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The Daytona 200
 is a 200-mile motorcycle race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway. It’s usually held in March and is called “America’s Most Historic Motorcycle Race.“ The Daytona 200 dates to 1937 when it began as a 3.2-mile beach race. In 1961, it became a 2-mile race at the Speedway. In 2004, due to concerns over increased speeds and reconstruction of the West Banking (NASCAR Turns 1 and 2), Daytona made two changes. The first change was the premier AMA Superbike class race was changed from 200 miles to 62 miles, and the Formula Xtreme class was promoted to the Daytona 200. Second, the track configuration was changed. Motorcycles would now run through a short link after passing the Pedro Rodriguez hairpin, then run across the International Horseshoe anticlockwise, and then pass through the infield, rejoining the track on the Superstretch. This eliminated a half-mile from the track, eliminated the west banking segment of the course, and thus increased the number of laps required for the race.
The Daytona 200 Motorcycle Race is considered one of the toughest in American motorcycling. This is due to its endurance-like qualities of pit stops for tires and fuel, and safety car periods. Nine FIM world champions have won the race, including seven 500cc/MotoGP World Champions - six Americans and one Italian. Finnish and Venezuelan FIM world champions in smaller classes have also won the Daytona 200. Scott Russell and Miguel Duhamel are tied for most Daytona 200 wins at five each. Russell, known by the nickname, “Mr. Daytona,” because of his achievements at the famous track, won all his Daytona races in the Superbike class(750-1000cc). Duhamel's fifth victory came in the new-for-2005 class, Formula Xtreme(600cc).
In 2007, Steve Rapp's victory was the first win for Kawasaki since 1995, and the first win for a non-factory rider since John Ashmead won in 1989.
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