YART Yamaha Riders Able to Tackle Daytona 200
The reigning FIM Endurance World Champions, Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Group riders Niccolò Canepa, Karel Hanika, and Marvin Fritz, will make their debut on the 82nd operating of the legendary Daytona 200 in Florida from the Seventh-Ninth of March.
After profitable the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) in sensational trend throughout the last spherical of the season on the Bol d’Or, the YART Yamaha workforce determined to set their sights on a special purpose and tackle what is usually known as the “Nice American Bike Race”.
The Daytona 200 was based in 1937, with the unique race utilizing grime bikes and the sands of Daytona Seashore as a observe earlier than it moved to the well-known banking of the Daytona Worldwide Speedway in 1961 and switched to utilizing machines primarily based on the Grand Prix bikes of the day.
In 1985, security considerations because of the elevated prime speeds of GP bikes led to the organisers limiting the entries to superbike-based machines solely. Then, in 2009, they selected to change to supersport equipment, and since 2022, the Daytona 200 has shaped a non-points-scoring spherical of the MotoAmerica Supersport class.
This well-known race has all the time drawn a spectacular entry checklist, particularly throughout its heyday within the Seventies, and often attracts a few of the prime riders from all over the world, with 2024 being no exception.
Traditionally, it has proved a contented searching floor for Yamaha with 27 victories in whole, greater than every other producer, together with 13 consecutive wins from 1972 to 1984. The checklist of winners for Yamaha consists of legends reminiscent of Jarno Saarinen, Giacomo Agostini, Johnny Cecotto, Steve Baker, Kenny Roberts, and Eddie Lawson, whereas Brandon Pasch secured Yamaha’s final victory in 2021.
In contrast to within the EWC, the place Canepa, Hanika, and Fritz race the YART R1 as a workforce, in Daytona, they’ll swap their ordinary steed for a Bridgestone-shod R6, and all three will compete in opposition to one another underneath the YART – Prokasro banner.
To assist rise up to hurry, Hanika and Fritz each took half in an ASRA race at Daytona Worldwide Speedway in the direction of the top of final yr, however for Canepa, this week would be the first time he has ridden on the circuit. Nonetheless, the trio took half in a current take a look at at Almeria in Spain on the YART R6 to proceed adapting to the brand new equipment and totally different tyre compounds.
The 5.64km Daytona 200 structure presents a singular problem, with the 31-degree banking permitting excessive prime speeds and making certain that sustaining a slipstream throughout the 57-lap race turns into very important. Plus, with 9 left turns in comparison with three proper, mixed with the time spent on the left-hand facet of the tyre whereas on the banking, it may be tough to maintain sufficient temperature within the right-hand facet of the tyre for the infield part.
The 2024 Daytona 200 kicks off on Thursday, the Seventh of March, with Observe beginning at 10:45 am native time (UTC-5) earlier than the primary qualifying classes get underway at 2:50 pm. The second qualifying classes kick off on Friday at 10:10 am, with the race begin scheduled for 1:10 pm on Saturday.
Niccolò Canepa
YART – Prokasro
“I’m extraordinarily excited to race within the Daytona 200. It’s a particular place with a lot historical past, and the observe is totally totally different from something we usually race in Europe. I’ve by no means raced there, and I’m not used to using a 600c bike, so it is going to be a problem however very thrilling. I’m delighted to have the ability to come right here with my teammates to expertise this. It’s a unprecedented alternative that YART have given us to race right here, and I need to get pleasure from it. I’ll strive my greatest, however I actually do not know how robust we shall be. The R6 feels nice, the workforce is superb, so we’ll attempt to have enjoyable, and also you by no means know what might occur.”
Karel Hanika
YART – Prokasro
“The Daytona 200 has been on my want checklist for a few years, and to get to participate on this epic race with my YART Yamaha household is unbelievable. I got here right here for an ASRA race with Marvin in November, and we have been capable of put in some laps round this implausible circuit. We’re clearly not used to racing the R6 or this distinctive observe, so we now have needed to adapt rapidly and discover the correct Bridgestone tyre combos. Whereas we won’t be using as teammates, we will share all the info and attempt to assist one another with the perfect setup. This yr options an extremely robust lineup of riders, and we now have no actual reference to how we’ll carry out, however we’ll give it our greatest shot.”
Marvin Fritz
YART – Prokasro
“I’m so excited for the race. Karel and I managed to trip right here in the direction of the top of final yr in an ASRA race, and wow…what a circuit! It was important to attempt to perceive the calls for of this observe as a result of, with the banking and the infield part, it may be tough. Particularly as you spend a lot time on the left-hand facet of the tyre on the banking, it’s straightforward to make a mistake whenever you take a proper nook, because the right-hand facet of the tyre can get chilly. We’re using individually on this race, however we’ll nonetheless work collectively as a workforce to assist us obtain the perfect consequence doable. It’s key right here to work collectively to remain within the slipstream as for those who get dropped from the practice of riders, it’s straightforward to fall out of competition. We’re one of many solely groups on Bridgestone tyres, so we now have needed to adapt rapidly, not solely to the R6 however the distinctive calls for of the observe. Will probably be totally different from what we’re used to, however we’re excited and may’t wait to get racing.”
Mandy Kainz
YART – Prokasro – Group Supervisor
“After such an unbelievable season being topped World Endurance Champions, we thought we might come right here with our riders to present them a style of one thing totally different and as a reward for profitable the title. Now we have needed to adapt rapidly to the R6 and the Bridgestone tyres, as it is a utterly totally different problem from what we’re used to, however we really feel assured that we now have an excellent package deal. Will probably be very odd to see the blokes using in opposition to one another, however despite the fact that they aren’t using as a workforce, we’ll ensure that we work collectively to get the perfect consequence doable, and I’m excited to see what the blokes can do in opposition to such an illustrious discipline.”
