 ince the 1930’s, Daytona Beach, Florida has been the place to go each March. What started out as a small gathering of race fans back in the beach racing days has become a motorcycle Mecca offering just about everything under the sun. The sunny beaches, the bars and bands on Main St., the stunning new Destination Daytona compound, miles and miles of great roads to cruise, vendors galore, and of course, the races! Between the action at the world famous Daytona International Speedway, including the Daytona Supercross and the Daytona 200, the Short Track races at Municipal Stadium, the Alligator Enduro, GNCC and more, there is something for virtually every race fan to enjoy. And, if that doesn’t do it for you, you can always go check out the burnout contests and coleslaw wrestling!
Although there is more to see and do in Daytona than is possible for one person to cover, moto-photog extraordinaire Kinney Jones somehow managed to capture all of the racing action down in Daytona and the surrounding areas during Bike Week. Check out a few of the highlights from Daytona Bike Week 2007…
Parts Unlimited was out in full force at the Speedway. Kinney Jones photo. |
Moose-sponsored David Knight finished a strong second in the GNCC behind Shane Watts. Kinney Jones photo.
|
Parts Unlimited’s Hylton Beattie and the Moose Racing crew hard at work at the GNCC. Kinney Jones photo.
|
19-year-old Mike Rush was the surprise winner on night two of the Flat Track Championship doubleheader at Municipal Stadium. This marked the first National win for the youngster from California. Kinney Jones photo.
|
Rush was joined on the podium by Thor’s Jake Johnson, who claimed top honors on the first night of racing action. Kinney Jones photo.
|
The 66th running of the Daytona 200 goes off the line. Kinney Jones photo.
|
Steve Rapp’s victory marked the first Daytona 200 win by a privateer effort since John Ashmead in 1989. Kinney Jones photo.
|
Eventual Daytona 200 winner Steve Rapp (#15) battled early on with Miguel Duhamel (#17), Josh Hayes (#1) and Michael Barnes (#34), who finished third. In a bizarre occurrence, Duhamel fell victim to an unidentified fuel issue, ending his day on lap 21, along with his teammate Jake Zemke. Hayes and his Erion Racing teammate Aaron Gobert had similar problems, but Hayes managed to correct his and ultimately finished 6th. Kinney Jones photo.
|
Ben Spies took home the win in the Superbike class. Kinney Jones photo.
|
An ecstatic Rapp was joined on the podium by Ben Attard and Michael Barnes, who finished second and third, respectively. Kinney Jones photo.
|
Ben Spies and Ben Bostrom battle it out in the Superstock race, with Spies ultimately claiming the checkered flag. Kinney Jones photo. Kinney Jones photo.
|
Ben’s Superstock win marked his first ever victory at the famed Daytona International Speedway. Kinney Jones photo.
|
Following his Daytona victory, Townley went on to claim the 2007 East Lites Supercross Championship. Kinney Jones photo.
|
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ben Townley came out on top of the Daytona Supercross Lites class. Kinney Jones photo.
|
3-time Daytona 200 winner Dick Klamfoth and 1972 Daytona 200 winner Don Emde (Parts Magazine Publisher) at the Daytona 200 monument. Jen Emde photo.
|
Chad Reed claimed the third podium spot at Daytona aboard his San Manuel/L&M Racing Yamaha. Kinney Jones photo.
|
If you haven’t been out to the beach to check out the Daytona 200 monument, make sure and put it on your “to do” list for next year. To learn more and to help the cause, log on to www.daytona200monument.com. Jen Emde photo.
|
|
