The monitor in Daytona claimed extra victims than Bernie Madoff. Was it about regular for Daytona, or was the casualty price a bit of greater this yr? What was it concerning the monitor that had led to so many riders taking soil samples?
Daytona has seen about each variation doable. Years in the past, Daytona was a brutal mixture of sand, clay, and limestone. The ledge bumps within the transitions had been sufficient to flatten rims. Beginning within the early to mid-2000’s, that transitioned to a extra conventional SX really feel. A lot of orange clay was introduced in to construct a clay base as a substitute of the black sand that was Daytona. That stored the monitor extra manageable, and riders caught with their SX settings. The final couple of years have seen a sluggish transition again to sandier circumstances. Merely taking a look at footage of a race from say, 2005, after which taking a look at 2023 can be a stark distinction in soil colour. The darker the soil, the rougher and ruttier the monitor will get. The black sand breaks down very quick and bumps kind shortly. As that deterioration happens, the monitor will get extra treacherous.
The ultimate issue got here within the construct this yr. There have been a number of huge rhythm sections that requested riders to triple and quad. When these get rutty, issues will typically go sideways. Daytona’s soil was softer, and the jumps had been extra technical this yr. That’s a really tough combo to navigate.
What do you make of the motion between Chase Sexton and Justin Barcia? Was Sexton’s move-over on Barcia something to get labored up over? Was Barcia’s transfer afterward, wherein he ran into Sexton and went down himself, warranted?
That was a wild sequence. I went again and watched it a couple of occasions and Barcia positively has purpose to be upset. Chase moved towards Barcia over these closing few jumps resulting in the principle triple, leaving Barcia nowhere to go and finally forcing contact. I imagine Sexton was attempting to squeeze Barcia with a view to maintain him behind him, however Barcia was dedicated already.
Barcia was offended and rightfully so. When Sexton made one other mistake and opened the door for Barcia up that inside, he went for it. Once more, he acquired the quick finish of the stick, however I imagine anger and emotion was a consider pushing that angle. Nobody likes being cross jumped, even Barcia who can’t ever complain about iffy ways being employed.
Sexton was doing every little thing doable to remain within the combat for the win and letting Barcia by would have been a loss of life knell to that. I don’t condone the transfer however there’s lots of urgency and emotion influencing these fast selections. It’s straightforward to Monday morning quarterback these items after analyzing them for a day or two.
