The factory Vance & Hines Yamaha OW01 Superbikes had the speed at Daytona in 1990 as this photo clearly shows. On the pole was Thomas Stevens (No. 11) with a record-breaking time of 1:54.561. Next to Stevens was David Sadowski, who clocked in at 1:54.965 on the other V&H Yamaha. The surprise of the front row that year was defending AMA Superbike champ Jamie James and the No. 1 Ferracci Ducati 851. James clocked a 1:55.214 running Yokohama tires. The front row that year was rounded out by Randy Renfrow on the No. 5 Commonwealth Honda RC30 and Brit Niall Mackenzie on the No. 84 Loctite Yamaha OW01. The overall speed in 1990 was a big jump from 1989. Only seven riders lapped under two minutes in ’89 qualifying. In 1990 there were 19 under the magic mark. Sadowski came from way back, after being forced to take to the grass outside of turn one to avoid an accident that claimed James and Mackenzie, to win the race.

The front row for the 1990 Daytona 200 with pole winner Thomas Stevens (No. 11) starting on the inside line. Next to him was Vance & Hines Yamaha teammate David Sadowski (No. 25), Jamie James on the No. 1 Ferracci Ducati 851, Randy Renfrow on the No. 5 Commonwealth Honda RC30 and Brit Niall Mackenzie on the No. 84 Loctite Yamaha OW01. Sadowski won the race. (Larry Lawrence photo)