2011 AMA Pro Daytona Sportbike Champion Danny Eslick

Danny Eslick won his second career AMA Daytona Sportbike Championship, adding another #1 plate to the one he won in 2009.

The Geico Powersports RMR Suzuki GSX-R600 rider won three races this season and added another five podium finishes to win the title by a 275-256 margin over Monster Energy Graves Yamaha’s Josh Herrin. Eslick clinched the title after finishing sixth in the first race of the 2011 season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

“It hasn’t set in yet,” said Eslick, after the first race of the New Jersey round.” At first I didn’t think we were far enough up there to get the job done. When I came in I saw my team looking around, then we looked at an official and they gave me the checkered flag, and then it started kicking in a little bit.”

Eslick won the 2009 title riding the Buell 1125R. Some found that 2009 title a bit controversial as the 1125R enjoyed a displacement advantage over the series’ mostly inline-Four 600cc motorcycles and other class-eligible Twins such as the Aprilia RSV1000R and Ducati 848. With his second title however, Eslick can silence his critics by proving he possesses championship-caliber talent.

Eslick dedicated his 2011 title to the memory of Gary Nixon who passed away this summer.

[Source: AMA Pro Racing]

By Dennis Chung