Windham wins wild race

By John Hopkins

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- In the most treacherous conditions seen in 21 years, Torco Racing Fuels Honda rider Kevin Windham won the Daytona Supercross by Honda at Daytona International Speedway Friday night.

After running second most of the race Windham took the lead just a few corners from the finish when runaway leader Chad Reed stalled his San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Yamaha in one of the many deep puddles that littered the Daytona Supercross track.

Davi Millsaps finished second on his Honda Red Bull Honda, 22.420 seconds behind Windham, while Jacob Marsack finished a stunning third riding the Bad Boy Power Drinks Honda.

Reed was classified sixth.

"That was the most brutal race I've been in my entire life," said Windham after his first ever Supercross win at Daytona. "That last lap was the biggest emotional roller coaster of my life. To win it is memorable, not just because of the conditions but because it's Daytona."

The conditions were considered the worst at Daytona since 1987, when privateer Honda rider Rick Ryan won the race.

Friday's event, the 10th round of the AMA Supercross Championship was shortened to 12 laps from its originally scheduled 20 due to heavy rain that fell on and off through the program and left the track a muddy quagmire. Reed grabbed the lead off the start with Windham in second, and they traded the lead in the early laps as each ran into difficulties in the standing water, rain and mud.

By lap 5 Reed started increasing his advantage, and his lead grew when Windham pulled into the pits for a fresh set of goggles after lap 6. His lead was up to a minute by the time he started the final lap and the Australian looked assured of his seventh win in 10 races this season before stalling near the finish.

Campbell River, BC's Dusty Klatt got as high as fourth spot in the early laps on his Cernics Kawasaki before he joined the many riders to fall foul of the conditions. He eventually crossed the line 13th. Klatt had reached the Main thanks to a victory in the Last Chance Qualifier.

Defending Canadian national champion Paul Carpenter of Ithaca, NY also flirted with a podium spot on the Atomic Racing Honda and was classified 15th.

With his second victory of the season Windham closed to within 24 points of Reed in the AMA Supercross standings after 10 of 16 rounds with 200 to Reed's 224.

Blackfoot Yamaha rider Colton Facciotti of Aldergrove, BC failed to reach the main event aboard his Blackfoot Yamaha.