Daytona 200 J3: Brandon Paasch does the double for 7 thousandths on a Triumph-camel!

For the third day in a row, the timetables for the 80th edition of the 200 Miles of Daytona had to be modified, always for the same reason; the rain so hated by American pilots. 

This Saturday, it fell in the morning, shortening the starting procedures, postponing the races by more than an hour and pushing back the start of the 200 Miles of Daytona to 20:20 p.m. French time.

Before this, a 15-minute warm-up took place which allowed Sheridan Morais (Syntainics Racing Team) to impose his Yamaha in 1'51.417, to compare with the 1'50.088 achieved by Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC) on his Ducati Panigale V2 during the Superpole.

Behind the South African (registered under Portuguese nationality) qualified in 2nd position, we found Samuel Lochoff (Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR) on a Suzuki, Max Angles on his Max Angles Racing Team Kawasaki, Richie Escalante on the second Suzuki of the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR team and finally Danny Eslick on a Triumph fielded by the TOBC Racing team.

Where did the poleman go? Josh Herrin ? Like Cameron Petersen (Attack Performance Yamaha), the Ducati representative took no risks in this tricky session, settling for an insignificant 6'35.307. For his part, Jack Gagne (Attack Performance Yamaha) crashed and injured his ankle: not good for the race…

A new downpour and a fourth postponement finally postponed the start to 21 p.m. and, finally, it was off for 57 laps!

A very competitive start but unfavorable to the Yamahas, the first R6 finishing the first lap in 5th position! Conversely, the two Triumphs of the multiple winner Danny Eslick and Brandon Pasch preceded the Kawasaki by Max Angles and the Ducati of Josh Herrin.

In the next passage, Brandon Pasch seized command in front Josh Herrin who was in the lead on the 3rd lap while Jake Gagne returned to the stand. But with the slipstream on the ring, no one really managed to break away from the leading group and, better, Cameron Petersen (Yamaha) and Max Angles (Kawasaki) returned to the front.

From the 5th lap, the latter two managed to gain a good second lead over the peloton made up of the following drivers: Joshua Hayes (YAM), Danny Eslick (SORTING), Josh Herrin (DUC), Brandon Pasch (SORTING), Richie Escalante (SUZ), Hayden Gillim (SUZ), Kevin Olmedo (YAM), Harry Truelove (YAM), Samuel Lochoff (SUZ), Sheridan Morais (YAM), Geoff May (SUZ) and Cody Wyman (YAM), while Jake Gagne suffers too much and gives up.

Two laps later, the race was stopped at the red flag, following the fall of Jose Lloreda (29th) at the exit of the chicane. Timothée Monot is 33th.

After around twenty minutes, the second start is given. Danny Eslick (Triumph) fails a little, Max Angles (Kawasaki) maintains the leadership acquired before the interruption, ahead Joshua Hayes (YAM) and  Josh Herrin (DUC), but 12 drivers remain in the same second: things will change… 

Indeed, Cameron Petersen (Yamaha) takes the lead on the 10th lap, then Josh Herrin (DUC) in the next passage. 7 pilots begin to escape, the 2 aforementioned plus Richie Escalante, Joshua Hayes, Sheridan Morais, Max Angles and Brandon Paasch. We double and redouble ourselves in aspiration, but Josh Herrin manages to stay in the lead, although without any margin of safety.

At 35 laps from the checkered flag, the separation is well done and the seven men have a lead of around ten seconds, this time with Cameron Petersen very briefly in command. Josh Herrin takes back his property and the waltz of the first supplies begins at the next passage...

Coincidence or not, we note that the Ducati then remains on the track at least 3 laps more than the Japanese, both Triumph 4s!

Once the first supplies are completed, the hierarchy presents Cameron Petersen (YAM),Sheridan Morais (YAM) and Joshua Hayes (YAM) grouped, Brandon Pasch (TRI) 2 seconds behind and everyone else more than 15 seconds behind, including the ex-leader Josh Herrin (DUC) who undoubtedly ran out of fuel and ended up freewheeling, just like Danny Eslick (SUZ), author of the best time in the race! The race will obviously be played out more in the pit lane than on the track…

On your mind, Brandon Pasch manages to join the Yamaha trio and the 4 men are having a great time while the halfway point is well past the halfway point.

16 laps from the finish, the second refueling begins. Cameron Petersen (YAM),Sheridan Morais (YAM) dive first, Joshua Hayes (YAM) and Brandon Paasch (TRI), no. On the next pass, the 3rd Yamaha of Joshua Hayes refuels in turn, the Triumph of Brandon Pasch… No. She only did it with 11 laps to go.

Once things stabilize, we find Cameron Petersen (YAM) 2 seconds ahead Sheridan Morais (YAM), Joshua Hayes (YAM) and Brandon Pasch (TRI), all others over 35 seconds. There are then 9 laps remaining and this is the moment when Live Timing decides to remind us how it started the weekend: down for everyone!

Fortunately, it only lasts two laps, and we already know that victory will be decided between the 4 leading men, even if Cameron Petersen (YAM) manages to temporarily maintain its 2 seconds lead.

Indeed, the aspiration on banking does not forgive and the junction is made on the 54th of 57 turns, and we are preparing to relive an incredible finale identical to that of last year, where Brandon Pasch had won in aspiration by 3 hundredths of a second over Sean Dylan Kelly.

Two laps from the checkered flag, Sheridan Morais (YAM) takes the lead and the 4 drivers are within 2 tenths, the Triumph lying in wait in 4th…

Cameron Petersen (YAM) regains command at the start of the last lap but it was last year's young (20 year old) winner, Brandon Paasch, who proved to be the smartest, taking advantage of the power of his Triumph Street Triple 765 RS and winning his second consecutive victory, this time for 7 thousandths, after having achieved the best lap in the race in the last laps (1'49.959).

Pirelli celebrates its third consecutive victory at the 200 miles, which this year is part of the MotoAmerica Supersport calendar where Dunlop is in force (Daytona excluded). The Italian company also monopolizes the podium.

The pilots’ reactions… tomorrow.

Provisional classification for the 200 Daytona 2022: