Pascal and I shared Yamaha machines yesterday and this morning, a mighty Vmax and Zuma 125cc scooter. My afternoon was spent at the Daytona International Speedway for the first races of the weekend.

Pascal loved the Zuma: light, good power from the 4-stroke 125, nice solid and fat tires, good brakes and good looks! Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com

Pascal likes scooters and found the Zuma exactly to his taste. With wide tires and good brake, the little bike never gives off the impression of falling over on itself, as the skinny tired ones feel they are about to do at every corner or under hard braking. The 4-stroke 125cc mill propels the thing nicely, thank you, in part due to Pascal’s 60-odd kg.

As you would expect, the VMax is a horse of a very different colour. With close to 200 hp on tap and Kenworth-class torque, this 315kg rocket puts you in a different world on the street. A solid chassis and massive front brakes add to the secure feeling, and full-size-friendly ergos put you right at home on this standard.

Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com

This is my second ride on a 200hp bike in a few weeks, and the big Yammy actually felt quicker and rawer than the BMW S1200RR, with the same power and 125kg less weight than the VMax. The explanation for this is simple: I rode the BMW on a track, where you expect to go fast, and the ABS-Traction Control-Anti Wheelie and other safety electronics actually made the German machine feel safe. Taking the less controlled VMax on the street and twisting the throttle sounded a big alarm in my head, with the monster torque yelling at me: “This is crazy!” But if you enjoy your kick in the butt aboard a standard bike, the VMax appears to me to be invincible.

Jake Zemke Wins Superbike Race 1 - McCormick DNFs
I am at the track as I write this, Brett McCormick having qualified in both the Daytona 200 and the AMA Superbike race earlier today. The first Superbike race of the double header is run today, and Brett McCormick has qualified ninth, in amongst the quick privateers, and just behind the factory boys on their $100,000 machines – on his self-funded effort.

In Superbike final qualifying late this morning (Thursday), McCormick was tenth overall despite running carefully to save the machine for the two races, one today and the second tomorrow. Team Manager Pascal Picotte did admit to a lack of money and development. “We lowered the seat to hide our very tall rider behind the fairing. It gave us an extra 500rpm at the end of the straightaway, or an extra 8 to 10 kph. Little things like this all count! Pascal added that the team was focusing on the Superbike races, and treating the Daytona 200 as a bonus event. “The 200 involves strategy, pit stops for fuel and tires, a lot of incidents with a lot of riders and a longer race. The whole team gets involved and enjoys the event immensely – So we do it!”

In the Superbike race, Brett McCormick jumped up to 6th after lap 1, and lead the second group of three behind the 5 factory bikes (Pegram, Yates, Zemke, Blake Young, Tommy Hayden).

McCormick, seventh after 4 lap of the 15 lap race, was still solidly in the second group, 10 seconds ahead of the next group, but 9 seconds behind the lead group. McCormick then stopped on lap 9, putting him out of this short race with a blown engine.

The front five riders exchanged places and tried various drafting passes, as it was all going to come down to the last lap draft. Zemke (Suzuki) grabbed the lead with two laps to go and kept it there to the wire, as the battling pack slowed itself down on the run to the flag, with Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) second, in front of Larry Pegram (Ducati) and Aaron Yates (Suzuki). The Zemke win comes after he blew an engine in qualifying this morning!

Jake Zemke (photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)

We will be back here tomorrow (Friday) for the second Superbike race in the late afternoon, and the Daytona 200 at 8pm.

Here are the results of today's race.

2010 Daytona AMA Superbike Race 1 Results
1. Jake Zemke (Suzuki) 15 laps
2. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) +0.238
3. Larry Pegram (Ducati) +0.259
4. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) +0.291
5. Blake Young (Suzuki) +0.307
6. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki) +27.398
7. Taylor Knapp (Suzuki) +27.43
8. Shawn Higbee (Ducati) +1 lap
9. Shane Narbonne (Suzuki) +9.078
10. Barrett Long (Ducati) +16.377


I am gone to find out what happened to McCormick and post it as soon as possible.