Duhamel takes the fifth

By John Hopkins

Canada's Miguel Duhamel claimed a record-tying fifth Daytona 200 victory on Saturday, taking a dominant win in the first incarnation of the classic race run to AMA Formula Xtreme rules.

The Montreal racer rode his factory Honda CBR600RR to a 42.586-sec. victory over the similar, Erion-prepared machine of Kurtis Roberts. Duhamel's teammate Jake Zemke completed the podium for a Honda sweep.

"It feels great winning five," said Duhamel, who tied Scott Russell for the most 200 triumphs. "This year it felt like the Daytona 255. It just seemed like it would never end."

Duhamel started from pole and battled with Roberts and Zemke through the first 15 laps of the 68-lap race. But Duhamel took control after Roberts made his first pit stop, and a slow second stop for the Erion rider sealed the deal for the Canadian.

"I was really pushing it hard," Duhamel added. "Up until that first pit stop I thought we would all regroup and be together for the whole 68 laps. I just put my head down and ran as hard as I could."

Danny Eslick finished fourth, one lap down on his MPTRacing.com / Suzuki GSX-R600, while Calgary's Chris Peris was a superb fifth aboard the Topline Printing / Bikecards.com Yamaha YZF-R6.

Kevin Lacombe of Granby finished 21st in his debut with the Blackfoot Suzuki racing team and Victoria's Oliver Jervis was 31st riding a Zlock Racing / Pirelli Kawasaki ZX-6RR.

Pascal Picotte dropped out after 22 laps on the Yamaha Canada / Picotte Performance R6 and Clearwater, BC's Alan Schmidt lasted only two laps riding the Gateway Powersports / Pirelli R6.