Howard to run Daytona 200

By John Hopkins

The combination that scored two SunTruist MOTO-ST titles will be reunited for the March 6 Daytona 200.

Texan Ty Howard will run in the Friday night feature on an Aprilia entered by Lloyd Brothers Motorsports with sponsorship from Ridesmart Motorcycle Schools, Rockwall Performance and North Texas Superbikes.

"I'm really excited," said Howard of his Daytona 200 entry. "This whole deal only came together a couple of days ago. As everybody knows the economy has really put a damper on a lot of programs. Once I had commitments from Ridesmart Motorcycle Schools, Rockwell Performance and North Texas Superbikes, I called [team co-owner] David Lloyd and asked him if he might be abe to get our MOTO-ST team together and come to Daytona to race the 200."

Howard and the Lloyd Brothers squad claimed back-to-back SuperSport Twins crowns in the MOTO-ST endurance series in 2007 and 2008. That series has been renamed Moto-GT and will run in support of some AMA Pro Racing events, including the Daytona curtain raiser. According to a press release from the team, Lloyd Brothers will not defend its endurance title, instead focusing on its dirt track program.

"It took some thought when Ty first called me to figure out if we could make this work," Lloyd said. "There are a lot of teams out there that are willing to show up with the gun every week but don't have any bullets. That being said, going to selected events properly prepared, like Daytona, made the most sense for us, especially with a rider of Ty's caliber."