Elena Myers - Daytona 2012, Photo: Brian J Nelson
Team Suzuki’s Elena Myers claimed her second career AMA Pro victory
in sensational fashion during Saturday’s SportBike class aboard her
GSX-R600 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida to become the
first-ever woman to win a professional motorsports event at the venue.
The 19-year-old SuzukiScoopFans Sportbike TrackGear.com M4 rider got
her revenge for Friday’s race in which she fought for the win but got
shuffled back in the draft on the final lap. On Saturday, she altered
her strategy, putting her GSX-R600 at the front of a four-rider lead
pack as they raced up onto the banking for the final time.
Myers tucked into the cockpit and made herself as small as possible
in the sprint to the chequered flag. The decision paid off as her rivals
proved incapable of drafting by her, Myers scoring the win by 0.240
seconds.
Said Myers: “These guys were super-fast all weekend and they ran a
great race. I was just trying to stay with them. Yesterday I got the
short end of the draft and I was happy today there were only four of us
up in the lead pack instead of eight.
“It was good just to have a few of us up there, just going back and
forth. It was a phenomenal race. I stayed up there and led a little bit,
then stayed behind just to see how much I could be behind and still
catch up. Everyone’s bikes were really fast but mine was too.
“I just can’t thank my team enough for giving me such a great bike
this weekend. They put just the greatest machine under me. I’m so happy
to get a win for them. It’s a great feeling and nothing compares to it.
That’s why we come here and do what we do; to stand on the top of the
box.”
M4 Broaster Chicken Suzuki’s Dane Westby overcame adversity to secure
a top-five finish in the 71st running of the legendary Daytona 200. The
Oklahoma rider showed remarkable speed in the race, leading laps aboard
his GSX-R600 Daytona SportBike machine during his opening stint. He
further impressed by tracking down the leaders from several seconds back
to arrive in the lead once again prior to his second pit stop.
However, the team encountered an issue during his second stop, a
setback that ultimately hurt his chances for the win. Westby continued
to fight and eventually came home in fifth position at the conclusion of
the arduous 57-lap contest.
Said Westby: “I was really happy with the pace I could run. I was
able to make up a lot of the deficit and I think I’m gaining a lot of
knowledge and confidence.”
M4 Broaster Chicken team mate Chris Ulrich enjoyed a second positive outing in AMA Pro Superbike competition during the weekend.
Still returning to peak form following an injury-hit 2011 season,
Ulrich battled for a top-10 position and claimed a close 12th in the
15-lap affair.
Ulrich said: “It was another positive race. We got to dicing in there
during the race and now we’ve got two races and 30 race laps under our
belts. We banked two races and picked up some points and we’ll build
from there. I’m looking forward to going to Atlanta and continually
improving and going forward the way we should be. Last year if I would
have left Daytona with a 11th and a 12th it would have been the end of
the world, but this year I’m quite pleased.”
Team Venezuela’s Robertino Pietri, with assistance from Team Hammer
Contract Services, earned strong results in both AMA Pro Superbike races
in Daytona. ‘Tino was an impressive eighth on Friday and followed up
with another top-10 on Saturday.
Homestead-Miami Speedway will host an official AMA Pro Road Racing
test next week, and the 2012 Championship will resume with Round 2 at
Road Atlanta on April 20-22nd.