PJ Jacobsen on provisional pole at Daytona 200 with Peter Hickman 12th after Q1 as team-mate Davey Todd crashes out
American PJ Jacobsen claimed provisional pole for the 84th Daytona 200 after leading the way in the opening qualifying session at the iconic banked circuit in Florida.
Jacobsen set his best lap in 1m 49.359s on the Rahal Ducati.
Team Classic Suzuki rider Danny Webb was the leading UK rider in ninth on his GSXR-750 (1m 51.856s), while 14-time Isle of Man TT winner Peter Hickman was 12th fastest in Q1 on the PHR Performance Triumph, lapping in 1m 52.078s.
Hickman’s team-mate and Daytona debutant Davey Todd crashed out with one minute and 55 seconds of the session left, resulting in the second red flag incident in Q1 after Brenden Ketelsen went down with approximately 18 minutes remaining. Todd’s best lap was 1m 52.978s.
Northern Ireland’s Ross Irwin is also making his debut at the legendary event on the Magic Bullet Ducati.
The Carrickfergus man, participating in Group B in Q1, recorded his fastest time in 1m 58.173s, while two-time TT Supersport race winner Gary Johnson was fifth quickest in Group B on his GRD Racing Suzuki, lapping in 1m 54.412s.
Ecstar Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, who has claimed pole for the past two years, was only 0.188s down on Jacobsen, while former MotoGP rider Darryn Binder went third fastest on the Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati.
Josh Herrin, who won the Daytona 200 for the third successive year in 2025, was eighth (Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila).
Final qualifying for Saturday’s race takes place on Friday, including a 15-minute time attack.