I am going to be there for sure.
AMA Superbike: Mr. Daytona Returns
2/12/2008
By Ken Hutchison
Former AMA and World Superbike champion Scott Russell is set to compete in the AMA Superstock race at the opening round of the 2008 AMA Superbike season at Daytona International Speedway. Russell will pilot a Jamie James Productions Superstock-spec Yamaha R1 with technical support from Doug Crawford and James as well. During the late 80s through the mid 90s, Russell established himself as the most successful motorcycle racer to turn a wheel on the high banks with no less than five career Daytona 200 victories, all on superbike-spec machines, two of which were on the Yamaha YZF750 in 1997-98.
Jamie James confirms the program is in full swing and his team of JJP technicians are working hard to get Russell's R1 together before Bike Week gets underway in less than a month. Although this effort is intended to be more casual than competitive, James did confirm that if the team comes away with what they consider a successful outing in the opening round they are willing to keep the effort going if the opportunity arises.
"He [Russell] wants to be competitive for sure but he wants to approach it as a group of friends who just want to have fun," explains former AMA Supersport champion Jamie James. "He hasn't raced AMA in 7-8 years. We're gonna get down there and see what he can come up with. We'll go in low key and take it one race at a time and if he feels good at the end we'll surely be going to Barber - we'll take it one race at a time."
Arguably, one of Russell's most memorable Daytona wins is the 1995 event that saw him crash in the opening stages of the race only to be immortalized on the cover of Cycle World magazine as he leapt over his Muzzy's Kawasaki ZX-7, remounted the damaged bike and tracked down race-leader and Ducati ace Carl Fogarty, ultimately beating him to the finish. Russell often cites this as his most memorable moment due to the less than friendly relationship between the two champions.
Although he will not compete in the 200, which now features the AMA Formula Xtreme class, Russell will need to get up to speed quick considering the level of competition he will be facing in the Superstock class. The odds-on favorite to win the title this year has to be Jordan Suzuki's Aaron Yates, but his teammate Geoff May, Yamaha's Ben Bostrom and a handful of others will be tough to beat.
AMA Superbike: Mr. Daytona Returns
2/12/2008
By Ken Hutchison
Former AMA and World Superbike champion Scott Russell is set to compete in the AMA Superstock race at the opening round of the 2008 AMA Superbike season at Daytona International Speedway. Russell will pilot a Jamie James Productions Superstock-spec Yamaha R1 with technical support from Doug Crawford and James as well. During the late 80s through the mid 90s, Russell established himself as the most successful motorcycle racer to turn a wheel on the high banks with no less than five career Daytona 200 victories, all on superbike-spec machines, two of which were on the Yamaha YZF750 in 1997-98.
Jamie James confirms the program is in full swing and his team of JJP technicians are working hard to get Russell's R1 together before Bike Week gets underway in less than a month. Although this effort is intended to be more casual than competitive, James did confirm that if the team comes away with what they consider a successful outing in the opening round they are willing to keep the effort going if the opportunity arises.
"He [Russell] wants to be competitive for sure but he wants to approach it as a group of friends who just want to have fun," explains former AMA Supersport champion Jamie James. "He hasn't raced AMA in 7-8 years. We're gonna get down there and see what he can come up with. We'll go in low key and take it one race at a time and if he feels good at the end we'll surely be going to Barber - we'll take it one race at a time."
Arguably, one of Russell's most memorable Daytona wins is the 1995 event that saw him crash in the opening stages of the race only to be immortalized on the cover of Cycle World magazine as he leapt over his Muzzy's Kawasaki ZX-7, remounted the damaged bike and tracked down race-leader and Ducati ace Carl Fogarty, ultimately beating him to the finish. Russell often cites this as his most memorable moment due to the less than friendly relationship between the two champions.
Although he will not compete in the 200, which now features the AMA Formula Xtreme class, Russell will need to get up to speed quick considering the level of competition he will be facing in the Superstock class. The odds-on favorite to win the title this year has to be Jordan Suzuki's Aaron Yates, but his teammate Geoff May, Yamaha's Ben Bostrom and a handful of others will be tough to beat.
