RC51, Daytona

cam2 · Mar 8, 2002

RC51, Daytona

We hate to say We told you so, but Honda's re-designed RC51 (known as the SP-2 in Europe) is shaping up to be one hell of a
superbike.

Prior to today, no one had lapped at Daytona under 1:48 flat and, after today, only three riders have done so. These three riders
consist of the entire Honda superbike race team, Nicky Hayden, Miguel DuHammel and Kurtis Roberts (who actually rides for
Erion Honda). These three individuals will occupy the front row for Sunday's prestiguous Daytona 200 superbike race, along with
Yamaha's Anthony Gobert. Nicky went down after setting his fast lap, and had some medical attention at the track, but is
apparently uninjured.

By the way, Nicky Hayden also took pole position for the 600 supersport final at Daytona, ahead of his brother Tommy Hayden
(on a Kawasaki).

Below, we list the top ten superbike qualifying times today:

Superbike Qualifying - Daytona 200 (Top 10)

1. Nicky Hayden (Honda) 1:47.174
2. Miguel DuHammel (Honda) 1:47.259
3. Kurtis Roberts (Honda) 1:47.527
4. Anthony Gobert (Yamaha) 1:48.083
5. Pascal Picotte (Ducati) 1:48.219
6. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 1:48.311
7. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 1:48.482
8. Eric Bostrom (Kawasaki) 1:49.110
9. Jamie Hacking (Suzuki) 1:50.224
10. Michael Barnes (Suzuki) 1:53.854

Motoman35 · Mar 8, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

I read this at cyclenews also, and just can not wait until the races this weekend....LIVE on the SPEED channel!!!!

Last year was a less than stellar showing for Honda in the 200. But I can't wait to see how we fair this year in both the 600, which both Nicky and Mugel are wll positioned to win and the 200, where obviously Honda is putting down some serious lap times.

Has anyone heard anything about Formula Extreme yet?? Can't wait to see some 954 track times vs. the Gixxer and R1.

Ride Red!!!

When you see flashing lights...drop two and go!

Mirage · Mar 8, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

cam2~ Honda 1, 2 & 3. Now that's a great starting line. /images/icons/cool.gif

SilverF4 · Mar 8, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

Honda 1,2, and 3 will be a great podium line up too../images/icons/wink.gif

SilverF4/images/icons/cool.gif
"Respect the Wrist!!!"

kman · Mar 8, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

Here's the PR direct from Honda:

AMA / Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship: Daytona Beach, FL, Road
Race Qualifying, Thursday, March 7

Pro Honda Oils 600cc Supersport Qualifying
Honda Racing's Nicky Hayden claimed top honors in 600cc Supersport
qualifying. Hayden roared his Factory Honda CBR600F4i into the lead with an
official qualifying time of 1:53.351.

"I need to get into the lead group of riders right off the start and
just make sure that no one gets away," said Nicky Hayden. "There is such a
draft here at Daytona and you don't want to get out of it."

Honda Racing's Miguel Duhamel finished 4th with a time of 1:53.446.
Duhamel is the most successful 600cc Supersport rider in AMA history.

"The front row is going to be good," said Miguel Duhamel. "There will
probably be ten to twelve guys up there battling for the lead, and I plan
on being one of them."

Honda supported Erion Racing's Kurtis Roberts finished his qualifying
with a 6th place overall position. Roberts time was 1:53.82 . Bruce
Transportation Group's
Roger Lee Hayden rounded out the top ten with a time of 1:51.191.

Daytona 600cc Supersport Qualifying
1. Nicky Hayden - Honda
2. Tommy Hayden - Kawasaki
3. Damon Buckmaster - Yamaha
4. Miguel Duhamel - Honda
6. Kurtis Roberts - Honda
10. Roger Lee Hayden - Honda
12. Mike Hale - Honda
13.Jake Zemke - Honda
23. Alex Gobert - Honda

Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying
Honda Racing's Nicky Hayden backed up his performance in 600cc
Supersport qualifying by setting a new track record with a qualifying time
of 1:47.174. Hayden just edged out teammate Miguel Duhamel who turned a
blistering time of 1:47.259. Duhamel, late in his qualifying session,
surpassed Erion/Honda Racing's Kurtis Roberts who qualified 3rd for the
day with a time of 1:47.527.

"The RC-51 is working great," said Duhamel. "My Honda power showed after
the chicane, and I feel that I can do a 1:46 out there."

Nicky Hayden crashed with a few laps to go in his qualifying session and
was taken to the infield medical center for review. Hayden was released and
will return for Friday's 600cc Supersport race.

Daytona Superbike Qualifying, Front Row:
1. Nicky Hayden - Honda
2. Miguel Duhamel - Honda
3. Kurtis Roberts - Honda
4. Anthony Gobert - Yamaha

Live it > Ride it > Race it

MULLEY · Mar 8, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

You all have to keep me posted like this while the races are underway cause I'm deployed in the desert and can't watch. I would greatly appreciate it.

jmoney · Mar 8, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

What would you expect? Honda has more money then "God" so it's easier to buy the race, they have some of the best riders, and they also have the BIG displacement with the 1000cc twins which have now pretty much caught up with the inlines in hp but yet they still have that HUGE torque advantage. The AMA is going to get real boring if something doesn't change. If I were you people who only wanna see Honda, AND ONLY Honda do well, I wouldn't feel to proud of the victory concidering everything is damn near in your favor.

Let other people be right sometimes...it soothes them for being nothing else!

RumJungle · Mar 9, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

How is Ducati doing in the AMA? Are they still around?

SilverF4 · Mar 9, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

Well Jmoney maybe the other manufactures need to wake up and smell the coffee and start doing something about it. Or maybe they can just ask Honda to re-design their bikes too. /images/icons/laugh.gif

Oh and I would be damn proud if they sweep, cause that just show how much effort in design and cutting edge innovation honda puts in their bikes..

Here's a towel wipe the tears and go clean you bike off./images/icons/laugh.gif

SilverF4/images/icons/cool.gif
"Respect the Wrist!!!"

jmoney · Mar 9, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

Say what you will but my point is still right. Honda just got pist because they didn't want to take the time to create a competitive 750 anymore, so they took the EASY WAY OUT. Did you know that the 900RR engine was suppose to be a 750 but their so called, as you put it "cutting edge innovation" wasn't good enough to pull it off. And the funny thing is, is that I love hondas and yet I can still talk bad about them, or defend them, but YOU on the other hand can't take the fact that somebody made a good point that went against your one and only favorite manufacture.

Let other people be right sometimes...it soothes them for being nothing else!

SilverF4 · Mar 9, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

Creating a competitve 750 just isn't economical in my opinion. Why produce a diffrent classes of bikes when the insurance is just practically the same weather you have a 750 or 900. So if you were in the market for a 750 or 900 or even a 1000cc bike and your insurance is practically the same which would you get. the biggest cc you can get.. So why invest the money in designing a 750cc when more people are just gona go for the 950cc or 999cc V-4?? I duno the fact that you like hondas, alls I see is you come in here and bashing them. I don't go into other forum and bash other peoples rides, reguardless of what they ride. I like other brands too other than Honda and Honda does what has to be done. To Win. I don't care about your point just as much as you don't care about mine. when you come into another makes forum and start posting B.S. you should expect that forum to stick up for their manufacturer.

Also if you love Hondas how come you haven't owned one out of all the sportbikes you have owned???

SilverF4/images/icons/cool.gif
"Respect the Wrist!!!"

jmoney · Mar 10, 2002

Re: RC51, Daytona

There are thousands of bike made, I don't have to own them to like them. I've riden plenty of Honda sportbikes and ya know what...i've liked them all. I just don't believe in brand loyalty because there are way too many sweet bikes out there too just stick with one brand my whole life. It's not like I own stock in any of these companies where I have to dedicate my whole life to one brand like you have seemed to of gotten suckered into.
Did you see my post "not too many of these around"? Did it sound like I was bashing Honda in any way in that post? When I fell in love with sportbikes, it was Honda that sucked me in. I just won't go to war defending them and making them something they're not that's all.

Let other people be right sometimes...it soothes them for being nothing else!

RC51, Daytona

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