GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Series Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida March 15, 2013 Provisional Qualifying Session Two Results (3.5-mile course, all on Dunlop tires): Ambient temperature at the start of practice: 59 degrees F 1. Cameron Beaubier (Yam YZF-R6), 1:49.612 2. Garrett Gerloff (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.102 3. Bobby Fong (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.332 4. Jake Zemke (Duc 848EVO), 1:51.599 5. JD Beach (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.871 6. Jake Lewis (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.173 7. Joey Pascarella (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:52.213 8. Huntley Nash (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.243 9. Jake Gagne (Yam YZF-R6), 1:52.343 10. James Rispoli (Suz GSX-R600), 1:52.439 11. Steve Rapp (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.447 12. Benny Solis (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.726 13. Jason DiSalvo (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:52.987 14. Kenny Riedmann (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:53.177 15. Elena Myers (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:53.479 16. Bostjan Skubic (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.497 17. Ben Young (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.702 18. Fernando Amantini (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.750 19. Barrett Long (Duc 848EVO), 1:54.645 20. Scott Ryan (Yam YZF-R6), 1:55.192 21. Shane Narbonne (Suz GSX-R600), 1:55.258 22. Melissa Paris (Hon CBR600RR), 1:55.466 23. Luke Mossey (Yam YZF-R6), 1:55.905 24. Anthony Fania (Yam YZF-R6), 1:55.999 25. Tristan Palmer (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:56.177 26. Luke Stapleford (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:56.553 27. Daniel Ortega (Yam YZF-R6), 1:57.278 28. Daniel Guevara (Suz GSX-R600), 1:58.065 29. Brian Kcraget (Suz GSX-R600), 1:58.703 30. Barry Burrell (Yam YZF-R6), 1:58.825 31. John Ashmead (Kaw ZX-6R), 2:00.288 32. Darren James (Yam YZF-R6), no time recorded More, from a press release issued by Geiger Media on behalf of GEICO Motorcycle Road Racing: GEICO Motorcycle pro Rapp to start Daytona 200 on third row DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 15) – Thanks to being in the right place at the right time, Steve Rapp will be starting Sunday’s Daytona 200 in the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike series aboard the GEICO Motorcycle Honda instead of working at his day job as a commercial pilot. “I’ve got a nice boss who let me off tomorrow so I could race Daytona again,” Rapp said. Rapp will be filling in for Dane Westby, who suffered injuries during a practice crash on Thursday and wasn’t cleared to continue this weekend. With just morning practice and Saturday’s qualifying session to dial in the bike, Rapp successfully earned the 11th on the grid with a best lap of one minute, 53.087 seconds. “We were a draft way from the front row,” Rapp said. “I really like the Honda. They did a good job developing it. The motor feels fast. Everything about the bike feels easy. What I need to do now is focus on getting it set up to fit my style rather than Dane’s, which is normal in a situation like this.” Towards the end of qualifying, Rapp entered pit row so the team could put fresh tires on the bike. He was ready to make some qualifying laps in the draft, but another rider oiled a large portion of the front-stretch, ending the session five minutes early. “We’re going to look at the data hard overnight,” Rapp said. “We’ve got the warm-up session tomorrow morning to dial the bike in a little better for me.” Like with its NASCAR counterparts, where you begin the Daytona 200 doesn’t matter near as much as how well you race in the draft. “Once it starts, you never know,” Rapp said. “I can tell you that 57 laps is a long time. A lot can happen. I feel great and the bike is easy to ride. The guys on this team have done pit stops for 20 years, so I know we’ve got that part of it covered. That’s what you need to win — a good bike and a good team behind you. “Tomorrow in the warm-up I want to go out and draft with the top five guys and see where I am gaining and losing time. I’ll fine-tune my riding from there.” When Rapp won the Daytona 200 in 2007, he came from ninth place at the start to get the win, so he knows the strategy it takes to get to the front. “I started third row in that race and had dislocated my shoulder two weeks before we got here but we still got the win,” Rapp said. “I’m feeling way better than that this time so I’m optimistic.” The warm-up for the GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing series’ GoPro Daytona SportBike Daytona 200 gets under way at 9:15 a.m. Saturday from Daytona International Speedway. The main event will take the green flag at 1 p.m. and be broadcast live on SPEED TV. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha: Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Riders Go One-Two In Final Qualifying For Daytona 200 Daytona, FL March 15, 2012 – The two young riders who make up the Yamaha Extended Service/Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha Daytona SportBike Team were the class of the field in final qualifying for the 72nd running of the Daytona 200, as Cameron Beaubier earned the pole, and his teammate Garrett Gerloff will start right next to him in second position on the grid. Cameron earned the coveted Rolex wristwatch for winning the pole, and the 20-year-old from Roseville, CA, continues to earn the utmost respect from his fellow riders for his talent, racecraft, and sportsmanship. Commenting on his pole-qualifying effort, Cameron Beaubier said, “The track temp came up, and I got a good draft on the last straightaway to the finish. I felt pretty good, and thought I might get a faster lap at the end, but I’m obviously happy to win the pole. The Rolex watch is such a cool thing, and to join guys like Scott Russell and all the other legends who have won the pole and gotten the Rolex, it’s a great feeling.” Garrett Gerloff, the 17-year-old phenom from Spring, TX, said, “Conditions were a lot better this afternoon, for sure. This was my first Daytona 200 qualifying, so I’m thrilled and I can’t wait for the race tomorrow.” The Daytona 200 field is set, and the start of the 57-lap event is scheduled for Saturday, March 16 at 1:00 PM. Check your local TV listings for Speed TV’s telecast of the race. For more news, results, and other team info, be sure to check out Yamaha’s Facebook page and follow the team on Twitter @YamahaMotorUSA More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway: Yamaha’s Cameron Beaubier Captures Daytona 200 Pole, Rolex Watch Graves Yamaha Rider Josh Herrin Captures First Daytona SuperBike Victory DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Graves Yamaha rider Cameron Beaubier captured the pole and the coveted Rolex watch on Friday afternoon for Saturday’s 72nd Daytona 200 AMA Pro GoPro Daytona Sportbike race at Daytona International Speedway. Beaubier, riding the No. 6 Yamaha YZF-R6, toured the 3.51-mile road course in one minute, 49.612 seconds to secure the pole for America’s most historic motorcycle race. “I felt like I got a pretty good lap in,” Beaubier said. “I got held up just a little bit going through the chicane. That was the only mistake I had. I felt pretty good through the infield and I got a good draft towards the finish.” The 40-minute session was shortened by about eight minutes due to a red flag for oil on the track. While Beaubier was pleased with the qualifying lap, he felt he might have been able to go even faster if the session wasn’t cut short. “I wanted to get a flier in at the end but I’m really happy with my lap,” said Beaubier, who finished third in last year’s Daytona 200. Rounding out the front row is Beaubier’s Graves Yamaha teammate Garrett Gerloff (1:51.101 seconds), Bobby Fong on a Richie Morris Racing Yamaha (1:51.332) and 2006 Daytona 200 champion Jake Zemke (1:51.599), who expects the difference maker in the grueling 57-lap, 200-mile race to be pit stops. “This race, it’s a long race but it’s definitely won and lost in the pits,” said Zemke, who rides a Ducati. “Everybody’s going to be doing their best to make sure we can keep Cameron in check for a little while. He’s been setting the pace all weekend. He’s been going really good. He’s definitely setting the benchmark that everybody is going to be chasing.” National Guard SuperBike Race 1: Graves Yamaha rider Josh Herrin kicked off the 2013 AMA National Guard SuperBike campaign by holding off Yoshimura Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas to earn his first Daytona SuperBike victory. On the last lap, Herrin was able to pull away aboard his Yamaha R1 from Cardenas’ Suzuki GSX-R1000 exiting the chicane toward the start/finish line to win the 15-lap opening round by .135 seconds. Cardenas settled for second with Larry Pegram coming home in third on a Yamaha. Three-time defending AMA National Guard SuperBike champion Josh Hayes opened his title defense with a disappointing 17th-place finish. Hayes took the whole shot and lead early but developed clutch issues on Lap 6 and dropped out of the race. “I just feel bad for the boys here,” Hayes said. “I’m sure they are going to go back to the drawing board and make sure this doesn’t happen again.” Another top contender, Jordan Suzuki’s Roger Hayden, crashed early in the race. “I don’t want to beat up on myself but it almost feels like it’s not a win because Josh (Hayes) was out, Roger (Hayden) was out, Danny (Eslick) crashed. It’s still a win and the bike was working good and (the crew) has been putting in a lot of hours. I can’t thank them enough.” The second round of the AMA National Guard SuperBike is set for Saturday at 11 a.m. Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Series/Motorcycle Superstore.com SuperSport: In the Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, the finish of the seven-lap season-opening event came down to an 11-bike draft with No. 29 Harley-Davidson of Tyler O’Hara coming out on top by a margin of .75 seconds. “It’s all about putting yourself in the right place at the right time,” O’Hara said. “It feels really good to come out of here with a win.” “You could have thrown a tissue over all of us,” said runner-up Kyle Wyman, who was shooting for a third straight Daytona win in the Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson event at Daytona. Six riders decided the 10-lap Motorcycle Superstore.com SuperSport event, Stefano Mesa riding aboard the No. 37 Yamaha passed David Sadowski Jr. exiting the chicane and held on for a .26 seconds margin of victory. For more information and tickets for the remaining Daytona 200 Week events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can follow Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (@DISUpdates) and stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest for all the latest news all season long. More, from a press release issued by LTD Racing: SECOND ROW START FOR NASH IN DAYTONA Huntley Nash and LTD Racing qualified eighth for the Daytona 200 on Friday, a fine result given the deep AMA Pro Daytona SportBike field at America’s most historic road race. Nash, who led much of the morning qualifying session before ultimately taking second place in cool conditions, was able to continue his momentum in the afternoon in faster conditions and earned a start on the second row of the grid. Nash’s goal to be involved at the fight near the front saw him post a time of 1:52.243 at the 3.51-mile Daytona long course. “A second row start is good and equaled my best in this class so far,” said Nash, who rode a Yamaha R6 prepped by the LTD Racing team and crew chief Vic Fasola. “This is for the Daytona 200 – a very important race — and I am excited. We got robbed of a few minutes at the end due to a red flag but we did well.” Huntley’s focus is to show some speed off the start. “I want to be in the big fight at the beginning. However the pit stops go, they go. Hopefully it works out well and we get out cleanly and have a good race but I need to be quick before the first stop. Everything is going smoothly this weekend. I felt some jitters last night but that’s because I was ready to get out there and see what I could do.” “We’re going to practice our pit stops and be ready tomorrow,” Nash concluded. The 72nd Daytona 200 begins at 1 PM Eastern Time on Saturday. More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer: SOLIS AND PARIS QUALIFY FOR 72ND DAYTONA 200 M4 Broaster Chicken Racing’s Benny Solis will open the 72nd running of the Daytona 200 from the third row following a tumultuous Friday at Daytona International Speedway. While again showing considerable promise, Solis endured a difficult day of qualifying. The Californian only clocked a pair of laps in the cold morning session before crashing in slick conditions. His afternoon effort was cut short as well, as a mechanical issue ended his run prematurely. Still, Solis managed to qualify his Honda CBR600RR 12th for the prestigious race with a best time of 1:52.726. More importantly, he has shown the speed in the lead-up to the race to battle with the frontrunners in what promises to be a long, arduous affair on Saturday. “It was a difficult day,” Solis admitted. “We didn’t get in as many laps as we would have liked, but we were still able to rally and earn a place on the third row. We’ve shown some good pace in practice and we’re looking forward to moving up the order in the race. The bike has been fast this weekend and we feel really optimistic about our chances. I’m excited to show what we can do.” Melissa Paris also feels she has the ability to race forward in Saturday’s 200 aboard her MPH Honda CBR600RR. After showing impressive speed while running 13th and 15th fastest in Thursday’s free practice sessions, Paris qualified 22nd at 1:55.466 on Friday. She was unable to get the most out of qualifying after failing to catch onto the all-important draft around the high banks, circulating by her lonesome for the bulk of the session. Her plans to make a late charge were also upended when the session ended early due to a red flag. Meanwhile, Chris Ulrich got his first race aboard the M4 Broaster Chicken Honda CBR1000RR Superbike under his belt on Friday. Ulrich had electronics issues while downshifting that sent him flying off the track three times but Chris came back to take the checkered flag in 14th. He took another step forward in learning how to best unlock the bike’s considerable potential. He’ll have another opportunity to continue that progression in the second race of the AMA Superbike season on Saturday morning, while Solis and Paris prepare for the 57-lap, 200 miler in the afternoon. About Team Hammer: In 2013, Team Hammer, Inc. is competing in its 33rd consecutive racing season, and is marking its seventh year of offering technical and logistical support through its Contract Services Department. Riders on Team Hammer-prepared racebikes have earned 54 AMA Pro National race wins; 130 AMA Pro National podium finishes; 5 AMA Pro Championships; 133 Overall National Endurance race wins; 13 National Endurance Championships and assorted other race wins and titles. More, from a press release issued by Rides Discount Triumph: Joey Pascarella Lands Second Row Spot For The Daytona 200 After Qualifying Cut Short Final qualifying for the 72nd running of the Daytona 200 may have been cut short due to a competitor’s mechanical failure leaving a streak of oil on the track, but this didn’t stop Riders Discount Triumph’s Joey Pascarella from landing a spot on the second row of the grid for Saturday’s race. Pascarella and his #52 Riders Discount Triumph Daytona 675R completed the 3.51 mile course in a time of 1:52.213, which made him the fastest of the four Triumphs in the field, and put him in seventh position overall. “Today wasn’t too bad,” said Pascarella following the second qualifying session. “I’m happy that we’re on the second row. We managed to get the Triumph dialed in a little more after the cold morning session where I ended up fourth. I was feeling comfortable with the bike in final qualifying, but it was red flagged before I was able to get a good lap in with the new tires. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and can’t thank the team enough.” Team owner, Brian Gibson, was pleased with the day’s results. “The temperature during this morning’s first qualifying session had me thinking I had never left our headquarters in Michigan, so I was glad things started warming up for the second session. I can’t complain about a second row start, and with Joey’s talent we know he has what it takes to bring home a podium finish.” “Today started off much better,” commented Riders Discount Triumph team manager, Bree Poland. “Even in the cold and slick conditions of the first qualifying session, Joey got his bike dialed in and ended up 4th. Things were looking really good in the final qualifying session as well, but the red flag cut things short just as we thought he was going to put the bike on the front row. Overall we’re happy with a second row start, and we are good going into tomorrow’s race. Joey is feeling confident with the bike, and he has the memory of winning last year fresh in his mind, so we’re all hoping for a return to the podium.” Joey Pascarella would like to thank his sponsors: Riders Discount, Triumph, Speed and Strength, K-Tech, Shoei, Akrapovic, Dunlop, Motion Pro, Zero Gravity, Vicci, Maxima, Saddlemen, Sidi, Forcefield Armour, Full Spectrum Power, Renthal, Andrew Swenson Designs, Hanshaw Engines, GB Covers, Brembo, Cap-It Tire Warmers, Spiegler, Attack Performance, Sharkskinz, Drippinwet, Pitbull, Fastbikes About RidersDiscount.com: RidersDiscount.com is an online retailer of quality powersports gear, apparel and accessories. A company founded by racers, RidersDiscount.com ships equipment for every riding style to customers worldwide, backed by knowledgeable sales team and excellent customer service. Triumph Motorcycles (www.TriumphMotorcycles.com) 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. *If interested in being a partner/sponsor of Riders Discount Racing, please contact [email protected] for more info, stay tuned for a full list of 2013 team sponsors.*