M4 Suzuki’s Scott Takes Supersport Pole with Time Attack Success, Defending winner Herrin earns second
Preparations are complete for tomorrow’s Daytona 200 Feature event in the 84th annual Florida Bike Week event, and the Vision Wheels/M4/ECSTAR Suzuki of Tyler Scott will start from pole position in the 35-rider field for the non-Championship MotoAmerica Supersport round.
In the best track conditions seen so far this event, Scott dueled with his teammates and the Economy Lube Ducati of defending Champ Josh Herrin to earn the pole position with a lap at 1:48.135; Herrin next up at 1:48.518. Former victor Brandon Paasch was third best to complete the front row for Saturday’s grid for Triumph with a tour of 1:48.555.
British star Peter Hickman will head row two, earning fourth best Time Attack effort at 1:49.1 aboard the PHR Triumph.
Earlier in the day, Herrin had set the best lap of the Q2 sessions, quickest at 1:47.980 – close to the best lap ever lap for the class and well below the expected race pace for tomorrow’s 57 lap Classic event.
Suzuki ace Richie Escalante, sixth best today, is the outright lap record holder with last year’s effort at 1:47.833. This year’s version of the track layout is considered slightly slower given sportscar-related revisions to the curbs at the back straight Chicane.
Trevor Daley continues to set the pace for the Canadian contingent aboard the OneSpeed Inc. built, Timmerman/Economy Lube backed, Bridgestone shod Suzuki GSX-R750. Daley didn’t find much pace in the second Q session, but wound-up 18th overall, just outside the 16-rider restriction for the all-out, 15-minute Time Attack session. Daley’s best lap was a 1:53.35.
“I tried to make a step, but it didn’t do much,” reflected Daley of his consistent pace. “I think the track was maybe a second a lap faster this morning, and I went .2 sec quicker. We made a big change with the nose weight, but really it didn’t do much. My group (the “slower” session, Group B”) is a hindrance, there is no one for me to run with.
“I can’t really work with anyone in my session, so I didn’t pick up any pace. The bike feels so different from when I rode it here in the fall.
“The bike is comfortable, but not at the pace I want. I think I can get a good finish tomorrow, but it will be due to consistency and strategy, staying out of trouble. Tomorrow is a different show – I know we’ll be good.”
Daytona rookie Dylan Bauer, a technician for Fast Company’s Dumas Ducati Bridgestone CSBK Superbike effort last year, continues to build pace, and will start 20th on his recently acquired Goatshop Yamaha YZF-R6. A lap at 1:54.403 represented Bauer’s ultimate pace – so far.
Second year Daytona 200 racer Alex Michel ran an abbreviated session this morning on the Speed Factory 67 Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja and turned a best lap of 2:05.7.
Shaking off yesterday’s DQ due to a non-approved brake master cylinder, injured Canadian top Pro Mavrick Cyr made his first start in Moto America’s SC Project Twins Cup. Starting 12th on an Aprilia, Cyr ran in the top ten early and wound-up earning 11th overall. He has another Twins race tomorrow at 11 am.
Tomorrow’s race day conditions are expected to be sunny with a top temperature of 25 degrees C, with the Supersport 200 event at 1:10 pm.
