AMA Pro Racing

In the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race, the championship battle tightened up even closer as Martin Cardenas, on his M4 Monster Energy Suzuki won for the seventh time this year. Team Graves Yamaha rider Josh Herrin took a hard fought second place from a resurgent Dane Westby on his Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha.

Championship points leader Danny Eslick led the early stages of the race and also the second stage of the race following a red flag period on lap six for an accident involving Tommy Aquino and his Team Graves Yamaha. Tommy had a fall on the front straight and although it looked worse than it was, the race was stopped to insure safe removal of his motorcycle and to attend to a quickly recovered Aquino.

On the restart, Eslick really extended his lead over Cory West, Westby and Martin Cardenas with Herrin in close pursuit. Slowly but surely, the group reeled Danny in and in a flash, Herrin was by and then Martin made a big move and the order was reshuffled with Martin taking the lead from Herrin with Bobby Fong moving into third as Herrin fell to fifth. Josh fought his way back to second by the end as Martin was able to pull out a slight gap back to Herrin and Westby.

West, on his Vesrah Suzuki ended up sixth ahead of P.J. Jacobson again having a good result with his Celtic Racing Suzuki. Bobby Fong ended up fourth on his DNA Energy Drink Ducati ahead of Eslick on his GEICO Powersports Suzuki. Eslick maintains a two point lead over Cardenas who is only three points ahead of Herrin.

As with every race this year in Daytona SportBike, the action was taking place all over the racetrack, at one point there was a six to seven bike train at the front and many more battles back through the field.

Tomorrow will be race two for the Daytona SportBikes and if today was anything to go by, there will be action galore as Danny Eslick, Martin Cardenas and Josh Herrin continue their championship battle right down to the wire.