For this 81st edition of the Daytona 200, there are many headliners but two of them stand out from the crowd: Brandon Pasch for Triumph and Josh Herrin for Ducati.
Here are the press releases from the times concerned…
TOBC – Triumph Racing Team, Supported by FreedomRoad Financial, Returns to the Daytona 200 with the aim of reiterating the sensational Brandon Paasch's victory in last year's race.
For the 2023 race, which takes place this week from March 9 to 11, a victory of Brandon Pasch or his teammate Danny Eslick would strengthen the competitiveness of the TOBC Triumph team and the Street Triple. It would also mark the history of the winning driver and the team principal Michelle Lindsay.
Another victory for the two-time defending champion, Brandon Pasch, would make him the only driver in history to win three Daytona 200s in a row, while a victory for Danny Eslick would put the veteran driver at the top, tied for the most victories of all time, with five successes. Michelle Lindsay has already made history by being the only female team owner to stand on the top step of the Daytona 200 podium, and a 5th victory would further add to her record.
Brandon Pasch et Danny Eslick will both ride the all-new 765 Triumph Street Triple 2024 RS. After propelling Paasch to the top of the 2022 podium and delivering four seasons of exceptional performance and reliability as the exclusive powerhouse of the Moto2™ World Championship, the 765 triple engine has been upgraded for the 2023 season. The upgraded engine, now part of the all-new 765 Street Triple 2024 series motorcycle family, has already made its racing debut in the Supersport World Championship and will be a notable improvement of the already proven racing motorcycle.
Michelle Lindsay, owner of the TOBC team: “ I am grateful that TOBC Racing has the opportunity to compete in another Daytona 200 thanks to the support of Triumph Racing and FreedomRoad Financial. We are also grateful for the support of major sponsors Politus & Matovina PA Attorneys, Palm Beach Police and Fire Foundation, Pirelli, and Boulder Motorsports who helped us realize this project. »
Danny Eslick, 4 times winner of the Daytona 200: “ Last year it was difficult because I knew I was in the race the whole time and some things didn't go the way I wanted. I can tell you one thing, I learned from last year that it's the bike and the team that you have to have. So there is no doubt, I am coming for a fifth victory! »
Brandon Pasch, two-time winner of the Daytona 200: “ I've been waiting all year to get back on my Triumph and race the Daytona 200 with this TOBC team. Last year's victory reinforced the confidence I already had in the bike and in Michelle's team. It will be great to carry this confidence into the 2023 race as we strive to defend last year's victory. I am also grateful for the continued personal support of the Classic Car Club of Manhattan, Evolve GT and Luxe Star. »
Jeremy Appleton, Global Racing Manager, Triumph Motorcycles: “ The Daytona 200 is one of the world's legendary races, making victory in 2022 a significant moment in the history of Triumph Racing. Now it's time to get back to work and go racing to demonstrate that the Triumph Street Triple and its three-cylinder 765 engine represent the ideal combination of power and handling. Michelle's experience and professionalism with her TOBC Racing team, combined with the pedigree that Brandon and Danny bring to racing, make for a formidable combination. We are grateful for the continued support of Triumph's long-time partner, FreedomRoad Financial, and we intend to add another trophy to the cabinet, which would be a fitting reward for all the work Brian has done in Boulder Motorsports and engineers at Triumph headquarters in the UK. »
The Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team will take the fight to the banking at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, with Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés set to race on Ducati Panigale V2s.
Herrin's 200 Daytona 2023 will be where he hopes to add to his 2010 victory. If he succeeds, he will join a select group of established stars who have scored a victory in the big race on two different makes and displacements.
For the experienced Forés, the Daytona 200 will be a new race on his journey ahead of his MotoAmerica Supersport Championship debut at Road Atlanta April 21-23. The Spaniard spent 2022 competing in select rounds of the WorldSBK Championship for Barni Ducati, as well as a full season of the FIM Enel MotoE World Championship for Pramac Racing, and the Endurance World Championship (EWC) for the Team ERC Endurance Ducati. Xavi will be riding his Warhorse HSBK V2, sporting the World Endurance Team ERC livery. He will also be accompanied by members of the ERC team who will help him in his fight for victory.
Xavi Fores (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati n°12): “This will be my first time at Daytona and I’m very excited. I'm really hoping to do well because I've raced in the World Endurance Championship for the last few years so I'm used to long races with pit stops. My endurance team will come to Daytona to help me, which will be a bonus for everyone on the HSBK team. I rode the Ducati Panigale V2 in Spain this past month and I feel really strong on this bike. I was able to do some fast laps, but I know the race in America will be a new challenge. I will be returning to Spain after Daytona, as my partner and I are expecting a baby soon, and then the three of us will move to America for the season, so this year will be very exciting. »
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati n°2): “I am very excited to return to Daytona. It will be a very exciting race. The 200 is one of my favorite events. I feel like we've always done well there, but it's a big effort and not just a short 20-lap race. There are a lot of pieces of the puzzle to winning there, a lot of drafting and pit stops, and it's such a tough place on the bike with strengths you don't get anywhere else. I'm delighted to have a second chance with the V2 before taking part in MotoAmerica Superbike, and the presence of Xavi Forés in the team will be really appreciated. After seeing the performance of V2 last year, I know we will be in the running. I've been working on the bike a lot over the last three months and I've lost 15 pounds from last year, so I feel good, I know the bike will be fast and I can't wait to get started. »
