Eslick Takes Road Atlanta

Henny Ray Abrams | April 5, 2009

Bruce Rossmeyer Daytona/RMR Buell’s Danny Eslick won his third Daytona SportBike final of the season in a race of attrition at Road Atlanta.In the mix from the start, Eslick trailed leaders Jason DiSalvo (Suz) and Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke for much of the first half of the race. DiSalvo led the first lap before Zemke took over on lap two, holding it for next six laps. His day came to an end when he low-sided on the eighth lap in turn six.DiSalvo had over two seconds on Eslick at that point, but Eslick whittled away and closed up when DiSalvo nearly came off following a slide exiting the final turn ending the tenth lap.Then Eslick used the power of the Buell to motor by DiSalvo on the back straight on the 11th lap, but DiSalvo fought back. A lap later Eslick took the lead for good.Next to attack the lead was Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki’s Roger Lee Hayden, but his race also ended prematurely. Hayden was a close second when he low-sided in the slow right hand turn seven.That gave second to Team Graves Yamaha’s Josh Herrin. Herrin closed a gap of 1.5 secs. in the final few laps, but Eslick held on by .483 secs. Erion Honda’s Chris Peris finished third, 5.216 secs. back with Taylor Knapp a close fourth in his first ride on the Latus Racing Buell. Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking was fifth.Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies’ Chaz Davies finished sixth after going up and down the order from start to finish.Then came DiSalvo, salvaging a seventh on the day.Eslick takes over the championship lead with 88 points to 85 for Hacking and 81 for Herrin.

Race Two:1. Danny Eslick (Buell)2. Josh Herrin (Yamaha)3. Chris Peris (Honda)4. Taylor Knapp (Buell)5. Jamie Hacking (Kawasaki)6. Chaz Davies (Aprilia)7. Jason DiSalvo (Suzuki)8. Michael Barnes (Buell)9. Steve Rapp (Yamaha)10. Michael Beck (Yamaha)