Martin Cardenas (#36) made a charge for the front in the final laps and took the victory ahead of Josh Herrin (#8) and Dane Westby (#2).
In the Daytona SportBike series M4 Monster Energy Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas took a hard-fought victory over Team Graves Yamaha’s Josh Herrin and Project 1 Atlanta’s Dane Westby at New Jersey. At the start of the race it was Geico Powersports Suzuki’s Danny Eslick in the lead ahead of Cardenas and DNA Energy Drink Ducati’s Bobby Fong. Throughout the first few laps the lead changed multiple times with Fong and Westby each taking turns up front, but the race was red-flagged shortly after.
Fifteen minutes later the race picked up again with Eslick taking control. Behind the leader Westby advanced into the number-two spot ahead of Vesrah Suzuki’s Cory West, while Cardenas settled into fifth-place. By Lap 11 Herrin had made it into second and was pressuring Eslick for the lead just 1.197 seconds behind. By Lap 15 Herrin had taken over the lead ahead of Eslick, and Cardenas continued advancing through the pack by moving into third. With Eslick only 0.012 seconds behind the leader Cardenas rocketed passed Eslick and Herrin for the lead with only a few laps remaining. Cardenas picked the perfect time to pass as Herrin didn’t have time to mount a comeback. Cardenas crossed the finish line by 0.796 seconds ahead of Herrin, who had to settle for second despite riding a consistent race. Westby rounded out the podium in third and was just 0.044 seconds behind Herrin. Despite briefly leading before the red flag, Fong took fourth at the end of the 23-lap contest, followed by Eslick in fifth who was more than a second and a half behind Cardenas.
Daytona SportBike New Jersey Race 1 Results:
1. Martin Cardenas (Suzuki)
2. Josh Herrin (Yamaha)
Josh Herrin took second by 0.796 seconds after riding a consistent race at New Jersey.
3. Dane Westby (Yamaha)
4. Bobby Fong (Ducati)
5. Danny Eslick (Suzuki)
6. Cory West (Suzuki)
7. P.J. Jacobsen (Suzuki)
8. Chris Fillmore (Suzuki)
9. Paul Allison (Yamaha)
10. Steve Rapp (Ducati)
11. Michael Beck (Ducati)
12. David Anthony (Yamaha)
13. Russ Wikle (Suzuki)
14. Fernando Amantini (Kawasaki)
15. Santiago Villa (Suzuki)
2010 Daytona SportBike Championship Points:
1. Danny Eslick, 325
2. Martin Cardenas, 323
3. Josh Herrin, 320
4. Steve Rapp, 267
5. Cory West, 208
