian Challenger, Herfoss lapped the 3.51-mile infield road course in 1:50.017, which not only topped the field of 17 entries but also broke Kyle Wyman’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:50.563.
After setting the fastest time, Herfoss’ Indian suffered a technical problem that forced him to pull off the track.
Wyman was second-best in the session with a 1:50.197 on his Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Road Glide.
Herfoss’s teammate Tyler O’Hara did the third-quickest time, a 1:50.599.
Defending Champion Hayden Gillim was fourth with a lap of 1:51.239 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
Wyman’s teammate James Rispoli rounded out the top five with a 1:52.055 in spite of his session being cut short by a technical problem.
Ruben Xaus walked away from a high-speed crash on his Feuling Parts Harley-Davidson.
Gus Rodio earned provisional pole during MotoAmerica BellissiMoto Twins Cup Qualifying One (Q1) Thursday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway.
Riding his Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660, Rodio covered the 3.51-mile infield road course in 1:56.257 to top the field of 27 entries.
Dominic Doyle was second-fastest on his Giaccmoto Yamaha YZF-R7 with a time of 1:56.599.
Avery Dreher, the reigning MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, turned the third-fastest lap, a 1:56.755, on his TopPro Racing Aprilia RS 660.
Rocco Landers finished the session fourth with a time of 1:57.191 on his new RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki GSX-8R.
Ed Sullivan, the former crew chief of MotoAmerica Superbike racer Mathew Scholtz, did a fifth-best 1:57.643 on his SE Composites Racing Yamaha.
Jorge Martin (89) was fastest in the first practice session for MotoGP machines in Qatar. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Last season’s MotoGP Championship runnerup Jorge Martin started his 2024 season on top of the timesheets, under the race lap record set last year by Enea Bastianini as practice got underway in Qatar.
Prima Pramac Ducati’s Martin clocked a 1:52.624, 0.047 seconds quicker than Aleix Espargaro on the factory Aprilia, with rookie Pedro Acosta on the GASGAS Tech3 third on his MotoGP debut. Marc Marquez was fourth on the 2023 Gresini Ducati, ahead of Red Bull KTM factory rider Brad Binder and Castrol Honda LCR’s Johann Zarco.
American Trackhouse Racing’s Miguel Oliveira was 12th, with teammate Raul Fernandez 14th.
Fermin Aldeguer (54), as seen in Qatar. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Winner of the last four Moto2 races of 2023, Fermin Aldeguer picked up where he left off, topping a tightly packed field in the first practice at Qatar.
Aldeguer turned a 1:58.373 on his Boscoscuro, edging a pack of Kalex machines, led by Zonta van den Goorbergh and Celestino Vietti. The top 18 machines were separated by less than a second.
American Joe Roberts was 26th on his return to the American Racing Team, half a second behind teammate Marcos Ramirez.
Ivan Ortola (48) topped the first Moto3 practice in Qatar. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ivan Ortola took his MT Helmets – MSI KTM to the top of the timesheets in the first Moto3 practice of the 2024 season. His 2:04.205 was less that two-tenths slower than the outright lap record of 2:04.075 set by Darryn Binder in 2021. Jose Rueda and David Munoz followed, the top three covered by 0.240 seconds.
Provisional Royal Enfield BTR Main Event (10 Laps) Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Taia Little (Roy), 10 laps
2. Kenzie Luker (Roy), -1.805 seconds
3. Mya Maffei (Roy), -5.382
4. Shasta L’Heureux (Roy), -9.571
5. Mikaela Nichols-Lionetti (Roy), -12.845
6. Hannah Lange (Roy), -17.863
7. Hannah Robertson (Roy), -1 lap
8. Kristiana Ross (Roy), -1 lap, 12.111
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event (6 Minutes + 2 Laps) Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Kody Kopp (KTM), 22 laps
2. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -1.502 seconds
3. Trent Lowe (Hon), -5.136
4. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -5.445
5. Justin Jones (Hus), -8.678
6. Tyler Raggio (KTM), -9.139
7. James Ott (Hus), -11.481
8. Travis Petton (KTM), -11.562
9. Jared Lowe (Hon), -11.892
10. Logan Eisenhard (KTM), -12.240
11. Evan Renshaw (Hon), -12.545
12. Tarren Santero (Hon), -13.261
13. Chad Cose (KTM), -13.875
14. Hunter Bauer (Yam), -15.415
15. Tom Drane (Yam), -1 lap
16. Landen Smith (KTM), -1 lap, 3.547 seconds
17. Jacob Vanderkooi (Hus), -1 lap, 3.864
18. Aidan RoosEvans (Yam), -3 laps
19. Evan Kelleher (KTM), -19 laps
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event (10 Minutes + 2 Laps) Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Dallas Daniels (Yam), 35 laps
2. Brandon Price (Yam), -3.769 seconds
3. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -4.162
4. Davis Fisher (Ind), -4.952
5. Sammy Halbert (Har), -6.685
6. Jared Mees (Ind), -7.042
7. Jarod VanDerkooi (Ind), -7.230
8. Briar Bauman (KTM), -9.594
9. Cameron Smith (KTM), -9.798
10. Dan Bromley (Hon), -14.433
11. Trevor Brunner (KTM), -15.556
12. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -17.511
13. Ben Lowe (KTM), -1 lap
14. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -1 lap, 4.743 seconds
15. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -1 lap, 5.615
16. Declan Bender (Ind), -1 lap, 5.923
17. Wyatt Vaughan (Kaw), -1 lap, 9.270
18. Morgen Mischler (Yam), -1 lap, 10.070
19. Logan Mcgrane (Kaw), -23 laps
More, from a press release issued by American Flat Track (AFT):
Daniels Increases Daytona Win Streak to Three in Dramatic Progressive AFT Opener
Dallas Daniels (32), Brandon Robinson (44), and Brandon Price (92) in action at Daytona Short Track I. Photo by Tim Lester, courtesy AFT.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 7, 2024) – The opening Mission SuperTwins victory of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, season went to Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) in a Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I that contained far more drama than Daniels’ final 3.769-second margin of victory would seem to indicate.
For much of the night – including the opening half of the Main Event – the fans that packed the Daytona International Speedway Flat Track grandstands thought they just might just witness Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol Harley-Davidson XR750) give the iconic Harley-Davidson XR750 its 503rd Grand National Championship race win more than five decades after its first.
In fact, Halbert topped a session in both practice and qualifying, won his heat race, and then proved victorious in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge aboard the venerable machine. He followed that up by grabbing the holeshot in the Main Event and then stretching open more than a second’s worth of padding at the front.
That advantage was further aided by the stiff fight Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) provided all comers while running second despite the likes of Daniels, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) all seeking a way through.
Daniels finally managed to make a pass that stuck a little over six minutes remaining on the clock and immediately went about eating up the gap to Halbert. However, what promised to be a thrilling dogfight for victory was spoiled when Halbert’s machine began to smoke heavily with half of the race still remaining.
The Estenson Racing Yamaha ace dove through to steal away first. Moments later, the black flag was (first) shown to Halbert, who continued to push for several laps before finally heeding the instruction.
Halbert’s misfortune saw Price move back up into second with Bauman third, while Daniels weaved his way through traffic out front en route to victory.
After the contest, Daniels – who will now look to equal last year’s season-opening double victory at the venue – said, “This track was so technical. It was nothing like last year where you could just kinda go in and get it on. What a ride for the team. We kind of struggled all day, and I was just chipping away. I started catching up to Sammy, and he started to blow up and coolant was getting in my face. (Once in front), I started looking back a lot. For some reason I got nervous, but the last five laps, I really buckled down and those were my fastest laps of the race.
“After Springfield, we left a little bitter. It didn’t feel good. That whole offseason we worked hard. To get three in a row at Daytona feels good. That Main Event, I had so much fun plugging away. I would prefer to get the holeshot and be out front but being able to come through and dig my way to the front felt good.”
Price held on for a most welcome runner-up finish in his all-new team’s maiden outing, while Robinson moved through on a fading Bauman to earn the final spot on the podium.
In fact, Bauman’s tumble down the order wouldn’t end there, as he was also displaced by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), nine-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) before finishing seventh in the end.
Cameron Smith (No. 34 RVR/KTM/Schaefer’s Motorsport KTM 790 Duke) picked up eighth, one spot ahead of Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Red Super Twins/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp), who took ninth in the new Honda-powered effort’s debut. Mission SuperTwins rookie Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke) completed the top ten.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Double defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) opened his quest for an unprecedented third class crown in near-perfect fashion, walking away with the Main Event after earlier winning both his heat and the Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge.
It was a fine way to not just start his title defense but also an all-new partnership after joining the Rick Ware Racing outfit just days prior to the opener.
While Kopp claimed the checkered flag running alone in the end, it wasn’t quite that simple in the doing. Despite grabbing the holeshot, he was actually overhauled by former class champ Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) before completing the first lap.
Gauthier then pulled some space at the front while Kopp had his hands full with projected title rivals Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R).
But Kopp found his groove at mid-distance, putting in a charge that allowed him to reclaim the lead and power forward to secure the victory by 1.502 seconds over Gauthier.
“We just kept our heads on straight the whole offseason,” said Kopp. “I love this track, and I love Daytona. Huge shout out to Rick Ware for coming on the program a little over a week ago. We pulled it together, and we got a win tonight. Wally Brown built one heck of a KTM 450 – arguably even better than the factory bikes I might say.”
Meanwhile, the final spot on the box went to neither Drane – who crashed on the last lap and was ultimately credited in 15th – nor Saathoff. Rather it was Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who finished third by battling his way back through the pack after being pushed wide and well down the order in the early stages of the Main.
Saathoff finished fourth another 0.309 seconds back with Justin Jones (No. 91 J&H Racing Husqvarna FC 450) rounding out the top five.
Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions/Media HT Husqvarna FC450), Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) finished sixth through tenth, respectively.
Earlier in the evening, Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) kicked off the Main Event program by winning the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. season opener in runaway fashion.
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at http://flosports.link/aft.
FOX Sports coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, March 16, at 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT), while the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II will air the following day, Sunday, March 17, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT).
Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. Progressive American Flat Track is televised on FOX Sports and streams live via FloRacing. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on X, and check us out on Instagram.
Defending Champion Tyler O’Hara earned provisional pole position during MotoAmerica Roland Sands Design (RSD) Mission Super Hooligan Qualifying One (Q1) Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.
Riding his S&S Indian FTR, O’Hara covered the 3.51-mile infield road course in 1:52.781, which was good enough to top the field of 36 entries and shatter Jeremy McWilliams’ lap record of 1:53.545.
Cory West was second-best with a time of 1:53.931 on his Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America.
O’Hara’s new teammate, Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss was third-quickest with a 1:54.410.
West’s teammates Travis Wyman (1:54.609) and Jake Lewis (1:55.050) were fourth and fifth, respectively, in Q1.
Danny Eslick (69), as seen on his TOBC Racing Triumph in 2023. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
TOBC TRIUMPH RETURN TO DAYTONA 200
The TOBC – Triumph racing team, supported by FreedomRoad Financial, returns to the Daytona 200 this weekend with Danny Eslick back on the track for another year.
Heading in to 2024, the TOBC – Triumph team have come together to reinforce the competitiveness of the TOBC Triumph team and the Street Triple. This also makes two teams supported by FreedomRoad Financial in the legendary race this weekend. Eslick will once again pilot a Triumph Street Triple, which powered his TOBC teammate to the top of the 2022 podium and now has five seasons of outstanding performance and reliability as the exclusive engine in the Moto2™ World Championship.
A victory for Danny Eslick would put the veteran racer in the company of few, tied for most wins all-time with five. Lindsay has already made history as the only female team owner to reach the top of the Daytona 200 podium, and a 5th win would further add to her legacy.
Michelle Lindsay – Owner, TOBC Racing
“I am excited to bring TOBC Racing back for another opportunity to compete in the Daytona 200 thanks to the support from Triumph and FreedomRoad Financial. It takes a team, and we wouldn’t’ be here without everyone working together to make it happen.”
Rod Lopusnak – General Manager, Triumph Motorcycles America
“The Daytona 200 continues to capture the world’s attention among racing events across the globe, As we gear up for the upcoming race, our focus remains on showcasing the unparalleled power and agility of the Triumph Street Triple and its 765 three-cylinder engine. Backed by Michelle and her TOBC Racing team, alongside the skills of Danny, we present a formidable force on the track. We extend our gratitude to FreedomRoad Financial for their unwavering support. Together, we aim to secure another victory and add to our legacy.”
Tom Collins – Managing Director, FreedomRoad Financial
“We are proud to have Triumph as our longest tenured OEM relationship as we’ve been their retail finance partner since 2008. We continue to be proud of the team’s performance on and off the track and we are excited to support them again in 2024.”
More, from a press release issued by TOBC Racing Owner Michele Lindsay:
When the band gets Themselves back together.
The phrase “Let’s get the band back together” resonates with many, but for me, as the team owner of TOBC racing, this year presented immense challenges. Balancing a battle with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, a demanding yet fulfilling career, and the joys of parenthood with a newborn son made the idea of racing impossible. I firmly believe in giving my all and dedicating 150% to my commitments, and my team deserves nothing less. The Daytona 200 was just not in the cards for 2024. Despite two attempts to sell the team and infrastructure, life had other plans.
The inception of TOBC was fueled by the passion of our founder, Jon Couch, who had a deep love for racing and a commitment to building a family-like team culture both on and off the track. After his unexpected and sudden passing in 2014, I purchased and took on the responsibility of leading his team to carry forward his legacy. Jon’s philosophy of treating team members like family led to remarkable achievements, including three full MotoAmerica seasons, finishing second, and fourth twice in the 1000 Superstock Championship, top 10 in Superbike, and four Daytona 200 victories, on three brands with two riders. His passion became my own, and with the support of my husband Myles Wilson, we continued the team for another six years.
The love for racing never truly fades, but for the sake of our growing family, I made a promise to focus on my career, health, and most importantly, nurturing my role as a mother to baby Holden, born shortly after the 2023 Daytona 200.
In late January this year, the reality of NOT being at the 200 sank in. I called Harry Houck, who became an invaluable member of the team at Daytona in October of 2021. I asked him, “How do I make peace with NOT being there?”
His response was nothing short of surprising.
“I have been waiting for this call, Boss,” he said, “Let ME run it…let me get the team to the 200.”
TOBC Racing Team Owner Michelle Lindsay (right) and Harry Houck (left). Photo by Myles Wilson.
His unexpected offer to lead the team to the 200 this year was touching, but knowing all that goes into it and Harry being a new father himself, I had doubts about its feasibility.
A few weeks went by without news, and I resigned myself to TOBC Racing’s absence from the 82nd running of Daytona 200. Then, a few days later, a call from Harry changed everything.
“It’s happening, Boss. The team is committed and covering their expenses to be there.”
Team members for TOBC come from as far as Norway, so this is no small feat.
Tears filled my eyes as gratitude washed over me. The camaraderie and dedication of my team and sponsors over the past decade proved truly exceptional.
Approaching my 11th year at the Daytona 200 (my 10th year running it) with the chance to secure Danny Eslick’s fifth win, my heart swells with gratitude and anticipation unique to Daytona.
Few team members now knew or had the opportunity to work with Jon, but carrying over the values and legacy of a family team and culture from Jon’s days, to mine, has now carried over yet again to Harry running it much the same. It makes a person feel like they did something right in the world. I am so incredibly honored.
I express heartfelt thanks to my team and sponsors for making this journey possible, not just for me, but for Danny as well. Most of all to Harry and his family….who is just passionate and crazy enough to take the torch and run with it!
Special thanks to Treemendous Tree Care, Triumph Motorcycles, Wild MFG, Pirelli Tires, K-Tech, Michael Matassa, sponsor of the Daytona Beach IFBB Pro-Am Body Building Competition, Full Spectrum Power, and our long-term sponsor and friend, Mark Matovina of Daytona-based Politus and Matovina Attorney’s at Law.
Your unwavering support has turned this dream into a reality.
TOBC has always embodied dedication and heart. I can’t believe I/we get to be here again, this time with my son fielding a bike at the iconic World Center of Racing. It is surreal. Can’t wait to see you there!
Richie Escalante earned provisional pole position during MotoAmerica Daytona 200 Qualifying One Thursday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway.
Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750, the Mexican rider lapped the 3.51-mile infield road course in 1:47.833, which surpassed his own Daytona 200 Lap Record of 1:48.133 from 2023.
Escalante’s teammate Tyler Scott was second-best with a 1:48.045, but on Scott’s next lap he crashed at high-speed in the chicane. Scott was taken to the infield medical care center, but according to Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Vice President of Operations Chris Ulrich, the 18-year-old is relatively uninjured and expected to ride later in the weekend.
Hayden Gillim was third-quickest with a 1:49.045 on his Vesrah Racing Suzuki GSX-R750.
Josh Herrin, winner of the 2023 Daytona 200, did the fourth-fastest lap at 1:49.302 on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2.
Bobby Fong rounded out the top five with a 1:49.372 on his Wrench Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R750.
Xavi Fores, the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, earned the final spot on the provisional second row (sixth) with a 1:49.859 on his Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha.
Former British Superstock 1000 Champion Richard Cooper finished the session seventh with a 1:49.933 on his PHR Performance Triumph Street Triple 765 RS.
Two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch was eighth with a 1:49.938 on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.
Stefano Mesa did a 1:49.947 on his Boulder Motor Sports Ducati and ended up ninth.
Four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick completed the top 10 provisional qualifiers with a 1:50.156 on his TOBC Racing Triumph Street Triple 765.
Escalante Takes Provisional Pole For 82nd Running Of The Daytona 200 Aussie Rookie Troy Herfoss Fastest King Of The Bagger, Rodio Quick In BellissiMoto Twins Cup And Tyler O’Hara Leads Super Hooligan National Championship Qualifying
Richie Escalante (54). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (March 7, 2024) – Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante took a big step towards making up for last year’s crash from the lead in the Daytona 200 by earning provisional pole position on a sunny Thursday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway.
Escalante’s lap of 1:47.833 is a new record and he was the only rider in the 68-rider strong field to lap in the 1:47s. The Tizayuca, Hidalgo, Mexico resident did his best time at the very end and modestly gave credit for the lap to a two-rider draft. Escalante, however, had earlier done a 1:48 lap by himself so his quick pace is obvious.
Escalante hasn’t forgotten last year when he was in a battle with Josh Herrin when the two came together in turn one and Escalante crashed. He’s hopeful of this being a redemption race and he’s determined to make that happen.
“For sure I’m really happy to be back,” Escalante said. “I feel great and the first day was amazing – P1. I made an amazing lap and I’m happy again to be racing in the 200. After last year I really want to come back and battle for the win again. Now I will keep working for the race. So, thanks to my team, Vision Wheel M4 Suzuki, and to all the fans.”
Escalante’s teammate Tyler Scott, meanwhile, ended up second, just .212 behind Escalante, but his session came to a painful conclusion with a crash in the chicane on his final lap. Scott was in the low 1:48s, with a 1:48.045.
Vesrah Racing’s Hayden Gillim gave the Suzuki GSX-R750 a sweep of the provisional front row with Gillim and his 1:49.301 the third fastest time of the session.
Defending Daytona 200 Champion Josh Herrin was fourth fastest on the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2 and just .001 of a second from the front row.
Next up was Wrench Motorcycle’s Bobby Fong in fifth, followed by Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Xavi Forés, Brit Richard Cooper, two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch (on another Vision M4 ECSTAR Suzuki), Boulder Motor Sports’ Stefano Mesa and four-time Daytona winner Danny Eslick rounding out the top 10 on the TOBC Triumph.
Troy Herfoss (17). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Mission King Of The Baggers – A Quick Study
Just a session after his first go at Daytona International Speedway, Australian Troy Herfoss went from “I’ve never been more scared in my entire life” to an impressive effort in the first qualifying session to earn provisional pole position.
Herfoss and his S&S/Indian Motorcycle-backed Challenger not only earned provisional pole, but he also set a new Mission King Of The Baggers lap record at Daytona International Speedway with his 1:50.017 besting Kyle Wyman’s lap of 1:50.563 from a year ago.
Harley-Davidson Factory Racing’s Kyle Wyman ended up second after leading most of the session, just .180 of a second off Herfoss’s lap. Herfoss’s teammate Tyler O’Hara completed the provisional front row and was the last rider to lap in the 1:50s with his 1:50.599 also under the lap record.
Harley-Davidson Factory Racing’s James Rispoli, RydFast Racing’s Kyle Ohnsorg and Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson’s Travis Wyman rounded out the top 10 on Wednesday.
BellissiMoto Twins Cup – Rodio All Day
Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering’s Gus Rodio picked up where he left off from his three-win 2023 Twins Cup season that netted him second place in the championship behind Blake Davis on day one at Daytona, with the New Jerseyan earning provisional pole.
Rodio did a fastest lap of 1:56.257 to best Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing’s Dominic Doyle with the South African .342 of a second behind Rodio and .256 ahead of 2023 Junior Cup Champion Avery Dreher and his TopPro Racing Team.
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki’s Rocco Landers ended up fourth on the day in his debut on the new GSX-8R. S.E. Composites Racing’s Ed Sullivan rounded out the top five, the crew chief for former Westby Racing Superbike rider Mathew Scholtz.
Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – The Champ’s Day
Last year, Tyler O’Hara won five of eight races en route to the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship and he looks like he’s ready to double down on that. O’Hara and his S&S/Indian Motorcycle FTR1200 was over a second quicker than his closest competition while earning provisional pole position on Friday afternoon at the Speedway.
O’Hara’s 1:52.781 put him over a second ahead of the Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson Pan America ridden by Cory West with O’Hara’s new teammate Troy Herfoss ending up third on his first day at Daytona International Speedway. West’s two teammates, Travis Wyman and Jake Lewis, were fourth and fifth, respectively.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. To watch all things MotoAmerica, subscribe to MotoAmerica’s live streaming and video on demand service, MotoAmerica Live+
More, from a press release issued by Rahal Ducati Moto:
DAYTONA 200
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024 | PRACTICE & QUALIFYING 1
Thursday’s on-track activities marked the first official sessions of the Rahal Ducati Moto Supersport campaign. Daytona International Speedway saw clear skies, providing excellent conditions to work on the mechanical and electrical foundations of the bikes, and service any issues that could arise within a new program.
Tomorrow’s schedule hosts Qualifying 2 with all three Rahal Ducati Moto riders competing in Group A. The session will be green from 10:10 AM to 10:40 AM with the fastest 12 riders combined from both groups advancing to the Time Attack round. Time Attack will be held from 1:15 to 1:30 PM, concluding the qualifying efforts and setting the field for Saturday’s 57-lap race.
PJ JACOBSEN
No. 15 XPEL DUCATI PANIGALE V2
PRACTICE: P35 (No Time Recorded) – GROUP A
QUALIFYING 1:: P24 (1:51.839) – GROUP A
NOTES: Issue with bike transponder in FP1 resulted in failure to record a lap time, requiring Jacobsen to return to the pits to fix // Upon exit, the No. 15 suffered a technical issue leading to contact with the track and significant damage to the racing machine // The XPEL crew was successful in getting the Ducati back in race condition in time for the first qualifying session.
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “For Practice 1, we went out there and ran some laps, but unfortunately we had a mechanical problem. I high-sided myself and slid up the banking. I found out after the practice when I looked through the electronics that it was something out of our control, which really upset our day.
“I still don’t feel that great [after Qualifying 1]. I think that there’s a lot of work to be done on our side of things so I’m hoping we can figure things out this evening, regroup, and positively focus on a better tomorrow, because honestly, today’s been a negative start for us. We’ll take some time to go over some things, figure out tomorrow, and try to move the No. 15 XPEL Ducati forward to the front”.
KAYLA YAAKOV
No. 19 XPEL DUCATI PANIGALE V2
PRACTICE: P30 (1:54.965) – GROUP A
QUALIFYING 1:: P28 (1:53.154) – GROUP A
NOTES: Ran her first-ever laps on the Daytona track in preparation for the Daytona 200 // Struggled with gearing issues, resulting in minimal track time // Also suffered minor electronics issues, a setback the team is confident will be solved by Qualifying 2
WHAT SHE’S SAYING: “Today was pretty eventful. It was the first day at this track on the new bike, with a new team, and new sponsors – so a lot of new for me, but we made the best of it. We had some small issues today that hopefully can get worked out for tomorrow. I think overall the day went pretty well, track-learning-wise, but we are definitely looking for a little bit more. We’re hoping for a good Q2 and to make a big step in the morning. Hopefully, some of the changes will buy us some time on the track and a good starting position for the No. 19 XPEL team.”
COREY ALEXANDER
No. 23 ROLLER DIE + FORMING DUCATI PANIGALE V2
PRACTICE: P29 (1:54.910) – GROUP A
QUALIFYING 1:: P30 (1:54.689) – GROUP A
NOTES: Drove a clean FP1 and Q1 earning quality time on the Roller Die + Forming bike ahead of the first race // Led the Rahal Ducati Moto team through FP1
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “It was a good first day on the Roller Die + Forming Ducati! We had bikes that ran so that was positive, and with no major mechanical issues overall. We need to make some big steps for the rest of the weekend, but we will do some homework tonight and have a better day tomorrow.”
BEN SPIES
RAHAL DUCATI MOTO TEAM PRINCIPAL
WHAT HE’S SAYING: “Today was another day of testing for us. It wasn’t an easy day, but we did learn a lot. We had a setback with PJ’s crash, which was not his fault, as he had a small issue with the bike and luckily he’s okay. We have a lot of things to work on tonight, and if we can put it all together for tomorrow and the race, I think we can still start clawing back through the field. We definitely had a rough first day but those happen in racing and we just have to get through it”.
Over a dozen Triumph and BSA factory racebikes were on hand at last year's Willow Springs Grand Prix. Legendary builder Rob North was on hand for autographs and camaraderie. Photo by Jeff Weeks, courtesy BradyWalker.com.
WILLOW SPRINGS GRAND PRIX APRIL 13th & 14th – ROSAMOND, CA
The Willow Springs Grand Prix returns to Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California, on April 13th & 14th. The 3rd annual event, celebrating classic racing motorcycles and the folks who pilot them, will happen at the historical Big Willow track, heralded as the first purpose built road-racing track still in use today. There will be an abundance of attractions for spectators of all ages and opportunities for moto-centric businesses to engage their audience in a relaxed environment.
From vintage to modern and traditional to outrageous, every brand, year and type of motorcycle will be represented at the two-day Willow Springs Grand Prix road races. Last year Rob North and friends brought more than a dozen Triumph & BSA triple road racers to compete and display, the most of these machines ever in one place in history. This year’s poster honors Willow icon, Curtis Adams, who will be on hand for stories, photos & autographs as the official grand marshal. We are excited to see what legends & legendary motorcycles will show up this year!
We welcome Classic British Spares as the title sponsor of this year’s GP. Located in the heart of Lancaster, just a few miles away from the track, Classic British Spares is your parts provider in the desert! With over 10,000 parts in stock, CBS has what you need to get your British bike back on the road or the track. Check ‘em out: www.classicbritishspares.com.
The Performance Motorcycle Show will take place Saturday afternoon and is free to enter. Classes include: Road Racer, Off-Road, Flat Tracker, Speedway, Drag Bike, Track Bike, Street Café & Street American Performance. Display your ride for the chance to win a radical trophy and prizes from our sponsors! Then, Saturday evening transitions into grudge drag racing under the lights on Big Willow’s front straight. Hosted by Speedkings, the drags drew thousands of folks in the Antelope Valley and beyond to show what their bike is made of or root for their favorite rider. It’s only $20 to compete and you only need street gear to participate.
We cannot make this event happen without the generous support of our class sponsors. Thank you Willow Springs Raceway, Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, Barnett Clutch & Cable, Moto Chop Shop, JRC Engineering, SoCal Motorcycles, San Diego BMW, McMarro Family Restaurants, Oxford Suites, Danny’s Electric, Moto Republic, Biltwell & Speedkings!
All race class information & event schedule can be found on the website. General admission fees are $25 for a one-day pass, $40 for two days and children under 8 years old are free. Swap meet spaces & overnight camping are free with paid entry. Vendor, swap meet & event info can be found at www.bradywalker.com , via email [email protected] or phone 310-980-7129. Track info can be found at www.willowspringsraceway.com or by calling 661-256-6666. We look forward to seeing you at the races!
EVENT INFO
The Willow Springs Grand Prix
Willow Springs International Raceway
3500 75th St W, Rosamond, CA 93560
April 13 & 14, 2024
Two days of road racing, swap meet, vendors, bike show & drag racing!
Reigning Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss earned provisional pole position during MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Qualifying One (Q1) Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.
Riding his S&S Indian Challenger, Herfoss lapped the 3.51-mile infield road course in 1:50.017, which not only topped the field of 17 entries but also broke Kyle Wyman’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:50.563.
After setting the fastest time, Herfoss’ Indian suffered a technical problem that forced him to pull off the track.
Wyman was second-best in the session with a 1:50.197 on his Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Road Glide.
Herfoss’s teammate Tyler O’Hara did the third-quickest time, a 1:50.599.
Defending Champion Hayden Gillim was fourth with a lap of 1:51.239 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
Wyman’s teammate James Rispoli rounded out the top five with a 1:52.055 in spite of his session being cut short by a technical problem.
Ruben Xaus walked away from a high-speed crash on his Feuling Parts Harley-Davidson.
Gus Rodio earned provisional pole during MotoAmerica BellissiMoto Twins Cup Qualifying One (Q1) Thursday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway.
Riding his Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660, Rodio covered the 3.51-mile infield road course in 1:56.257 to top the field of 27 entries.
Dominic Doyle was second-fastest on his Giaccmoto Yamaha YZF-R7 with a time of 1:56.599.
Avery Dreher, the reigning MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, turned the third-fastest lap, a 1:56.755, on his TopPro Racing Aprilia RS 660.
Rocco Landers finished the session fourth with a time of 1:57.191 on his new RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki GSX-8R.
Ed Sullivan, the former crew chief of MotoAmerica Superbike racer Mathew Scholtz, did a fifth-best 1:57.643 on his SE Composites Racing Yamaha.
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