SUZUKI'S Ben Spies started the 2007 AMA Superbike year in style by winning the AMA Superbike race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The defending AMA Superbike Champion took the win to notch up his 12th AMA Superbike career victory and Suzuki's 11th Daytona AMA Superbike win. His team mates Tommy Hayden and Mat Mladin both had troubles and could only manage eighth and 10th.
"Winning at Daytona was a great way to start out the season," said Spies of his first-ever Daytona Superbike victory. "It's nice to show up with the number-one plate and get the pole position, lead the most laps and win the race."
The Texan picked up the pole position by posting a fastest lap time of 1:37.546. Overall, this is Spies' eighth career pole. Mladin was hot on his heels with a lap time of 1:37.581 while Hayden followed up with a 1:38.931.
In Saturday's 15-lap AMA Superbike race, Spies got a good start and was running up front with Mladin. The duo swapped spots a few times and then Spies took over the lead. The 22-year-old went on to create a gap and take the win.
Yoshimura Suzuki will return for round two of the AMA Superbike Series at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama on April 20 - 22.
