If the sun shone yesterday on Daytona, the temperature was abnormally low and this is perhaps the explanation for the large gaps in times and even the disappointment of some favorites like Taylor Knapp, who is having difficulty making his MV 675 performance.
However, the top riders most often cited are there, including the Frenchie Valentine Debise, in which an outsider got involved, the young Cory West from whom we have expected exploits since his promising 2014 season.
It is the eternal michael barnes, the 2016 winner, who took pole position in 1'49''487. If it's not a total surprise, we didn't necessarily see him at the top of the qualifying page, the long-distance race specialist. Follows Valentin Debise who with a time of 1'49''526 takes the 2016 pole by more than a second! Cory West is the third and last under 1'50 in 1'49''854. Dany Eslick, double winner here, closes the leading four in 1'50''067, an excellent time but which puts him in fourth position which should not please this extremely popular but strong character driver.
Then come in a group shot very close to the first four, Robertino Pietri, Jason Farrell, Geoff May, Kyle Wyman, Barret Long and Kaleb de Keyrel.
Let's stop for a few moments on Kaleb de Keyrel, undoubtedly the pilot who has the least means of all the "quick". He races in a small family structure whose father, a talented ex-crossman, is the linchpin of a team that runs the three De Keyrel brothers... when he finds sponsors. Thus, Kaleb almost did not drive at speed in 2016 after two good seasons. Certainly they are based in Minneapolis (6 months of snow!) where it is better to be a champion of Tractor Pulling than of motorcycle speed but that does not hide the harsh reality of motorcycle speed in the USA which is looking for a new lease of life after having dominated the world in the 80s and early 90s. If Daytona 200 and MotoAmerica are the locomotives, each in their own way, of this discipline across the Atlantic and where the means are implemented, the fact remains that only time and methodical work will make it possible to give a successor to Lawson, Rainey, Schwantz and other Hayden. Is he among the entrants for this 200 Daytona 2017? Probably not but who knows?…
But back to our Frenchie who won over the American public last year with his performances and his personal investment in this country where no Frenchman before him had shone for a whole year. We really have to highlight Valentin's performance today because it was not without difficulty. The breakage of a valve spring in the first qualifying session did not allow him to complete more than 6 laps, which is a serious handicap on this circuit which can only be tamed after many laps. He started the second session with a new engine just reassembled a few minutes before hitting the track. He remains calm, applies himself but has to change shock absorbers during the session. He will only complete 8 laps but it will be enough to snatch the second fastest time of the session behind Dany Eslick.
The third qualifying session begins and Valentin will be one of those who will complete the most laps as he did in 2016 in MotoAmerica. It was good for him because he improved his best time, once again pulverizing the 2016 pole and obtaining the second time behind a furious Barnes and having been able to take very good advantage of the draft on the tri-oval to make his time.
But tomorrow, everything is called into question for the race.
Staying calm and attentive will undoubtedly be one of the keys to winning because, in addition to the opponents, there are many pitfalls at Daytona. An example ? The speed in the pits during refueling is not limited, entry is made by leaving the ring at full speed, i.e. at more than 280 km/h and if you decelerate of course in the pits you drive there at a speed which would make the hair stand on end of any commissioner of the next 24 Hours of Le Mans! A unique exercise that requires extreme concentration.
Saturday March 18, 2017, the announced poster is there with the 3 favorite drivers at the front of the grid, accompanied by a young hopeful who is not afraid of them. However, they will have to be wary of the dozen or so other very fast drivers who will not do them any favors. And then we are at Daytona and a hold-up by a “no grade” is always possible like in 2012 when Joey Pascarella won the race right under the nose of the favorites by teaching them a lesson in a final draft on the ring worthy of Miguel Duhamel or Scott Russell (Mister Daytona)!
Follow the race on the internet starting this evening at 18 p.m. on www.fanschoice.tv
Text written by Régis Poiteau for Paddock-GP.com
