Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Canadian teen Andrew Nelson tested soft barriers at Daytona during Thursday’s AMA Superstock qualifying session.

Nelson was riding his Honda Canada CBR600RR when he fell entering turn six, the last corner in the infield section of Daytona’s 3.56-mile road course. “I came in there way too deep and locked the front tire,” said Nelson.

“I was sliding along and thinking, ‘At least there’s Airfence.’ It worked out pretty good. I hit it, and I could’ve went to sleep in it. It was that soft. I’ve hit haybales that were put in front of a wall before, and it feels just like hitting a wall.”

Nelson missed the remainder of the Superstock qualifying session and ended up with the 24th-fastest time, 1:56.261.

Nelson was 12th-fastest on his repaired machine in Friday morning’s Superstock practice.