Well another Daytona 200 is in the books this past weekend and I will tell you that this is about the 4th year in a row I haven't bothered to watch it. The 200 has come a long way from what is in my opinion its high mark in the mid '90's. Unfortunately, it has come a long way in the wrong direction! Ever since going to a Superbike format, the 200 has perennially seen entries from the AMA regulars as well as top contenders from World Superbike and even MotoGP. The pinnacle for me was in either '95 or '96 (I don't recall the year exactly) where we saw Carl Fogherty, Troy Corser, Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Doug Polen, and Scott Russell all compete in the race. The factories thought this race was important enough to enter their top riders. Before going to a Superbike format, Kenny Roberts, Spencer, Lawson, Wayne Rainey and others were regulars on two strokes. Hell, even Giacomo Agostini and Mike Hailwood would ride the 200!
The decline all started when the World Superbike guys stopped showing up because of scheduling conflicts. I guess the AMA didn't feel that the FIM guys were important enough to try to coordinate the date with. Then the AMA changed the 200 from the Superbike class to the Formula Extreme class. I still don't understand how extreme a hot-rodded 600 or a Buell can be, but what do I know? This is when I stopped watching. Now it's even worse with the new owners of AMA Pro Racing, DMG (Daytona Motorsports Group). I really can't even tell you who raced the 200 or what the class is. I can tell you that it's not the best riders or the best equipment that the factories offer. Isn't that what people want to see? The best riders competing on the best equipment?
So, how do we fix the 200? Let's start with going back to Superbike with World Superbike specifications. For fun, why don't we let people enter old MotoGP bikes? Say 990cc era and earlier with no updates allowed. I think if we bring in top notch machinery, the top notch riders will come back for the challenge. Let's make the date where it doesn't conflict with World Superbike or MotoGP. Can you imagine a Daytona 200 where Valentino Rossi goes up against other MotoGP, World Superbike, and the different national Superbike series (AMA, BSB) stars? That will get people to watch on TV and maybe even show up in the stands! Imagine a packed house at Daytona for the first time! Kinda sounds like Suzuka doesn't it?
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