First ever for Duhamel

By John Hopkins

Miguel Duhamel edged Honda teammate Jake Zemke to claim his first ever Daytona 200 by Arai pole in qualifying at Daytona International Speedway today.

The Montreal native took his Honda CBR600RR around the revised 2.95-mile track in one minute, 42.593 seconds just as the session ended to snatch the top grid spot for Saturday's race.

"I’ve been close," said Duhamel, a four-time Daytona 200 race winner. "In ‘91 I had pole and Doug Polen comes around on that Ducati and, at the checkered flag, steals it away. I was like, ‘Ah, I’ll get it next year.’ But it took a little longer. It’s feels great to get the Daytona Rolex. That was one thing missing in souvenir tray if you will."

Zemke settled for second on the grid with a 1:42.599 on his CBR600RR. Josh Hayes qualified third at 1:43.012 on his Attack Kawasaki ZX-6RR and Kurtis Roberts completes the front row for Saturday's race with a 1:43.552 on his Erion Honda CBR600RR.

Two more Canadians will line up on the third row of the grid for the first Daytona 200 to run as a round of the Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Championship. Granby's Pascal Picotte set the ninth best qualifying time of 1:44.937 on his Yamaha YZF-R6 while Calgary racer Chris Peris was 10th best today at 1:45.178 on another R6.

Alan Schmidt of Clearwater, BC will start the 200 17th on his R6 after qualifying with a time of 1:46.844, and Vancouver Island racer Oliver Jervis qualified 28th on his Kawasaki ZX-6RR at 1:48.277.

Kevin Lacombe of Granby was 47th in the field of 80 riders with a 1:50.266 aboard his Suzuki GSX-R600.