Aprilia USA 1/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports’ Ty Howard and Michael Himmelsbach rode an Aprilia RSV 1000 “Tuono” to victory Sunday in the Daytona 300, the season-opening event of the SunTrust MOTO-ST endurance Championship.
Several teams took a turn leading the race — including Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki 18 (Michael Barnes/Chris Ulrich/Cory West), Touring Sport Ducati III (Doug Polen/Peter Friedland), BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta (Richard Cooper/Nate Kern) and Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing (Shawn Higbee/Dan Bilansky) but the battle for victory came down to Aprilia USA 1/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports and Touring Sport Ducati III.
Touring Sport Ducati III’s Polen (who turned the fastest lap of the race, a 1:45.350, and rode all but 14 laps of the 108-lap race for his team) was maintaining a modest advantage over Aprilia USA 1/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports’ Howard late in the race, but Polen had to pit to refuel his Ducati 848 on lap 95, handing the lead to Howard. Polen returned to the track 24 seconds behind Howard, but Howard’s Aprilia had enough fuel to take him to the checkered flag and his first MOTO-ST win at Daytona.
The official margin of victory was only 4.573 seconds because Howard rode conservatively on the final five laps to ensure he made the finish.
Aprilia USA 1/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports also won the Buell Motorcycle Company Super Sport Twins (SST) category.
Aprilia USA 6/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports’ Zac Chapman and Henry Wiles were fighting for third with BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta’s Cooper, but Wiles’ “Tuono” started running out of fuel late in the race. To ensure he made it to the finish, Wiles slowed his pace, conceding third place to BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta. Wiles’ Aprilia made it across the line for fourth then ran out of fuel on the cool-down lap.
Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki 18 fell behind early when the remote brake adjuster on the team’s SV1000S broke and they had to pit off-schedule to fix it. This resulted in the team falling nearly two laps behind, but they worked their way back up to finish fifth overall and the last team on the lead lap.
Cycle Dynamics’ Ted Cobb and James Rispoli took the win in the Sport Twins (ST) class (and ninth overall) on their Kawasaki Ninja 650. It was an emotional victory for 16-year-old Rispoli, whose mother died unexpectedly just three weeks earlier. Cycle Dynamics came out on top of a race-long struggle with Pair-A-Nines (Jay Springsteen/Jimmy Filice), the reigning ST class Champions, and M4 AVTEQ Racing 67 (Dane Westby/Kyle Martin). Only 25 seconds separated the three teams after over three hours of racing.
In post-race checks, however, M4 AVTEQ Racing 67’s Suzuki SV650 was found to be over the class’ 75-horsepower limit, and they were demoted to the last finishing position in the ST class. This promoted M4 AVTEQ 66 (Russell Wikle/Ryan O’Donnell) to third in ST on their Suzuki SV650.
Finishing 12th overall and first in the BMW Grand Sport Twins (GST) division was Team Rightsforbikers.com 69’s Jason Edmonds and Rodolfo Ramirez, who shared a Paul Smart Ducati 1000. Team Rightsforbikers.com 69 was trailing Touring Sport Ducati (Frank Shockley/Brad Phillips), the defending GST class Champions, late in the race, but Touring Sport Ducati’s Paul Smart 1000 ran out of fuel and the win went to Team Rightsforbikers.com 69.
Second in GST went to Moto Corse’s Christopher Boy, Kevin Mendez and Greg Melka (who rode a Bimota DB5), while third place went to Wagner Motorsports’ Gus Holcomb and Mark Reynolds (who shared a Paul Smart Ducati 1000).
In post-race inspections, however, Team Rightsforbikers.com 69 and Moto Corse were both found to be over the 90-horsepower limit for the class. This gave the win to Wagner Motorsports and elevated James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing Buell’s Paul James and Jeff Johnson to second and Richie Morris Racing Buell’s Clint Brotz and Tripp Nobles to third in GST.
In spite of losing a footpeg in the opening laps, a crash and radio problems that caused an unscheduled pit stop, Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing was in contention for the overall win, but rubber build-up on the pulleys caused the drive belt of the team’s Buell 1125R to fray to the point it needed to be replaced. A fire during a later refueling stop brought Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Racing race to an early conclusion.
Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki 3’s (Robertino Pietri/Martin Cardenas) race ended much earlier when Pietri dropped a wheel off the edge of the racetrack at the exit of Turn Eight exactly where and how Jason DiSalvo crashed during the Dunlop tire test at Daytona in December and crashed, causing one of the two full-course cautions during the race. Pietri suffered a fractured scaphoid bone in his left hand. At post time, Pietri was seeking medical options that will allow him to ride in next week’s AMA season-opener at Daytona.
SunTrust MOTO-ST Daytona 300 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida March 2, 2008 Provisional Race Results: Overall:
1. Aprilia USA 1/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports (Ty Howard/Michael Himmelsbach), Apr RSV1000, SST, 108 laps
2. Touring Sport Ducati III (Doug Polen/Peter Friedland), Duc 848, SST, 108 laps, -4.573 seconds
3. BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta (Richard Cooper/Nate Kern), BMW R 1200 S, SST, 108 laps, -57.019 seconds
4. Aprilia USA 6/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports (Zac Chapman/Henry Wiles), Apr RSV1000, SST, 108 laps, -78.194 seconds
5. Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki 18 (Michael Barnes/Chris Ulrich/Cory West), Suz SV1000S, SST, -92.459 seconds
6. Team Hooters Aprilia (Mike Luke/Ben Carlson/Andy Deatherage), Apr RSV1000, SST, 107 laps
7. Vallely Racing 32 (Mark Crozier/Matt McBride), Suz SV1000S, SST, 106 laps
8. Serpent Racing (Marco Martinez/Jason Temme/Calvin Martinez), Duc 848, SST, 105 laps
9. Cycle Dynamics (James Rispoli/Ted Cobb), Kaw EX650, ST, 104 laps
10. Pair-A-Nines (Jay Springsteen/Jimmy Filice), Kaw EX650, ST, 104 laps, -19.460 seconds
More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:
No. 1 Aprilia Of Howard, Himmelsbach
Capture Daytona 300 SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. For the second straight year, an Aprilia found Gatorade Victory Lane in the opening round of the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series at historic Daytona International Speedway.
The team of the Ty Howard and Mike Himmelsbach on the No. 1 Aprilia USA/ Lloyd Brothers Motorsports team captured the overall win in the Daytona 300 SunTrust MOTO-ST Series race on Sunday afternoon.
“I’ve been coming to Daytona since 1989,” Howard said. “I’ve never had any kind of luck here. Always one of the fastest guys but never able to finish or do very good. On that cool down lap, I almost wanted to cry. It was like I finally had a result here. It was so awesome that it was first.”
Howard, who ran out of gas coming out of the chicane earlier in the race as he was getting ready to pit, slowed in the final laps of the 108 lap, 500K event to conserve fuel. He wasn’t concerned about losing the lead to the runner-up overall finishers the No. 75 Touring Sport Ducati of Doug Polen and Peter Friedland
“We knew we had a big lead,” Howard said. “They weren’t catching me at all until the last five laps. I slowed down and started doing about 8,000 RPMs on the banking to make sure we had enough fuel to finish. I wasn’t too worried about them catching me. I could pick it up and go fast if I wanted to.
“With five laps to go and a 24-second lead, I backed her down. I’m not turning over 8,000 RPM on the banking until I hit the finish line. I know it would take a lot for them to catch me. The gas light had been on for five laps and I was like, ‘Oh no.’ “
Nate Kern and Richard Cooper on the No. 4 BMW R1200 made a late charge to take a third-place overall finish on a street bike that they converted into a race bike.
“I’m still speechless,” Nate Kern said. “From our third rider getting hurt, from our A bike MOTO-ST bike getting absolutely destroyed. I brought my street bike to instruct at Team Hammer. Man, it’s bone stock. Richard Cooper with eight laps to go, we were 12 seconds down. He made up 12 seconds in eight laps.”
In last year’s Daytona 300, the Italian team of Federico Aliverti and Giancarlo DeMatteis, riding aboard the No. 6 Aprilia Tuono won the inaugural event.
The winning average speed 90.814 mph and the margin of victory was 4.573 seconds.
In the Sport Twin Class, the No. 43 Cycle Dynamics Kawasaki, powered by James “The Rocket” Rispoli and Ted Cobb took first in class, 9th overall. Jay Springsteen and Jimmy Filice rode their No. 9 Pair-A-Nines Kawasaki to a second-place finish while Dane Westby and Kyle Martin placed the No. 67 M4 Avteq Racing Suzuki on the podium in third.
Rispoli and teammate Cobb dedicated the win to Rispoli’s mother, Loretta, who passed away recently. “I would really like to dedicate this race to my mom,” said Rispoli. “She was really helpful. She was the best.”
Teammate Cobb added, “I want to dedicate this race to my teammate’s mom, Loretta, who unexpectedly passed away two weeks ago. It was a big effort for them to come and make the race so I want to dedicate the race to her.”
In the Grand Sport Twins Class, the No. 69 Team RightsforBikers.com Ducati piloted by Rodolfo Ramirez, Jason Edmonds and John Linder took top honors.
“We had a good time. We always have a good time and we love coming out here,” said Edmonds. “Daytona has been really good to me. We love being up here on this podium and it’s a good feeling for all of us.”
Added Linder, “It was a good race. We did the whole series last year and never got a win. It’s nice to finally get that first win. Maybe our luck will turn around this season.”
Quick hits: Next up at Daytona International Speedway will be two days of AHRMA Vintage Racing “¦ Close to 100 riders participated in a hour-long SunTrust MOTO-ST Series autograph session on Sunday morning in the Sprint FANZONE.
Sunday’s Results: SunTrust MOTO-ST Series Daytona 300: Overall: 1. Ty Howard, Mike Himmelsbach, Aprilia; 2. Doug Polen, Peter Friedland, Ducati; 3. Nate Kern, Richard Cooper, BMW. Amateur Unlimited SuperSport: 1. Gustavo Sanchez, Yamaha 1000; 2. James Cohrs, Yamaha 998; 3. Bruce Nelson, Suzuki 1000; Expert Unlimited SuperSport: 1. Jeff Wood, Suzuki 1000; 2. Michael Barnes, Suzuki 1000; 3. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki 1000; Amateur Middleweight SuperSport: 1. Rapael Ferrer, Kawasaki; 2. Larry Karpinsky, Yamaha 600; 3. Chris Maher, Kawasaki 600; Expert Middleweight Supersport: 1. Martin Cardenas, Suzuki 600; 2. Cory West, Suzuki 600; 3. Michael Beck, Yamaha 600; Expert Lightweight Supersport: 1. Ryan O’Donnell, Suzuki 650; 2. Gino Angella, Ducati 1000; 2. Alex Lazo, Suzuki 650; Expert Heavyweight Supersport: 1. Darren Luck, Suzuki 600; 2. Sean Dwyer, Yamaha 600; 3. Andrew Londono, Yamaha 600; Expert Thunderbike: 1. Nate Kern; 2. Dave Estok, Buell 986; 3. Richard Cooper, BMW 1200; Amateur Thunderbike: 1. Carl Reid, Buell 1203; 2. Joel Spalding, Buell 1200; 3. Fernando Barbosa, Ducati 1000; Expert Unlimited Superbike: 1. Robertino Pietri, Suzuki 1000; 2. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki 1000; 3. Hawk Mazzotta, Suzuki 1000; Amateur Unlimited Superbike: 1. Gustavo Sanchez, Yamaha 1000; 2. Rafael Ferrer, Kawasaki 600; 3. James Koers, Yamaha 998; Expert Lightweight F40: 1. Kevin Mendee, BIM 1000; 2. Joe Delaney; 3. Eric Menethier, Ducati 1000; Amateur Lightweight F40: 1. Jay Smith, Buell 1200; 2. Marcelo Juchem, Ducati 1000; 3. Scott Anderson, Suzuki 650; 125 Grand Prix: 1. Scott Coccoli, Honda 125; Morten Frederiksen, Honda 125; Steve Wenner, Honda 125; Amateur Lightweight Supersport: 1. Fernando Barbosa, Ducati 1000; 2. Justin Pennella, Suzuki 650; 3. Leonard Roy, Suzuki 650; Amateur Heavyweight Supersport: 1. Rafael Ferrer, Kawaski 600; 2. Larry Karpinsky, Yamaha 600; 3. Christopher Maher, Kawasaki 600.