By Following the announcement that Michael Dunlop is down to compete at the prestigious Daytona 200, it’s a good time to look at some of the International roads greats that have previously sampled the Florida, USA based Daytona International Speedway.
Overseas winners have included 15 times World Champion, ten times TT winner Giacomo Agostini who took the showpiece Daytona 200 crown in 1974.
1982 saw two years prior Senior TT Champion Graeme Crosby victorious whilst twice ‘200’ winner Dale Singleton joined the TT rider ranks in 1981.
Added famous names making the long, long trip to Daytona during the 80’s and 90’s include Robert Holden, Andy McGladdery, Brian Morrison, Steve Parrish.
Six times Macau GP winner Ron Haslam, Peter Rubatto, Anders Andersson, former Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough lap record holder Trevor Nation.
Roger Marshall, eight times World Champion Carl Fogarty, Roger Burnett and 11 times TT winner, twice British Superbike Champion Steve Hislop.
1999 saw 23 times TT winner John McGuinness claim 250 success whilst the Morecambe racer’s 2005 American racing expedition yielded another win, taking solo class spoils within Formula USA team challenge affiliated competition.
Photo by Rod Neill
Fast forward to present times and it’s not only the aforementioned Dunlop with a racing pedigree, which includes roads course experience hoping to tackle Daytona.
Joining the Mountain Course great on this year’s Daytona 200 start list are America’s fastest Manx GP racer Chris Sarbora, top six North West 200 finisher Darren James and South African Sheridan Morais, who made an ultra impressive pure road racing debut at Frohburger Dreieck in 2019.
The 2021 Daytona 200 which has attracted a 63 strong entry list, is at present set to take place from the 12th-13th March.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
