Larry Lawrence | November 2, 2016
Colin Edwards leads early in the 1995 Daytona 200 ahead of Troy Corser (1), Scott Russell (4), Miguel Duhamel (behind Corser), Carl Fogarty (behind Russell), Anthony Gobert (96) and Jamie James (2). (Henny Ray Abrams photo)
It will go down as one of the most memorable Daytona 200 races in the long, rich history of the event. In the 1995 edition of Daytona, Scott Russell crashed his Muzzy Kawasaki ZX-7R on the second lap in the race, then famously jumped over the downed machine and got back underway, coming back to slice through nearly the entire field to win the race. It was also notable in that World Superbike champ Carl Fogarty came to Daytona with a full Ducati factory effort to win the race. Fogarty came close to giving Ducati its first Daytona 200 victory, but it was Russell’s home turf and he came away with the victory.
One thing that made Russell’s win even more impressive was the fact that he made his comeback in a field that included 20 other factory riders in one of the most impressive lineups of the Superbike era of the Daytona 200.
To put the icing on the cake, not only was the battle between Russell and Fogarty one of epic proportions, but the battle over the final podium spot was riveting as well. Thomas Stevens, showing renewed determination, out-gunned Yamaha’s Colin Edwards on the final lap to secure himself a place in the Daytona Winners Circle. Stevens’ third was the best Daytona 200 finish for Yoshimura Suzuki in three years.
In qualifying Russell became the first rider to break the one minute; 50 second barrier at Daytona. Russell set a new track record by turning a 1:49.852 (116.666 mph).
At the start of the 200 Colin Edwards rode from the outside of the first row to put his blue and white Yamaha in the lead going into Turn One. Troy Corser used the powerful Ducati 955 to motor into the lead on the east banking, and it was Corser who led the first of 57 laps.
Russell was back in fourth and decide to make his move to the front. He moved in behind Corser going into the International Horseshoe when Corser suddenly hit the brakes early for the turn. Russell did not seem ready, he quickly moved to the inside, narrowly missing Corser in the process, and suddenly found himself going way too fast to make the turn. Instead of running of into the grass, Russell, undoubtedly filled with adrenalin, flicked his bright green Kawasaki into the turn, trying to make the machine submit to his will. But even Russell couldn’t overcome the laws of physics; the lean angle was too great, solid parts of the side of his motorcycle touch ground and Russell slide off the low-side. A collective gasp could be heard from the estimated 50,000 spectators.
Corser and Fogarty narrowly missed hitting Russell who instantly sprang to his feet and leapt over the fallen ZX. (His leap over his downed machine was famously captured by a photographer and made the cover of Cycle World) He picked up the bike and with the assistance of corner workers, tried to restart the engine. The corners workers apparently weren’t pushing hard enough so Russell jumped off the bike and pushed it himself until it sputtered to life.
As he got back up to speed Russell, who had fallen to the back of the field, began looking over the bike. Amazingly the only problems were a handlebar and a footpeg slightly bent. All eyes were on Russell to see if he would pull into the pits. He didn’t. Russell later said that he still was confident that he could come back and win the race at that point.
A multi-bike crash brought out the pace car on the third lap.
During the pace car laps Russell frantically waved at the other riders to move up and bunch up with the leaders. Several observers said they saw Russell pass clumps of riders during the caution period, but the AMA (which used transponders to track the riders) said no violation was made.
After the pace car pulled off the Ducatis of Corser and Fogarty began to show just how strong they were. Radar had clocked both of the top Ducatis at 180 miles per hour on the tri-oval, the fastest Superbikes ever at the Speedway. The two fire-engine red Ducks sprinted away from the rest of the field which was led by Edwards, Anthony Gobert and Jamie James.
Meanwhile Russell was slicing through the field at an unbelievable rate. At first Russell passed the mid-pack riders like they were standing still. He then treated the other factory riders with no respect, passing them every way in the book.
Corser’s day came to a disappointing end when his Ducati suddenly died on the west banking while leading. Corser pounded on the tank in disgust. “The bike seemed slow then all of a sudden it went down on one cylinder,” said Corser. “I gave it full-throttle to try and clear it out and it just quit.”
Russell made it all the way back to the lead by lap 20. All of the leaders had pitted by then clearing the way for Russell. Russell pitted on lap 21. The crew changed the rear and fueled the bike. They quickly checked the bike for damage and Russell was back in the race in 13 seconds.
After the first round of stops it was James who emerged the leader thanks to a nine second pit stop by the Vance & Hines crew. Russell was three seconds back in second. Then it was Gobert in third followed by Edwards and Fogarty.
Russell now seemed relaxed. He gained on James but this time seemed in no hurry to take over the lead. On lap 24 took back the lead. James stayed with Russell for a lap but then crashed in Turn Six.
Russell was now alone in the lead. It may have been hard for his competitors to swallow, but in the course of just 25 laps Russell had crashed, made it all the way back to the front and was now pulling away; a stellar performance. The Georgian would not relinquish the lead the rest of the day.
Scott Russell celebrates his 1995 Daytona 200 in Victory Circle at Daytona International Speedway. (Henny Ray Abrams photo)
Fogarty had a chance to perhaps close in on Russell, but he came in a lap early for his second pit stop. The Ducati crew was not ready for him and the stop took 18 seconds. Fogarty lost a precious nine seconds to Russell when comparing their second stops. Slow stops or not, Russell would not be touched. He was consistently a second per lap faster than anyone else, including Fogarty.
Up front Russell cruised home to victory a half-lap in front of Fogarty. He took the checkered flag then began his well-known cool down lap celebrations much to the delight of the crowd.
In the post-race press conference Russell revealed that his come-from-behind win was not as easy as it looked.
“It was hard work,” Russell explained. “The bike was wobbling so bad on the banking, I thought, ‘Oh no, what have they done to the bike since practice. What can I say? I really like Daytona and I guess Daytona likes me. It’s never easy here but in the end we always seem to be able to get the job done.”
Fogarty was impressed by Russell’s race but did not feel like it would be a factor for the upcoming World Superbike season. “It’s pretty good when a guy can crash and still win the race,” said Fogarty. “That’s Daytona though, anything can happen. World Superbike is so different than this type of racing, I don’t think you can compare the two.”
