Suzuki's Martin Cardenas (#36) was overtaken on the final lap by Ducati's Bobby Fong (#30).
The first Daytona SportBike race at Virginia was a two-part affair with Celtic Racing’s P.J. Jacobsen getting an early lead in the original race ahead of Team Graves Yamaha rider Tommy Aquino and M4 Monster Energy Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas. Geico Powersports Suzuki’s Danny Eslick and Aquino also took turns leading up front before a red flag issued during Lap 14 forced a restart.
Jumping into the lead ahead of Aquino in the restart was Eslick followed by Aquino, Ducati’s Bobby Fong and Cardenas. Running back in fifth was Team Latus Ducati rider Steve Rapp. Missing from the action in the restart was Jacobsen.
On Lap 16 Fong successfully made a pass on Aquino to move into second-place on Lap 16. Meanwhile back in third-place, Vesrah Suzuki’s Corey West suffered a crash that pushed him all the way down to 20th with just a few laps left. Encountering the same misfortune was Paul Allison, who crashed out of his ninth-place position.
On Lap 20 Eslick made a mistake which shoved him down to fourth while Cardenas overtook Fong to move into the lead. On Lap 21 it was Cardenas, Fong, Eslick, Rapp and Aquino in the top-five positions.
Just over half a second separated Cardenas, Fong and Eslick as they headed into the final lap. In a race that went down to the wire, Fong shot ahead of Cardenas to take the victory in the first DSB race at Virginia. In second was Cardenas followed by Eslick and Aquino, with Rapp rounding out the top-five finishers in fifth.
Daytona SportBike VIR Race 1 Results:
1. Bobby Fong (Ducati)
Daytona SprtBike Race 1 Podium at VIR (from left to right): Martn Cardenas, Bobby Fong and Danny Eslick.
2. Martin Cardenas (Suzuki)
3. Danny Eslick (Suzuki)
4. Tommy Aquino (Yamaha)
5. Steve Rapp (Ducati)
6. Michael Beck (Ducati)
7. Michael Barnes (Yamaha)
8. Kyle Wyman (Yamaha)
9. Fernando Amantini (Kawasaki)
10. Dane Westby (Yamaha)
11. Santiago Villa (Suzuki)
12. Kris Turner (Suzuki)
13. Jodi Chirstie (Honda)
14. Michael Morgan (Suzuki)
15. Chris Fillmore (Suzuki)
2010 Daytona SportBike Championship Points:
1. Danny Eslick, 286
2. Martin Cardenas, 277
3. Josh Herrin, 264
4. Steve Rapp, 231
5. Corey West, 179
