MotoAmerica: Josh Herrin secures Daytona 200 pole position

Josh Herrin has secured pole position for the 81^st edition of the Daytona 200.

The top 12 riders headed out for the 15-minute session, with a huge pack of riders bunching up. Winds were so high that it caused some of the riders to struggle to stop at the Le Mans chicane. 

Daytona 200 veteran led the way Josh Hayes led the way, with 2022 Supersport Champion, Josh Herrin topping the time sheets a lap later. Everyone was looking for a tow in the short Time Attack session, with eight riders in one group.

Richie Escalante was 0.600 faster than Josh Herrin on his second flying lap but would abort the lap and pull into the pits. Escalante changed his rear tyre on his Suzuki, creating a chain reaction at the front.

Josh Herrin had issues in his pit stop, leaving the 2010 Daytona 200 race winner without anyone to follow. Herrin would push too hard on his first flying lap out of the pits, running wide into the grass.

Brandon Paasch had a quiet start to his Time Attack session, ending his first run in 12^th position on his Triumph. Danny Eslick on the other Triumph sat in fifth position, less than a second from the top spot.

A pack would be created once again, with eight riders following each other around the Daytona infield. Danny Eslick ran into the grass at the chicane, breaking up the group of riders at the front.

Tyler Scott sat in third position, after getting sat up by Hayden Gillim at turn one on his Suzuki. This would mean Hayden Gillim lost the slipstream and would not improve his lap time.

Cameron Petersen joins the Supersport grid for one weekend at Daytona, on his Attack Performance Yamaha. He would struggle to get a slipstream in the session, dropping the Yamaha rider to seventh.

As the chequered flag waved, nobody was able to go faster than Josh Herrin’s 1:48.741 and would take pole position at Daytona. PJ Jacobsen and Tyler Scott will join Herrin on the front row of the grid.

Brits debuting

British rider, Matt Truelove ended the Time Attack in 12^th position, ending qualifying just behind Teagg Hobbs. Truelove will race the Yamaha R6 this weekend and is one of the many Brits who have made their way to Florida.

Rhys Irwin will also make the journey to Daytona, with the Irishman qualifying in 20^th position. Irwin raced in the British Supersport Championship last year, onboard the Astro JJR Triumph.

Brandon Paasch ended the session in 10^th place, as he tries to win a third Daytona 200 in a row. He will continue with the TOBC Racing Triumph team and is getting support from three-time British Superbike Champion, Shane Byrne.

Xavi Fores enters his first-ever Daytona 200, as he prepares to spend a full season on the Warhorse HSBK Ducati. Fores qualified in 15^th position, as the Spaniard continues to learn the historic track.

With a massive 52-bike entry for this year’s Daytona 200, conditions are looking good for the rest of the weekend. The race will get underway at 18:10 GMT, live only on MotoAmerica Live Plus.

Image credit: Brian J. Nelson