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Daytona Bike Week has begun and it's already had its first viral moment.
If you've visited Daytona, you know that there are several drawbridges on the Halifax River, which is part of the Intracoastal Waterway along the U.S. east coast, and separates the mainland of Florida from the beaches and the Main Street area that's the center of much of the Bike Week activity. Daytona Beach Chief of Police Jakari Young tweeted this video of a rider deciding not to wait for the drawbridge and catching some air — two-up, no less. As Chief Young noted, the "shenanigans" have begun.
This is the Main Street draw bridge. The Bike Week “shenanigans” have officially commenced! Folks, please be safe and be smarter than this guy! pic.twitter.com/KGBuPDQfw9
— Chief Jakari Young (@ChiefJakari) March 5, 2021
Of course if the rider's timing had been off, that old joke about heavy cruisers being boat anchors would have been all too literally true.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States during last year's Bike Week, causing an early end to the event. This year, for the 80th Bike Week, a few changes were made but events are mostly going on as in the past. Indoor venues are limited to 60 percent capacity and masks are required, but not outdoors. Main Street has been limited to motorcycle traffic only, to reduce the crowding, and parking has been limited.
Across town, at the Daytona International Speedway, racing began with the Daytona Supercross, as Eli Tomac won the 450 main and Cameron McAdoo won the 250 West main. With reduced seating capacity available, tickets to the Supercross race sold out.
That won't be a problem with the Daytona 200, where there's plenty of room for fans to spread out and fewer of them. Last year's 200 was one of the first events canceled by the pandemic. The race was called off after qualifying had already taken place. This year is different already, in many ways, for Bike Week.
