2025 Daytona 200 Wrap-up

The 83rd running of the Daytona 200 solidified its status as one of the world's most historic motorcycle races. This year's event delivered edge-of-your-seat excitement from start to finish.

Nestled in the heart of sunny Florida, Daytona International Speedway is surrounded by palm trees and resonates with the roar of high-performance engines. Renowned worldwide for hosting the annual NASCAR 500, Daytona also plays host to the thunderous rumble of motorcycle engines during the Daytona 200. When the bikes hit the tarmac, the adrenaline flows.

Beyond the race, Daytona is about the spectacle. The event coincides with the legendary Daytona Bike Week, which this year drew in over 100,000 additional motorcycle enthusiasts compared to previous years, culminating in a week-long celebration of all things two-wheeled.

The Daytona 200 serves as the opening act for the MotoAmerica season, adding an extra layer of excitement and anticipation for riders and fans alike.

This year's race was significant for RST, as we had RST-sponsored riders lining up at the business end of the grid, Tyler Scott and Richie Escalante had both gone well in qualifying and Richard Cooper was also impressive on his PHR Performance Triumph 765.

Elsewhere there were two notable TT stars lining up on the grid with 13-time TT winner Peter Hickman looking strong in practice and qualifying. While TT GOAT Michael Dunlop lined up on his Milwaukee/MD Racing Ducati Panigale V2.

The race commenced at 13:10 local time (18:10 GMT) on Saturday. Qualifying sessions had set high expectations, with riders like Josh Herrin, Richie Escalante, and Tyler Scott showcasing impressive lap times.

Race Day.

As the race began, the action was intense, with multiple lead changes keeping fans on the edge of their seats. The 57-lap race required strategic pit stops, adding complexity to the proceedings.

Josh Herrin, aboard his Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati Panigale V2, battled fiercely with Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammates Tyler Scott and Richie Escalante throughout and it looked like the win would go down to the wire between these 3. It had looked in the early stages of the race that it could be a 4-way race, with Richard Cooper sticking with the front-runners, however a mechanical issue for his PHR Performance Triumph 765 forced the british rider to retire from the race.

With 10 laps remaining, Herrin executed two remarkable laps, creating a gap that the Team Hammer Suzuki riders couldn't bridge and in the end (for the second year in a row). Herrin crossed the finish line with a comfortable margin, this year it was 5.3 seconds ahead of Escalante, securing his fourth Daytona 200 victory and becoming the first rider in the history of the event to win three consecutively.

Peter Hickman's fourth-place finish and Michael Dunlop's ninth-place result were commendable, especially considering the competitive field and challenging conditions.

As the checkered flag waved and the dust settled, RST reflected on a thrilling race. While victory eluded us this time, the impressive performances of our sponsored riders serve as a promising sign for the future.

Roll on the 2025 motoamerica season.

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For Every Rider. For Every Ride.

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