Duhamel settles for sixth

By John Hopkins

Miguel Duhamel salvaged a sixth place finish in Saturday's AMA Superbike Championship season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

After challenging for third through the first half of the 15-lap race, Duhamel ran straight through the chicane on lap 10 when he got caught out by lapped traffic and lost a bid to snatch the final podium spot on his factory Honda CBR1000RR.

Australian Mat Mladin took his fourth Daytona Superbike win on the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 by 3.475 secs. over the Parts Unlimited / Ducati Austin Ducati 999R of English rider Neil Hodgson.

Mladin's teammate Ben Spies edged the third Yosh Suzuki of Aaron Yates for third in a drafting battle to the finish line.

Duhamel's Honda teammate Jake Zemke was also part of the fight for third but joined Duhamel in running off at the chicane on lap 10, and settled for fifth.

Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC finished 20th on his Diablo Suzuki GSX-R1000 and teammate Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC claimed 25th.