Duhamel top Canuck in 200

By John Hopkins

DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Montreal's Miguel Duhamel made a late charge to claim 17th spot in the Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night.

The five-time winner of the storied event was the top finisher among five Canadians to take the green flag in the opening round of the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Championship, and the first Daytona 200 to be run under the lights.

Duhamel had qualified 13th aboard the Suzuki/Blackfoot/Picotte Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R600 but lost time at his first fuel stop when he didn't get enough gas in his bike. He later lost a lap in the confusion of the full course caution and subsequent red flag, which came as he made his second scheduled stop.

"Between the pace car and the red we lost a lap," he explained. "I'm not sure exactly how, but we did."

Duhamel said a top speed deficit also limited his ability to move up through the field.

"I was riding as hard as I could but we were down on top speed," he explained. "We followed the rue book to the letter but for some reason we were behind. The set-up of the bike was very good and I could outride those guys. I tried to get them into turn one and then outrun them in the infield, hope they couldn't get me back on the banking."

Duhamel said he still enjoyed his Daytona 200 experience.

"I was having fun," he said. "It didn't take rocket science to see we weren't going to get the win. But I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I've certainly come out of here a lot worse."

Chris Peris was the only Canadian to make it into Thursday night's SuperPole qualifying session and the Erion Racing Honda rider lined up 10th for the '200' on his CBR600RR.

But on his first stop the Calgary rider received a 20-second penalty for a pit procedure infraction and he later broke his shift lever in an incident in the chicane just before the red flag came out. He was classified 25th.

Alan Schmidt survived a tough week on his Latus Motors Racing Buell 1125R to place 35th. The Kamloops, BC racer lost track time in practice and qualifying when a water pump seal went and then a broken thermostat led to overheating problems.

"We never got in 10 laps of practice or qualifying," he admitted. "I was reluctant to believe we had a chance in the race. We put a new motor in; the guys were up all night the other night."

Matt McBride was 39th on the Vallely Racing/Riders Choice Suzuki GSX-R600, the Mississauga, ON rider battling front end chatter throughout the race.

Fresh from a runner-up finish in the Moto-GT race a few hours earlier, North Bay, ON's Jean Paul Tache finished 49th in the '200' riding his Four Feathers Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Tache was delayed after his second stop with a stop and go penalty for starting his bike on the stand while in the pits.