Zemke takes '200' win

By John Hopkins

American Honda's Jake Zemke claimed his first Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday.

Riding a CBR600RR, the Californian took over the lead on lap 44 of 68 when teammate Miguel Duhamel highsided in turn 1. Duhamel was leading by 12 seconds when he went down and looked set to claim his second straight victory in the event.

Instead, Zemke survived a late pace car period and a charge from Josh Hayes to claim the victory. Hayes settled for second aboard his Erion Honda CBR600RR and Jason DiSalvo completed the podium riding a factory Yamaha YZF-R6.

“It seemed like I kept getting all the lappers through the infield and I could see Miguel and he was getting them all down the front straightaway and on the banking in [turns] 3 and 4," Zemke said. "I could see him just inching away from me, and man, that’s a frustrating feeling. But I’ve ridden a couple of these races and I know they’re really long races and you’ve just got to keep your head down. Anything can happen.

"I’m not sure what happened with Miguel, but I saw him down, scrambling to get his bike back up. At that point I knew I was in the lead and we had about 10 seconds. After the last pitstop we had about 16 seconds. We were pretty comfortable until the pace car came out.”

Duhamel managed to rejoin and finished fifth, just behind Eric Bostrom's Yamaha. Aaron Gobert finished sixth on the second Erion CBR600RR.

Oliver Jervis of Victoria was the second highest Canadian finisher in 18th on his Zlock Kawasaki ZX-6RR. Bill Card was classified 51st with 43 laps completed on a Yamaha YZF-R6, Steve Crevier lasted only 14 laps on the Picotte Racing Buell XBRR, and Jean-Paul Tache was a DNF riding a Kawasaki ZX-6RR. Pascal Picotte was a non-starter.

In other Daytona action, defending Superbike champion Mat Mladin drafted by Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Ben Spies at the line to win the season opener by 0.032 secs.

Duhamel came out on top of a five-rider battle to claim the final podium spot on his Honda CBR1000RR. He was followed home by Parts Unlimited Ducati's Neil Hodgson and the Kawasaki ZX-10R of Tommy Hayden.

The third place battle had included Roger Lee Hayden on the second Kawi and Duhamel's teammate Zemke, but the younger Hayden suffered a highside which forced Zemke off the track.