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AMA SportBike Daytona 200 Results

Friday, March 06, 2009

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Ben Bostrom aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6 in Daytona SportBike.

Yamaha's Ben Bostrom won a confusing and shortned 55-lap Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway.

Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom won the 2009 Daytona 200 by Honda aboard his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 at Daytona International Speedway. For the first time in history, the 68th running of the race began at night under the lights. A Honda pace car led the 72 rider field across the line for the series first-ever rolling start. And it was Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom who claimed the holeshot aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6. Behind him was his new teammate Josh Hayes, Geico Powersports Danny Eslick, Team M4 Suzuki’s Jason DiSalvo and Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke.

Eslick used the extra cc’s in his Buell 1125R to draft pass the Yamaha’s on the back straightaway. However his lead would be short lived as the larger size of his Buell made it easy for the smaller, more aerodynamic bikes to catch up. Hayes, Bostrom and Eslick would continue to battle until Lap 11, when Eslick was forced to pit when his Buell's bodywork detached and began flapping in the wind. He would rejoin several laps down.

The running order now was Bostrom, Hayes, Team M4 Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas, DiSalvo, Yamaha’s Josh Herrin, Zemke and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking. Cardenas continued to push his way towards the front once again making it a 3-way battle for the lead.

On Lap 17, riders began coming into the pits for fuel and tires. Hayes and Bostrom pitted on Lap 18, while Cardenas would be one of the last riders to pit on Lap 20. After everyone had taken their first pit stop, Hayes had opened up a substantial six second gap over DiSalvo who was running in second followed by Herrin, Zemke, Bostrom and Cardenas. Cardenas was once again on the move cutting laps a full second faster than anyone else on track.

A fair number of fans came out to watch the AMA's first-ever night race.

Problems with the tracks lighting system brought out the yellow flag on Lap 37, then Yamaha’s Tommy Aquino crashed on the same lap (uninjured) bringing out the red flag. The race was then restarted based on the running order at the end of Lap 37.

But the restart didn’t go as smoothly as expected and it was absolute chaos with another yellow flag being thrown 11 laps later with the race order being completely mixed up. The Honda pace car reestablished the running order and it was to be a nine lap sprint race to the checkered flag.

It was a five rider battle-royal up front with DiSalvo and Bostrom routinely drafting past one another on the straightaway. Hayes made a pass on Herrin in the horseshoe but then immediately highsided his R6 as he tried to close on Bostrom. The running order was now Bostrom, Herrin, DiSalvo and Hacking with Bostrom opening up a second gap over second place. Bostrom would continue to hold on to his tiny lead and take the win by just over a half a second over Herrin.

AMA Pro Road Racing Daytona SportBike Daytona 200 by Honda Results:
1. Ben Bostrom, Yamaha YZF-R6
2. Josh Herrin, Yamaha YZF-R6
3. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R600
4. Jamie Hacking, Kawasaki ZX-6R
5. Shawn Higbee, Buell 1125R
6. Barrett Long, Yamaha YZF-R6
7. Chaz Davies, Aprilia RSV1000R
8. Dane Westby, Yamaha YZF-R6
9. Martin Cardenas, Suzuki GSX-R600
10. Leandro Mercardo, Kawasaki ZX-6R
11. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR
12. Steve Rapp, Yamaha YZF-R6
13. Damian Cudlin, Yamaha YZF-R6
14. Pintar Bostjan, Yamaha YZF-R6
15. Russell Wikle, Suzuki GSX-R600
16. Miguel Duhamel, Suzuki GSX-R600
17. Garrett Carter, Yamaha YZF-R6
18. Eric Wood, Honda CBR600RR
19. Santiago Villa, SuzukI GSX-R600
20. Tyler Odom, Honda CBR600RR
21. Melissa Paris, Yamaha YZF-R6
22. Ben Thompson, Aprilia RSV1000R
23. Ty Howard, Aprilia RSV1000R
24. Chris Peris, Honda CBR600RR
25. Michael Barnes, Buell 1125R

2009 AMA Superbike Gallery

Latest AMA Superbike News

See More AMA Superbike Racing News

AMA Superbike Rider Bios

Mat Mladin Bio

During the past decade, Mat Mladin has been the most dominant rider in the modern era of AMA Superbike racing.

Ben Bostrom

Ben Bostrom has truly rode his way to international stardom. After winning the hearts of American race fans, Ben took his show overseas.

Larry Pegram Bio

Larry Pegram was born in Columbus Ohio and has been racing as a professional since 1988.

View All AMA Superbike Rider Bios

View all articles by Adam Waheed
View all articles in AMA Pro Road Racing 2009 News

Comments

Dennis - 200 March 20, 2009 07:09 PM
Good race hated the start. Real racing at the Isle of Man.

Andy - Eslick and Buell March 16, 2009 12:02 PM
For one, Eslick's team had aftermarket bodywork, not stock. Maybe they should have stuck with the stock stuff, and they would have been fine.

Neil - DQ'd March 12, 2009 05:59 PM
Chris Peris and John Ashmead have been disqualified for passing under yellow. Results have been updated again...

K'platsie - Get Real March 10, 2009 03:36 PM
I hope those Hillbillies over at Buell don’t use the same high-tech stuff (duck tape and zip ties) to fix their customer’s bikes when they bring them in for service. Or maybe they do and this is why the FACTORY Buell was falling apart. LOL.

CarPeople - Ty Howard's View March 9, 2009 10:28 PM
http://bbs.125gp.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=116854&gonew=1#UNREAD Nightmare on International Blvd

Neil - Disqualification March 9, 2009 09:31 PM
I was wondering who the Honda rider was who hit Tommy Aquino, and if he was disqualified for passing under the yellow, and causing the wreck?

Wood! - NasCrap? Ugh.... count me out. March 9, 2009 01:46 PM
By giving away thier racing circuit to the DMG, the AMA has all but guaranteed that the ONLY quality motorcycle racing circuits worth following are WSBK & MotoGP... I've loved going up to Mid-Ohio, but they wont get my money if this is the supposed project were expected to swallow. ie, dumbed down.

Brian - bad info... March 9, 2009 07:49 AM
First off, the article mentions that Tommy Aquino wrecked.... I'm pretty sure he was hit from behind at high speed during a yellow flag by a red honda. Second, it seems pathetic that most bikes only took one rear tire and the tires used are the Dunlop GP-A. This was the roadrace tire I used 8 years ago! Old tire and slow lap times in the 1:49-1:51 range. The new, slower, SBK guys were more than 10 seconds faster. I guess it's more important for the racing to have several different brands at the top. Anyway, why IS NASCAR so popular? Is it the access to the fans? Is it the fact that nothing else is really on television? Is it that stock cars are supposed to be based on stupid cars like the Ford Taurus? Maybe, it's because we like to drink and don't really care what is on tv as long as we can see a wreck. No wonder the world hates us....

thewall - This is NOT motorcycle racing March 9, 2009 12:08 AM
If they keep on with this NASCRAP type racing format I am done with American pro level motorcycle road racing. What a JOKE. Not only did the format blow but they couldn't even keep the lights on...an embarrassment to the sport.

Keith - DMG Issues March 8, 2009 10:36 PM
I'm with most of you; WSBK/MOTOGP is the best racing out there today. DMG should have went with WSBK rules which makes it easy on all the MIC members racing in series around the globe having a common set to abide by. RE: Night racing; I like it (MotoGP did one last year too) and will this year too. However I'm not sure it's so safe @ Daytona. The field is a joke as someone said as well; you have 15-20 guys who are fast; and 60 who are way off the pace required. I'm not a fan of the rolling start either (this is not nascar)... hopefully DMG will get their act together.

Demp22 - DMG Close and Competitive Racing??? March 8, 2009 03:18 PM
Looking at the full revised race results for the Daytona 200, I see that out of the 75 riders in the race only…only 13 were even on the lead lap!!! Starting at 14 place all the way back every one was a lap down or more. I would hardly call this close and competitive racing let alone entertaining for any fans. There were more amateurs and rookies on the starting grid than there were fans watching the race. I guess DMG will have to put 50 lbs. of extra weight on Bostrom’s bike and the rest of the top five finishers of the 200 cause otherwise it is very obvious who will be winning races and challenging for race wins. Oh ya, what a surprise Mladin won. Maybe, just maybe all of his critics have suddenly realized they were wrong and that Matt is that good and always has been. Remember, Ben Spies is kicking but and taking names in WSBK and not even on his Yosh Suzuki and that the only person in recent history that could beat Ben was Matt and the only person that could beat Matt was Ben.

Dan O - What a mess March 8, 2009 02:13 PM
It really should not be this hard. WSB is probably the best racing product out right now so COPY IT! Spec tires, all the manufactures want in, 2 bike teams and GREAT Racing (top 20 were within 1 sec for poll. Yes I like the racing at night but take a look how races are run in WSB and MotoGP - they race. If there is a crash they don't red flag the race, pull out a pace car, have rolling starts cause unneeded confusion. Come on..... I have contacted all three tracks that I would have gone to this year, Infineon, Laguna and Miller and told them they will not see me until they put enough pressure on the DMG to get their act together and watch some motorcycle racing to figure out how to run a race. I am not even going to get started with the bike restrictions and different classes STUPID. People want to see the best racers on the best equipment. I know I do. Ben, Matt and others you should all stand up and quit. DMG is such a let down...

Mr Big - DMG is a Joke March 8, 2009 11:10 AM
DMG stick to caged vehicles, you don't know anything about motorcycle racing. I enjoy watching WSB and MotoGP much better. This racing shouldn't be held at night. No rolling starts and pace car needed. That crap only confused racers. I can't believe you actually count the laps by a pace car to reduce actual race laps!

lumpa - pathetic bumbling incompetence March 8, 2009 08:24 AM
The performance of the AMA during the Daytona 200, pace car, running at night, etc. is the grossest example of pathetic bumbling incompetence I've ever seen. They should refund all entry fees and apologize to the American roadracing family for ruining what was a tradition of excellence. Having a car on the track with motorcycles is insane. Are they going to require training wheels next year?

Bubba Bear - Night racing is crap March 8, 2009 06:31 AM
Whoever at AMA came up with night racing - like friggen NASCAR - should be pulled around the field with his shorts off. Damn stupid to put riders in those conditions...lucky no one was seriously hurt when lights shut down. Can't imagine going + 180 mph at day, let alone blindfolded by poor light conditions. Also, there were no friggen fans in the stands...no visibility beyond lap one anyhow. Next time stick me in the eye with a stick, it would give me greater pleasure than that poop. AMA (amature motorcycle asswipes)give us back our old Daytona slot!

Gary S - Supersport Race March 7, 2009 06:59 PM
Hmmmmmmm, Lots of confusion on the track, way to many laps under caution, sounds strangely familar. Now all we need is Ralph the mouth to do is start yelling BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY, lets go racing boys. BORING,think I will stick to watching MotoGP.

dgover - Racing March 7, 2009 05:05 PM
I can't fathom rules that let 1000cc and 1125cc 2c run against 600cc 4c. Is AMA using hp/weight ratios as the guiding factors? Seems like too big a displacement difference. Ducati runs 1200cc 2c against 1000cc 4c in World Superbike. At that ratio Buell and Aprilia should be able to produce something competitive in the 750cc 2c range to run against 600cc 4c. I think the announcers should have spent some time reviewing the displacement and modification rules during the race (they had plenty of time) - or did I miss that?

Bryan - Buell racing March 7, 2009 04:40 PM
So Buell raced an 1125cc bike against Japanese 600cc machines and came in 5th? Not to mention the reliability difference. The Buell in their test fleet that I rode at Indy MotoGP broke down during the ride. Glad I have a 600rr instead.

Demp23 - Dr. Bombay March 7, 2009 03:58 PM
I hate to nit pick too, but Danny Eslick was disqualified and therefore finished 75th. And if the broken body work which holds one of the bikes two radiators is not considered mechanical then I guess if some bike had a connecting rod break while holding one of the pistons this would not be mechanical either but instead just internal structural damage. What happened to Eslick’s bike should not have happened it’s a real shame because I think he could have won the 200.

Tim B - WHAT?! March 7, 2009 03:22 PM
Buell finished 5th?! I'm blown away. Buell should be stoked. Now lets hope they keep up with the R&D so that they can stay competitive. Now only if the 1125R wasn't so ugly I might replace my Lightning with one. Although mine is an oil eating POS so I doubt I'd ever buy any Buell or Harley ever again. Harley screwed up by not keeping Massimo Tamburini. Just think if he designed the next Buell. It would look amazing! Not that I actually think he'd ever work for Buell if Harley had resigned him to MV Agusta.

MCUSA - Thanks Dr. Bombay March 7, 2009 07:10 AM
You are right about both the Eslick and Hayes incidents. We have revised the article. No excuses except that it was late!

Dr. Bombay - Hate to nitpick, but... March 7, 2009 06:55 AM
Eslick wasn't out of the race. His problem was apparently some broken bodywork, not mechanical. He ended up finishing something like 13th or 14th. Hayes didn't low-side, he high-sided. And DMG/AMA really needs to rethink the safety car because it was involved with several hiccups, most notably the confusion with Bostrom (and Tommy Aquino's crash). They ended up losing two or three green laps getting the running order sorted for the restart. It was a six-lap sprint to the end, not nine. That said, when they did go green, the racing was pretty good and it was nice to see several different brands running towards the front. And huge props to Melissa Paris who finished 21st in her first pro race and actually ended up bettering her husband, Josh Hayes, in the end.

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