Daytona poses a big test for front-running GEICO Honda Supercross team

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 5) – Every racing series has that one stop on tour which is a little outside the normal. With its shifting sands and lengthy layout, this Saturday's race at Daytona International Speedway certainly is the wildcard for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series.

"Daytona is as unique as it gets," said GEICO Honda's Supercross rider Kevin Windham. "I've been fortunate enough to win there. It was a mud race and one of the toughest races of my life, but we got the 'W.'

"It's always one of the toughest races of your life. The track is nasty, it's ever-changing and the laps are a lot longer than a regular Supercross race. It beats you up pretty bad."

Windham is coming off his second fourth-place result of the season and is hoping the change up on Saturday will equate to his first podium finish of the season.

"We're at the halfway point of the season and this race is a big hurdle to get over," Windham said. "Hopefully, we'll sail smoothly through it. It's so important to keep the thing on two wheels at this race so that will be my focus."

Windham is fifth in the Supercross standings, five points behind the sidelined Chad Reed for fourth.

Justin Barcia, the championship leader in the Supercross Lites East series, is looking to bring his fourth consecutive victory home for GEICO Honda.

"The team is coming by my house in Florida to do some testing before the race, which will be big," Barcia said. "We're going to go to Daytona with the same determination we've had all year.

"The track is always tough there, but you get a special feeling when you are there. A lot of great guys have won there and I want to add my name to the list."

Barcia is ahead of second-place Ken Roczen by 18 points.

The team's rookie Lites rider, Justin Bogle, is trying to bounce back from a late spill and fifth-place finish in St. Louis and get on the podium for the second time this season.

"The track's I train on at Trey Canard's place have a good layout with pretty good sandy sections," Bogle said. "That should be pretty good practice. I want to get back on that box. Getting there felt really good in Atlanta and St. Louis didn’t feel so good."

Practice for  Saturday's Monster Energy AMA Supercross race at Daytona International Speedway gets under way at 12:30 p.m. EST with opening ceremonies getting under way at 7 p.m. SPEED TV will broadcast racing from both classes live starting at 7:30 EST.