Miguel Duhamel stats
2007
8th AMA Superbike (season shortened by injury)
2006
3rd AMA Superbike
2005
1st Daytona 200 (fifth time)
1st AMA Formula Xtreme
5th AMA Superbike
2004
1st AMA Formula Xtreme
2nd AMA Superbike
2003
1st Daytona 200 (fourth time)
5th AMA Superbike
11th AMA U.S. Supersport
2002
3rd AMA Superbike
2001
3rd AMA 600 Supersport
5th AMA Superbike
2000
5th AMA 600 Supersport
9th AMA Superbike
1999
Daytona Double Winner: Daytona 200 (third time)
Daytona 600 Supersport
16th AMA Superbike
16th AMA 600 Supersport
1998
10th AMA Superbike
12th AMA 600 Supersport
1997
1st AMA 600 Supersport
2nd AMA Superbike
1996
1st Daytona 200 (second time)
1st AMA 600 Supersport
2nd AMA Superbike
1995
1st AMA Superbike
1st AMA 600 Supersport
1993
1st AMA 600 Supersport
3rd AMA Superbike
FIM World Endurance Championship team member
1992
12th 500cc Grand Prix World Championships
FIM World Endurance Championship team member
1991
1st Daytona 200 (first time)
1st AMA 600 Supersport
3rd AMA Superbike
FIM World Endurance Championship team member
PIN IN HIS LEG. UNABLE TO WALK UNAIDED. YET MIGUEL DUHAMEL DID THE
DAYTONA DOUBLE, WINNING THE 600 RACE ON FRIDAY AND SUNDAY'S 200 MILER. IMPRESSIVE OR WHAT?
In qualifying for the New Hampshire Speedway AMA National last year
1995 Superbike Champion, Miguel Duhamel, suffered a career-threatening
compound fracture of his left leg. So serious was the injury (he
ground away exposed bone in the high speed smash) there was talk of
amputation. Duhamel is still in rehab. The gap between the damaged
femur has not yet closed. The injury is pinned. He walks with a cane.
He rides with a leg brace. He had no pre-season training - no serious
testing on the new F4 600 Honda, or the latest RC45. But Duhamel
fronted at Daytona for the opening round of the AMA National series
and was ready to race.
Yet Duhamel confounded everyone - even himself - by qualifying front
row for both races. He won the 600 (maintaining the record of being
the first rider to give each of the CBR 600's their first
international race wins). And then he won the 200 after a race-long
battle with Mat Mladin.
SP: Coming into Daytona were there times when you doubted you'd make it to
the grid?
Miguel:
It was never a question of whether I was going to race at
Daytona. People asked me, 'are you racing at Daytona?' I said, 'what
do you mean - of course I'm riding at Daytona. It's the first race of
the year, right and I'm going to be there.' Why would I want to start
the year two or three races into the season? Do I want to pass up
chance of the championship? The goal is to win the title. Even if the
leg had been worse I would have been riding. The way the points are I
had to be here.
SP: Miguel, how bad is the leg?
Miguel:
"It is really not healed yet. I've had a bone graft. It's 80% healed.
Strength wise though I'm about 20%. The problem is that I'm not able
to train. I can't put any pressure on it to rebuild the muscle. I've
tried training but it sends me into incredible pain. You train over
train - and it sets you back another three days."
SP: You are racing with a brace on the leg?
Miguel Yeah, it's so weak.
SP: We saw you massaging the right leg though?
Miguel:
My right leg is getting so sore because it's taking all the weight.
The muscle feels like it's been beaten with a baseball bat.
SP: How much is it affecting you on the bikes?
Miguel:
I get a little taster (of pain) when I'm on the bike - so I really
don't want to fall. I live with fear. If I put too much pressure it
sends a really sharp pain. I took a shower and moved the soap with my
little toe and that sent me into excruciating pain. It reminded me
that I still need to limp around. It's pretty interesting riding
around out there when you are dead scared.
SP: Did the 600 race worry you more than the Superbike - or was it the
same fear for both?
Miguel:
Both races worried me a bit. I was worried about guys getting too
excited and taking me out. There's guys out there who should not be
here. Guys who have never won a race - even in their garage. It's
ridiculous. There are privateers out there that are riding good. I've
nothing against that. But they (the AMA) really should tighten up on
it.
SP: What's the '99 RC45 like to ride?
Miguel:
It's really good. We had an awesome setup for the 200. The bike was
really stable on the banking so that made my life easier. It's way
fast on the straight. I was pretty confident my bike had a speed
advatage over Mladin's Suzuki. I wasn't even worried about leading out
of the chicane on that final lap. The only thing we had to do all
weekend was to fit a stiffer spring to stop it bottoming out for the
race. The new RC45 is much more stable - seems to transmit the
traction to the ground a lot more. Spins less. Last year it was coming
around. We had won four races in a row. It was a good steering bike -
and it had some good qualities to it but this new bike seems a lot
more solid. The superbike is still a beast though. Almost 200bhp.
Almost 200m mph. Every year Daytona is scary. Solid tires and the bike
is sliding around. But this year is scaring me because of the injury.
I've not ridden in nine months and the first place I get to ride is
back here at Daytona.
SP: Did you have to alter your riding style on either bike?
Miguel:
I couldn't be as aggressive as I usually am. I had to ride a lot
smoother - and you know what, I'm still doing the lap times. You never
stop learning.
SP: You qualified front row for both races. Did that surprise you?
Miguel:
Certainly did. I've not been on a bike for nine months. I can't
believe it. First practice I was the fastest one out there 51.9. Then
we did an endurance test and I was still fastest. I was amazed
SP: What was your race strategy?
Miguel:
I tried to stay away from doing anything stupid this year. The
consequences would be too unbearable to contemplate. I didn't want to
think about it. I thought if I could stay away from trouble I could
finish top five - maybe top three. Maybe with a little luck I could
win. I tried to break clear in the 600 with a couple laps to go but
that didn't work so I had to play the draft. It was the same in the
200 - I tried to break but that didn't work but I knew the RC45 was
strong enough if it came down to a draft to the line. It was a Honda
express out there.
SP: How much were you hurting after each race?
Miguel:
It felt better than I thought it would. I thought I'd have more pain.
The new bikes made it a lot easier for me. There were years when I
would not have been able to do this. I'm so happy.
Caption: Duhamel said the latest spec RC45 is an absolute jet
:banghead 
