"The Big Dance..."
The Daytona SX track being prepped Sat. morning. Photo: Chris Weedon
Posted 9am - Round 10 of the AMA Supercross series heads this weekend to the sunshine state of Florida, more specifically Daytona beach for the Daytona Supercross. The Daytona SX is unlike the other 16 rounds. The race is held during Bike week; The track is set-up on the infield of the famed Daytona motor speedway; The track is more like an outdoor national than a supercross and is one of the toughest races of the year. Daytona is filled with history, and this weekend the Supercross stars will make history again here at this great facility.
Shaun Skinner is riding this weekend on the 450s. Photo: Chris Weedon
In BBMX team news, Shaun Skinner will be back this weekend riding for the DNA Energy Drink/BTOsports/BBMX team. Skinner has been out since being landed on in San Francisco a month back. As our Lites west regular, Skinner will be contesting Daytona in the bigger SX class this weekend. Look for Skin-dog to give the riders in the SX class a tough time this weekend.
Kyle Keylon is super pumped to be heading to Daytona with a top 10 under his belt this past weekend in Indy. Keylon rode real strong in Indy and look for him to keep the train rolling with another top 10 in Daytona this weekend. He has been training hard this week in preperation for the greuling outdoor-style Ricky Carmichael designed track.
Jason Thomas and Bryan Johnson are looking to make a strong comeback after not quite making it work in Indy last weekend. JT continuing to ride in the Lites class is stepping it up this weekend to give that #45 a good ride. Johnson is looking for a solid ride to compliment his qualifying sessions he has had the last few weeks. He has the speed, but staying away from the first turn pile-ups is what he is after this weekend.
The Ricky Carmichael designed Daytona Supercross track looks to be a little glimpse of how the outdoor season will look like. Designed on the Daytona Speedway grass infield, the track is for sure to rut up, get choppy and rough. It will test not only the riders mental abilities, but their physical stamina to be strong at the finish.
The RC designed Daytona Supercross track for 2009. Click for larger version.
Practice will get underway here around 12:30pm, so check back for more news from on and off the track here in Daytona.
The pit area is on the front stretch this weekend. Photo: Chris Weedon
Check out the BBMX Photo gallery from Daytona - Click Here
-CW
Posted 12:00pm - With track walk done, the BBMX team is suiting up for practice to start. The track looks very good, with very few changes from last years track. This year's track looks to be a fast track, and will get rough as the day goes on. Check out a few photos from this morning's track walk.
The many views of the Daytona SX track. Photos: Chris Weedon
Practice is set to go off here at 12:30, so check back throughout the day for practice updates.
-CW
Posted 3:15pm - With Practice session one done, BBMX riders Kyle Keylon and Jason Thomas are sitting in a qualifying spot, with Kyle qualified in the 13th spot and JT in the 22nd position. In the SX class, BBMX rider Shaun Skinner is sitting in the 25th spot. Shaun is making some suspension adjustments to dial in the bike better for the rough Daytona track.
 |  | | Bryan Johnson | Kyle Keylon |
In the Lites class, Christophe Pourcel is on top and looking smooth on the Daytona track. In the SX class, It's a dogfight for the top spot with James Stewart and Chad Reed going back and forth for the top spot. The surprise of the session was Jason Lawrence setting the 3rd fastest lap time while practicing in the C group session.
Notes:
Both James Stewart and Chad Reed went down twice in practice session one. They are both pushing the edge of control and looking for the upper hand on each other.
Jason Lawrence only put in 5 laps on the track, but that was enough for the 3rd overall fastest lap time. If Lawrence actually races tonight, he could be up there battling for the lead.
Posted 5:30pm - Second Practice sessions are done, and BBMX riders Kyle Keylon qualified 13th, Bryan Johnson 14th and Jason Thomas 20th and are in the field for tonights race. Shaun Skinner made the SX field with a solid qualifying run. The BBMX team is ready to take on the Daytona SX track tonight.
Shaun Skinner is firmly in the field. Photo: Chris Weedon
The surprise of the afternoon is Jason Lawrence. After placing his bike in the 3rd spot, Lawrence came out and threw it down to take the #1 qualifying spot with a 1:06. Lawrence taunted everyone as he waved his finger in the air saying "he's #1" for the next two laps after he ran his fastest lap. Lawrence looks to be in great form, so lets hope he doesn't come down with a sudden flu so we get to see im race tonight.
 |  | | Will Jlaw put the smack down on Stewart and Reed tonight? Photos: Chris Weedon |
James Stewart crashed twice again in second practice, and did not put in a hot lap in the second session. Stewart looked like he had some trouble with his wrists.
The team is prepping the bikes for tonights race. Log back on for race news and notes.
It's going to be a great night of racing!
-CW |