Yamaha
Release On Daytona Test - Saturday, January 08, 2005
Factory Yamaha Team romps in Daytona tire test
The Factory Yamaha Road Race Team set the standard during the annual Daytona tire test January 3-5, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Not only did 20-year old Jason DiSalvo post the quickest lap in class on his Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock machine, he also rode his new YZF-R6 to the quickest lap in the Supersport class. Just behind, Damon Buckmaster nabbed the second fastest Supersport time aboard another new R6, with last year's Daytona Superstock winner and reigning Champion, Aaron Gobert, notched a fifth ranking on his Supersport-class R6. The final Factory Yamaha rider, last year's second-place Daytona Superstock finisher Jamie Hacking, sat out the tire test to give last season's collarbone injury more time to heal..
Trap speeds were spectacular, as DiSalvo's YZF-R1 Superstock bike went a ballistic 193.281 mph. That's within just 1.354 mph of the fastest Superbike-class machine during the tire test - remarkable since the rules allow Superbikes to be more heavily modified than Superstock machines like DiSalvo's R1.
Damon Buckmaster was impressed with the evolutionary changes that have been made to his Superstock R1. "The team has been doing a lot of work on the R1 in the off season," he says. "They've made the bike more rideable and manageable."
Team manager Tom Halverson says 600 Supersport team riders also picked up significant top speed. "Last year the R6 would do about 167 or 168 though the traps, and now it's up at about 171 mph," he says. "The bigger throttle bodies that come on the new R6 are definitely adding to the top end, but we haven't sacrificed any of the bottom or mid range."
DiSalvo found big improvements in the R6 in the infield, thanks to the new the inverted fork and larger brakes. "The R6 is really strong in the infield," DiSalvo says. "You can take it right up to the limit, and it's really defined. The feedback is so good, it's easy to stay right at the limit."
The strong performance in both the Supersport and Superstock classes during the tire test bodes well for Team Yamaha's chances in the upcoming racing season, which kicks off at Daytona on March 9-12. Halverson says, "We have a good mix of riders - two seasoned veterans, and two young guys - all with a lot of talent and enthusiasm. I think we have a great chance of winning both the Supersport and Superstock championships in 2005."
Jason DiSalvo was the fourth-fastest rider at Daytona, turning in a better fast lap than four-time Daytona 200 winner Miguel Duhamel, among other experienced and fast riders. And DiSalvo wasn't even on a Superbike.
DiSalvo's fast lap of 1:40.816 was set on his Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock bike, a lightly modified streetbike. Which goes to show how good today's sportbikes are and, more importantly, how good DiSalvo is.
DiSalvo finished the three-day test with the fastest times in both classes he is contesting this year. He led all riders in the Supersport class, as well, lapping at 1:43.576 on his Yamaha YZF-R6.
DiSalvo said his fast lap could have been even better, but he messed up one of the turns in the infield.
"I was like, 'Aw, man, I've got to make this time up,'" DiSalvo said. "So I got a great drive onto the back straightaway and then I nailed the chicane. It was perfect. And you know, the chicane leads onto the fastest section of the track. And it was a good time."
