ELENA MYERS WINS DAYTONA! SuzukiScoopFans SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki’s Elena Myers claimed her second career AMA Pro victory in sensational fashion on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. Her win was also the first by a woman in a professional motorsports event at the fabled venue. The 18-year-old AMA Pro SuperSport title hopeful got her revenge for Friday’s race in which she fought for the win but got shuffled back in the draft on the contest’s final lap. On Saturday, she altered her strategy, putting her GSX-R600 at the front of a four-rider lead pack as they raced up onto the banking for the final time. Myers tucked into the cockpit and made herself as small as possible in the sprint to the checkered flag. The decision paid off as her rivals proved incapable of drafting by her at the stripe, with Myers scoring the win by 0.240 seconds. “These guys were super-fast all weekend and they ran a great race — I was just trying to stay with them,” Elena said. “Yesterday I got the short end of the draft and I was happy today there were only four of us up in the lead pack instead of eight. “It was good just to have a few of us up there, just going back and forth. It was a phenomenal race. I stayed up there and led a little bit, then stayed behind just to see how much I could be behind and still catch up. Everyone’s bikes were really fast but mine was too. “I just can’t thank my team enough for giving me such a great bike this weekend. They put just the greatest machine under me. I’m so happy to get a win for them. It’s a great feeling and nothing compares to it. That’s why come here and do what we do — to stand on the top of the box.” M4 Broaster Chicken Suzuki’s Dane Westby overcame adversity to secure a top-five finish in the 71st running of the legendary Daytona 200. The Oklahoman showed remarkable speed in the race, leading laps aboard his GSX-R600 Daytona SportBike machine during his opening stint. He further impressed by tracking down the leaders from several seconds back to arrive in the lead once again prior to his second pit stop. However, the team encountered an issue during his second stop, a setback that ultimately hurt his chances for the win. Dane continued to fight and eventually came home in fifth position at the conclusion of the arduous 57-lap contest. Dane showed remarkable speed throughout, which bodes well for his chances to return to the top of the AMA Pro podium in 2012. “I was really happy with the pace I could run. I was able to make up a lot of the deficit and I think I’m gaining a lot of knowledge and confidence,” said Westby. M4 Broaster Chicken Suzuki’s Chris Ulrich enjoyed a second positive outing in AMA Pro Superbike competition during the weekend. Still returning to peak form following an injury-hit 2011 season, Ulrich battled for a top ten position and claimed a close 12th position in the 15-lap affair. “It was another positive race,” Ulrich said. “We got to dicing in there during the race. We’ve now got two races and 30 race laps under our belts. We banked two races and picked up some points and we’ll build from there. I’m looking forward to going to Atlanta and continually improving and going forward the way we should be. Last year if I would have left Daytona with a 11th and a 12th it would have been the end of the world but this year I’m quite pleased.” Team Venezuela’s Robertino Pietri, with assistance from Team Hammer Contract Services, earned strong results in both AMA Pro Superbike races in Daytona. ‘Tino was an impressive eighth on Friday and followed up with another top ten on Saturday. Next week Homestead-Miami Speedway will host an official AMA Pro Road Racing test, and a month later on April 20-22, the ’12 championship will resume with Round 2 at Road Atlanta. More, from a press release issued by KTM North America: Fillmore Finishes 14th Daytona AMA Pro Superbike Race Day 2 Daytona Beach, FL KTM/HMC Superbike Racing Team rider, Chris Fillmore, earned a 14th place finish on the second day of competition at the second race of the AMA Pro Superbike Racing Series held at Daytona Speedway. In the morning warm-up laps Fillmore turned a lap time over 1 second faster than his qualifying time from the day before. “We made some changes to the bike and I was feeling more comfortable in the morning session,” remarked Fillmore. At the start of the race, Fillmore had a great jump from his fourth row starting spot. He came around the first lap in 9th position. Unfortunately a small mechanical issue shortly after the first lap caused Fillmore to lose multiple positions. At the end of lap two he had fallen to 17th position. He quickly began to make up ground and passed into 16th before the fifth lap. Two laps later he moved into 15th place and set his sights on the pack in front of him. With two laps to go, one rider dropped out of the race which allowed Fillmore to move up to 14th. Fillmore continued to pressure the group in front of him but ran out of time to make additional passes and settled for 14th overall for the day. “The positive item from this weekend is that we finished safely and we were able to make some points toward the championship,” remarked KTM/HMC Superbike Racing Team Manager Mitch Hansen. “We also know items that we need to work on and we are looking forward to our upcoming test sessions to improve our set-up.” The team will now head to the Homestead-Miami track where they will spend two days testing to help prepare for the next event. Next Race: Road Atlanta April 20-22, 2012 More, from a press release issued by LTD Racing: CHALLENGING DAYTONA 200 FOR LTD RACING Daytona, FL (March 17, 2012) A promising event at Daytona International Speedway took a difficult turn for LTD Racing on Saturday in the 71st Daytona 200. David Gaviria finished the entire 200 miles despite significant difficulties on his way to 15th place. Huntley Nash, who showed great speed in qualifying and practice, retired due to machine issues despite early promise in the 57-lap contest known for the grueling nature of the event. David Gaviria lost a footpeg during the race but was able to finish 15th. “200 miles and I’m beat, but I feel great because I finished,” said Gaviria, who was credited with a trap speed of over 197 miles per hour. “Before the second pit stop, the footpeg broke and I had to finish like that. 22 laps without a footpeg and we couldn’t change it in the pits without stopping again. I’m very happy with the result because I was in the top 12 before I made a couple of mistakes with one footpeg. It’s okay and I’m actually pretty happy given the circumstances.” Nash ran as high as fifth place but was forced to pit, then retire, after his bike malfunctioned. “I was happy with the way I rode this weekend but it’s tough when you have machine problems,” said Nash. “I’m pretty pumped with how I rode, we just have to put it together and have a good weekend. I’m ready for the next race.” Despite LTD Racing’s tough weekend, team owner Melvin Nash was pleased to see former LTD Racing team member Joey Pascarella win the Daytona 200. “We had a tough race even though David and Huntley performed well during course of the weekend. Also, we’re always glad to see members of our racing family do well and we couldn’t be happier congratulating Joey on winning the Daytona 200,” said Nash. More, from a press release issued by RoadRace Factory/Red Bull: Daytona, FL (March 17, 2012) – Saturday at Daytona International Speedway was quite a challenge for the AMA Pro paddock’s new challengers, RoadRace Factory/Red Bull, but by day’s end the new squad could claim their first podium as well as two more top-ten finishes. Jake Gagne earned eighth place in his first-ever Daytona 200. Gagne raced within a tough pack composed of veteran riders battling for fifth place. “I wanted to get through Daytona but this was good. I learned a lot from my first Daytona 200,” said Gagne. “It was all new to me and there are things to take in for the next time. The first stint was my worst and I was able to pick it up the second and third stints. I rode with Tommy Hayden and Jake Zemke, guys whom I look up to in the sport and guys that have been at a high level for a long time. I learned a lot, for sure. We finished the entire 200 miles, which was the goal.” J.D. Beach earned 11th in what was a lonely race for him. “It wasn’t too bad. I messed up in the first stint and I lost the draft. I rode alone a lot so I was just kinda stuck out there by myself. I learned a lot and finished the race. Last year we had a three-hour break in the middle so it wasn’t the same. We’ll build on this for the next time.” A spectacular SuperSport race saw Hayden Gillim earn the first-ever podium for RoadRace Factory/Red Bull. Hayden was a very close third place and he fought for the win. Gillim charged up to the leading pack on his own then made his bid for the victory in the closing laps. He came up just short of victory (0.248 seconds) but took a well-deserved podium placing for his efforts. “I knew I had to go and I didn’t have a draft,” said Gillim. “After I made it to the lead pack, I was saving it for the last lap. Corey (Alexander) and I were trying to get in Elena (Myers’) draft. They both rode great races and it was very close. I can’t give it up enough for the Road Race Factory/Red Bull mechanics. They really improved the bike for today.” Tomas Puerta struggled after his close fourth place finish on Friday but turned in a solid result of 6th, 10.893 seconds behind the winner. “We did a lot of changes to the bike and it didn’t work the way we hoped it would,” said Puerta. “Our gearing choice wasn’t ideal and the changes to the front of the motorcycle didn’t work like we wanted. Still, sixth is a good result. I tried to stay with Hayden on the first lap but I knew I couldn’t keep up. I tried to do the best that I could and we improved some positions at the end. We’re looking forward to testing and then Atlanta.” “We got our first podium and some good results,” said manager Danny Walker. “I couldn’t be happier. You come to Daytona and know it will be tough. The team didn’t tear up any equipment, no crashes, we didn’t break a motor, and we were competitive. That’s pretty unheard of. As a new team, we’re way excited about how things went down. I’m happy with everyone’s performance. Jake did great and was in the hunt for the top five. J.D. rode a smart race. Both our SuperSport boys were able to run strong. I’m as happy as I can be. We’re going back to the shop to give things some more ‘oomph’ for the next races.” The Road Atlanta event is April 20-22. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.: Yamaha YZF-R6® Rider Pascarella Wins Daytona 200; Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha’s Beaubier Finishes On Podium; Teammate Hayden Is 7th Daytona, FL March 17, 2012 19-year-old Joey Pascarella won the 71st running of the Daytona 200 aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6®. Riding to help raise awareness and support for the March of Dimes March for Babies, Joey led 41 laps of the 57-lap race. Also the same age as Joey and hailing from the same part of California, Cameron Beaubier raced his Yamaha Extended Service /Graves/Yamaha R6 to a podium finish. Cameron was fast and out front at the start of the race, and he led 5 laps at the “World Center of Racing.” The final lap was as exciting as any 200 ever raced, and Cameron was in contention to notch the win. As always, drafting played a key role in the outcome, and Cameron crossed the finish line in third. Tommy Hayden was called into action at virtually the last moment as a replacement rider for Garrett Gerloff, who was unfortunately injured in the first AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike practice on Thursday. Despite very little seat time in preparation for the race, Tommy relied on his immense experience and finished in a very impressive 7th place. After the race, Cameron said, “I’m proud to put my Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha R6 on the podium, but I’m also disappointed to not win the race. My crew gave me a great bike, and the pitstops were flawless. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.” The Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha team’s next race is in about five weeks’ time when AMA Pro Racing makes its return to Road Atlanta for the Big Kahuna Atlanta on the weekend of April 20-22. Be sure to follow the Yamaha U.S. Road Racing Teams on Facebook.