Under the lights of Daytona International Speedway Danny Eslick clicked off the fastest time in Daytona SportBike final qualifying. During the night-time session the GEICO Powersports pilot managed a 1:50.085 fast-lap, putting him just .002 of a second ahead of Martin Cardenas. Cardenas put his GSX-R on the first row on his sixth lap around the illuminated circuit. Team Graves Yamaha grabbed the remaining two positions up front. Tommy Aquino and Josh Herrin turned times of 1:50.166 and 1:50.294 respectively.
Danny Eslick showed speed at Daytona aboard his Geico-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R600.
Tommy Aquino posted the third quickest qualifying time for the 2010 Daytona 200. He will start right next to his teammate Josh Herrin.
Said Eslick after securing pole position (via DIS press release): “I thought I had it in my hands (last year) and that one slipped away. To get it this year, means a lot. It hasn’t sunk in yet, I don’t think. Maybe tomorrow when I see that Rolex it will be a little different. It’s great. It’s good momentum to get the season started off on the right foot.”
Former Daytona 200 winner Steve Rapp, the only Ducati in Group A qualifying, paced the Team Latus Motors 848 to fifth-fastest. Melissa Paris will look to improve on her 21st-place finish in 2009 (the best finish in the 200 by a female rider) from 28th on the grid.
The Daytona 200 will start under the Friday night lights at 8 p.m. EST.
Daytona SportBike Final Qualifying Times
1. Danny Eslick 1:50.085
2. Martin Cardenas 1:50.087
3. Tommy Aquino 1:50.166
4. Josh Herrin 1:50.294
5. Steve Rapp 1:50.713
6. Dane Westby 1:50.832
7. Josh Day 1:51.184
8. Brett McCormick 1:51.431
9. Corey West 1:51.493
10. Michael Barnes 1:52.355
