Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Motorcycle racing in America has been without one of its most popular and successful riders for several months now. Miguel DuHamel raced the Daytona 200 on a Pascal Picotte-owned Suzuki and hasn't been seen since. DuHamel split with American Honda after the 2008 season when the factory team folded into the Corona squad and went to one top level rider--Neil Hodgson.
DuHamel has been racing since Daytona, just not on two wheels. He's raced a number of NASCAR events in Canada and is learning the ropes there. He did a small NASCAR event in St. Eustache, Quebec in May, in a car sponsored by Wal-Mart, Tide and Make a Wish. DuHamel qualified twelfth and finished tenth. DuHamel was the fastest car on the track at times and did all 256 laps on one set of tires, due to pit stop strategy being disrupted by cautions.
With fifty laps remaining in the race, DuHamel said that the beyond gone tires were an issue. "Every time I ran that car into turn two on the worn tires, sweat was pouring off my brow. I kept thinking, 'Well, what part of the wall will I hit?' but I was able to make it through."
"People seemed impressed with my driving," DuHamel said.
No matter how many car races he does, DuHamel will always be a motorcycle racer.
"Frankly I'd rather be racing bikes," he said, "but there doesn't seem to be an opportunity for me there right now. I've made peace with it. I miss my fans and I miss competing with my rivals for sure. And some say that this was a good time to get out, what with the direction of the series right now."
"If there are no rides for me, then I'll go drive cars."
ENDS
DuHamel has been racing since Daytona, just not on two wheels. He's raced a number of NASCAR events in Canada and is learning the ropes there. He did a small NASCAR event in St. Eustache, Quebec in May, in a car sponsored by Wal-Mart, Tide and Make a Wish. DuHamel qualified twelfth and finished tenth. DuHamel was the fastest car on the track at times and did all 256 laps on one set of tires, due to pit stop strategy being disrupted by cautions.
With fifty laps remaining in the race, DuHamel said that the beyond gone tires were an issue. "Every time I ran that car into turn two on the worn tires, sweat was pouring off my brow. I kept thinking, 'Well, what part of the wall will I hit?' but I was able to make it through."
"People seemed impressed with my driving," DuHamel said.
No matter how many car races he does, DuHamel will always be a motorcycle racer.
"Frankly I'd rather be racing bikes," he said, "but there doesn't seem to be an opportunity for me there right now. I've made peace with it. I miss my fans and I miss competing with my rivals for sure. And some say that this was a good time to get out, what with the direction of the series right now."
"If there are no rides for me, then I'll go drive cars."
ENDS
