FEATURE STORY >>>>>>

Every rider on the supercross circuit views Daytona as the most
demanding. My first trip to Daytona as a Honda factory rider convinced
me of the importance of that race as well. Johnny O’Mara and I were
hanging out at the hotel on Friday trying not to get in trouble when
Dave Arnold (team manager) told us about "the meeting." Mr. Miakoshi
from Honda was in town for the supercross, and wanted a team meeting. We
were all a little nervous about him being there and what this meeting
was all about. As Johnny O, Jim Gibson, Chuck Sun, Darryl Schultz,
Donnie Hansen, our mechanics, Dave Arnold, Roger De Coster and I waited
in a hotel room for Mr. Miakoshi to arrive, I starting thinking, I
better do good tomorrow! When he walked in the room there was a lot of
handshakes and bowing before we all sat down. Just as Mr. Miakoshi was
about to sit down, O’Mara tossed a whoopee cushion in his chair.
BRAAAAAAAAAT! Nobody laughed. Mr. Miakoshi slowly handed the whoopee
cushion back to Johnny (because everyone in the room was pointing at
Johnny) and laughed. That broke the tension and only Johnny could pull
it off. The meeting was to inform us of the importance of a win at
Daytona. At one point the words; "we must dominate" came out if his
mouth. He also wanted us to race as a team. In other words, if I was
holding up a teammate who was faster, get out of his way so a Honda
could win.
That was 1982 and Darryl Shultz won. At a victory dinner celebration,
Mr. Miakoshi brought a slice of blueberry cheesecake to Shultz and one
to Johnny, only as he was putting the plate down in front of Johnny, he
smeared it in his face. Johnny embarrassed him, so he embarrassed
Johnny, but the important thing was…Honda won!
I don’t think Daytona has lost any of its impact. It remains the most
prestigious, it’s been around the longest, and it rewards the toughest
riders.
.
This year Ricky Carmichael can join the elite group of riders who have
won Daytona three times. Bob Hannah ’77 ’83 ’85. Jeff Stanton the only
four-time winner won four in a row! ’89-’92. Mike Kiedrowski won three
in a row ’93-’95 and Jeremy McGrath finally got the monkey off his back
at Daytona in ’96, and won again in ’98 and ’99. With Larocco out of the
lineup, Ricky is the toughest rider in the field, a prerequisite for the
Daytona sand and longer race.
One rider who packs all the weapons needed to beat Ricky is Travis
Pastrana. Travis has run away from the field the only times he’s ever
raced Daytona, and now he gets to try it on a 250. He has been the
fastest rider on the track at almost every round, and everyone agrees
that if he can stay on two wheels he can win. After two disappointing
rounds before the seasons first break, Travis will be all healed (from
Minneapolis) and over the illness that took him out of the race in
Atlanta while running a solid second. Plus his coach builds the track! I
asked Travis and my dad about that in a joking way that suggested my dad
build a couple Travis sections. Travis’ reply was that he’s doing a good
job already (since he’s undefeated there) and my dad didn’t have a
reply. He won’t tell Travis or me what he’s doing, he just says, "you’ll
see."
Vuillemin is a mystery to me at Daytona. If it rains he will win.
Scratch that. If it rains he will battle with Pastrana for the win.
Otherwise I don’t know where to put him in the results. I don’t think
Daytona is one of his strong tracks judging form the past, but this is a
new year and he is better. When I look at the schedule, this is the race
he needs to survive in order to win the championship.
Other than Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath is the only former Daytona winner
in the field. I don’t know if he can beat Ricky, but he can get second!
I know that sounds mean, but it’s true. MC has won Daytona three times,
but not since Ricky found his speed on a 250. Jeremy is good enough, fit
enough and smart enough to beat everyone else.
Other riders I expect to do well are Tortelli, who seems to like the
rougher more rutted outdoor style tracks. I built him up last year and
he fizzled. This year will be different. Tim Ferry returns to action
after a collapsed lung in Phoenix. I don’t know how strong he is yet,
but if he’s even 90% he could be on the podium.
Lusk needs to make something happen. He has the speed, plus the bike
that won last year, and the mechanic (Randy Lawrence) that won twice.
Ezra has been on the podium at Daytona before. Roncada has been fast and
pretty steady this year, but my only question is his fitness. Daytona
will answer that.
Privateers battling for the RacerX gas card get a break from the worry
of making the main event at Daytona because the field is increased to 30
riders. Good luck guys, I know how it feels. My first Daytona was in1980
when they took eight riders from the heats directly to the main. I
slammed Kippy Pierce in the last turn for 8th to make the 40-rider
field.
In the 125 class I don’t see any reason why Chad Reed won’t win again
except that Grant Langston is racing and he’s mad at himself, he’s
desperate, and he likes sand. Mike Brown could win, but not with arm
pump. John Dowd should do well because he’s tough and he likes sand too.
If it rains, Dowd will win. Scratch that. If it rains, Dowd will battle
with Kelly Smith for the win.
db