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+--- Thread: AMA Pro Racing Season Opens with Daytona 200 Week (/showthread.php?tid=8726)
AMA Pro Racing Season Opens with Daytona 200 Week - Malcolm - 28-02-2010
AMA Pro Racing kicks off its 2010 season at the legendary Daytona International Speedway for the 69th running of the famous Daytona 200, March 3-5 as part of the Daytona 200 Week activities.
This will be the second year the Daytona 200 will be run at night under the lights at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, March 5th. Practice and qualifying for the Daytona 200 will take place Wednesday, March 3rd and Thursday, March 4th.
The AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike class will see double action with two races for the very first time at Daytona. The first 15 lap race will take place on Thursday, March 4th and the second race will be on Friday, March 5th giving fans two opportunities to see this exciting class. Josh Hayes, 2009 Daytona 200 Winner Ben Bostrom, AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike returnee John Hopkins, Aaron Yates, Tommy Hayden, 2006 Daytona 200 winner Jake Zemke and Geoff May headline the AMA Pro American SuperBike class this year. With seven-time champion Mat Mladin's retirement, the field is wide open.
The classic Daytona 200 has been run continuously since 1937 with only the war years interrupting what is a true American classic motorcycle race. Every accomplished and important rider and motorcycle manufacturer has featured and won this event. To join the illustrious group of previous winners is to enter into a group of riders who share a special place in the history books of motorcycle racing. Ed Kretz of Pomona, CA won the very first Daytona 200 on his Indian motorcycle. The list of winners extends to legends such as NASCAR great Paul Goldsmith to USAC and Flat Track star Joe Leonard to Flat Track greats Gary Nixon and Cal Rayborn to world champions Kenny Roberts and Eddie Lawson to Scott Russell, Miguel Duhamel, Nicky Hayden and Mladin and last year's winner, Bostrom. All have proven to be the best of the best. Racing under the lights again this year on Friday, March 5th, the 57 lap race will once again start the 2010 season off in fine fashion.
This year's AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL field see the return of 2009 champion Danny Eslick on his new Geico Powersports RMR Suzuki. Also returning will be Graves Yamaha riders Josh Herrin and Tommy Aquino. Martin Cardenas will be riding the M4 Suzuki and 2009 SunTrust MotoGT champion Mark Crozier will be running his DNA Ducati 848. Looking to improve on her 21st place finish last year will be Melissa Paris, whose performance last year was the best result ever for a female rider at Daytona.
The AMA Pro Racing SuperSport class will also have two races this year, showcasing the Young Gun group of riders aged 16 to 21 against the more experienced Top Gun class of riders which is comprised of more experienced Expert licensed riders and local talent. Each AMA Pro Racing SuperSport race will be 35 miles in length and will run Thursday, March 4th and then again on Friday, March 5th. Each race will run prior to the AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike races on both days.
Practice for all three classes begins on Wednesday, March 3rd and the races begin on Thursday, March 4th. Make sure to check out the many displays, demo rides and activities inside and outside of the Daytona International Speedway, the Sprint FanZone will be operating throughout the events and don't miss the D5X, admission is free from March 4th through March 6th.
The Daytona 200 will air on SPEED at 9 p.m. ET. The AMA Pro American SuperBike races will air back-to-back, Saturday, March 6th at 10:30 p.m. ET.
AMA Pro Racing Daytona 200 Quick Notes
*2006 Daytona 200 Winner Jake Zemke joins Michael Jordan Motorsports team.
*Former MotoGP and World SuperBike rider John Hopkins joins M4 Racing team.
*2009 Daytona 200 Winner Ben Bostrom joins newly formed Pat Clark Motorsports team with teammate Chris Clark.
*Blake Young and Tommy Hayden now lead the Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura team.
*Larry Pegram returns after three wins in 2009, his first in AMA Pro SuperBike since 1999.
*Aaron Yates again leads National Guard Jordan team.
*2009 AMA Pro Racing presented by AMSOIL Champion Danny Eslick and the Geico Powersports RMR team change motorcycle brands for 2010 season.
*Dave Westby won 2009 Eight Hour Daytona race. New Atlanta based team for 2010.
*Geoff May is running own program for 2010 in Daytona SportBike.
*Melissa Paris is running to benefit Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.
*Martin Cardenas and Chris Ulrich won the 2008 Daytona eight hour race, Ulrich also won eight hour race in 2007.