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AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Presented by AMSOIL

AMA Pro Daytona SportBike – Quick Look

• Top Speed:  Over 175 mph
• Eligible Bikes: Yamaha YZF-R6, Suzuki GSX-R600, Honda CBR600RR, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, Buell 1125R, Aprilia RSV1000R, Ducati 848, Triumph Daytona 675
• Minimum Weights:  365 – 385 lbs.
• Fuel: Sunoco 260GTX
• Tires: Dunlop SportMax GPA Front (120/70ZR-17) and Rear (190/55ZR-17)
• Race Lengths: 50-mile sprints.  The season-opening Daytona 200 by Honda is 57 laps
• Riders to Watch: Jake Zemke, Miguel Duhamel, Chaz Davies, Steve Rapp, Jason DiSalvo, Roger Hayden, Jamie Hacking, Chris Peris, Shawn Higbee, Michael Barnes, Martin Cardenas, Robertino Pietri, Josh Herrin, Tommy Aquino

A new class for 2009, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL is a battleground between quick-handling 600cc motorcycles and a variety of big-bore bikes from Buell, Aprilia and Ducati.  Daytona SportBike incorporates the now inactive Formula Xtreme and older SuperSport series but opens the door in total to 10 eligible motorcycles, making the new class one of AMA Pro’s most diverse divisions.

Daytona SportBike and the AMA Pro American Superbike classes will share the feature card as co-headline attractions at nearly every AMA Pro Road Racing weekend.  Each class will run dual races at the majority of events but the Daytona SportBike class will step into the spotlight on its own in May as the featured support race for the World Superbike round at Miller Motorsport Park.

Like American Superbikes, Daytona SportBikes are race-tuned descendants of some of today’s top high-performance production motorcycles.  Eligible bikes in Daytona SportBike include the Yamaha YZF-R6, Suzuki GSX-R600, Honda CBR600RR, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, Buell 1125R, Aprilia RSV1000R, Ducati 848 and the Triumph Daytona 675.  Power comes from a variety of four-stroke, multi-cylinder modified production engines and minimum bike weights range from 365 to 385 lbs., depending on engine configuration and number of cylinders.

Engine rules mandate primarily stock parts with minimal modifications and tunings and – like American Superbike – stock transmissions, but that doesn’t mean Daytona SportBikes are just out for a weekend cruise.  Daytona SportBikes reach in excess of 175 mph and a diverse lineup of high-performance motorcycles at that kind of speed promises to deliver some of AMA Pro Road Racing’s best and most competitive racing.

The first chance to see the formula in action will be the legendary Daytona 200 by Honda, which now features the Daytona SportBike class.  Even better, the advent of Daytona SportBike brings the Daytona 200 back to the legendary 3.55-mile full road course at Daytona.  The 2009 race also marks the first time in history that the race will run at night under the lights.

The star riders that have signed up to compete in Daytona SportBike will surely shine in the inaugural Daytona 200 night race and all season.  Veteran champions and emerging talents alike have taken up the Daytona SportBike challenge and an incredible 84 entries were received for the season-opening Daytona 200.

Among the notable riders in Daytona SportBike this season are reigning Formula Xtreme Champion and 2006 Daytona 200 winner Jake Zemke, five-time Daytona 200 winner Miguel Duhamel, defending Daytona 200 winner Chaz Davies, 2007 Daytona 200 winner Steve Rapp, Jason DiSalvo, Roger Hayden, Jamie Hacking, Chris Peris, Michael Barnes, Shawn Higbee, South American hot shots Martin Cardenas and Robertino Pietri and young American up-and-comers Josh Herrin and Tommy Aquino.  The ladies are even getting into the act with Melissa Paris and Meghan Stiles set to run in at least the Daytona opener.  American Superbike championship contenders Ben Bostrom and Josh Hayes – who is married to Paris – will also moonlight in the Daytona 200 opener on Daytona SportBikes.

As in all AMA Pro Road Racing classes, Dunlop and its proven racing tires are the series-standard application in Daytona SportBike and competitors must use original equipment wheels.  Brake components may be replaced with aftermarket items, but the use of carbon fiber, carbon composite or titanium materials for brake discs is not allowed.  Sunoco 260GTX premium racing fuel is the exclusive standard for all AMA Pro Road Racing. 

Most Daytona SportBike race weekends feature dual races on Saturday and Sunday with team support purse money based on a competitor’s combined finishing record in both rounds.  Exceptions for Daytona SportBike will be the season-opening Daytona 200 and the World Superbike support show at Miller that feature one-race formats.