This Thursday, we started with a track record for the 82nd edition of the Daytona 200, which welcomed 68 drivers of 13 different nationalities to Florida at the Daytona International Speedway according to the following program, in French times:
Thursday 7 March 2024
16:45 p.m. – 17:15 p.m. Daytona Supersport Practice 1 Group B 30 min)
17:25 p.m. – 17:55 p.m. Daytona Supersport Practice 1 Group A (30 min)
14:50 p.m. – 15:20 p.m. Daytona Supersport Qualification 1 Group A (30 min)
15:30 p.m. – 16:00 p.m. Daytona Supersport Qualification 1 Group B (30 min)
The favorites we mentioned yesterday are all in group A and logically find themselves at the top of the timesheets, whether during free practice or the first qualification.
From the first session of said group, Suzuki placed 4 GSX-R 750s in the first 5 places, Richie Escalante (Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki) ahead Josh Herrin (Only Fans Warhorse Ducati) in 1'48.968.
Bis repeated during qualifying 1, the Mexican driver producing a big improvement and even setting the new track record, a performance which he modestly attributes to a double aspiration on the ring.
However, we cannot forget that Richie Escalante
certainly has revenge to take, at least on fate but also undoubtedly on Josh Herrin, contact with the latter sending him to the ground while he was leading the race last year…
“Of course, I’m really happy to be back”, said Escalante. “I feel great and the first day has been amazing – P1. I had an incredible ride and I'm happy to race the 200 again. After last year, I really want to come back and fight for victory again. Now I will continue to work for the race. So thank you to my team, Vision Wheel M4 Suzuki, and all the fans. »
Escalante's teammate, Tyler Scott, meanwhile finished second, just 0,212 behind Escalante, but his session ended painfully with a crash in the chicane on his final lap. Scott was in the 1'48 seconds, with a 1'48.045.
Modest beginnings on the other hand for the three YART pilots, rookies in the exercise…
The rest, qualification 2 and “Superpole” this Friday, at the following times (French times):
Friday March 8 2024
16:10 p.m. – 16:40 p.m. Daytona Supersport Qualification 2 Group A (30 min)
16:50 p.m. – 17:20 p.m. Daytona Supersport Qualification 2 Group B (30 min) 1
19:15 p.m. – 19:30 p.m. Daytona Supersport Time Attack
Photo credit and rankings: Brian J. Nelson / MotoAmerica.com
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