Kayla Yaakov conquers historic podium and becomes first woman in the Daytona 200 Miles By Bruna
3 min read
 |
The most traditional endurance race in American motorcycling registered a historic milestone last Saturday (March 8, 2026), at Daytona International Speedway, at Flórida (local time). Kayla Yaakov, 18 years old, took third place in the 200 Milhas of Daytona, becoming the first woman to reach the podium in the race in its 84-year history. The driver competed for the Rahal Ducati Moto team, which also won the race with Josh Herrin in the main category.
Yaakov rode an Ducati Panigale V2 and overtook the South African Darryn Binder, a former MotoGP rider, in the final straight of the race, securing the position with a strategic overtake in the final meters. The result occurred in an edition marked by the dominance of the Ducati, which placed four bikes among the top five positions in the Supersport category adapted for endurance.
Josh Herrin completed his fourth consecutive victory in the race, equaling the record of five total victories, alongside legends such as Scott Russell and Miguel Duhamel. Tyler Scott finished second, followed by Yaakov in third, Binder in fourth and Alessandro Di Marco in fifth.
Historic podium for women’s motorcycling
Kayla Yaakov demonstrated maturity throughout the laps, remaining in the lead group and managing tire and fuel wear well. Sua strategy allowed the decisive attack against Binder on the last lap, when he took advantage of the slipstream to gain crucial positions.
The young rider had already stood out in support categories and is now consolidating her rise in MotoAmerica. The feat represents a significant advance for female representation in high-level races in the Estados Unidos.
Main highlights of the test
- Josh Herrin wins for the fourth time in a row, equaling a historic record
- Four Ducati among the top five positions in the final classification
- Kayla Yaakov beats Darryn Binder by just 0.166 seconds at the finish
- Total winning time: difference of 1:07.477 for Yaakov and 1:07.643 for Binder
- Early abandonment of PJ Jacobsen, teammate of Yaakov
Team with champion DNA
Rahal Ducati Moto, owned by IndyCar race winner Graham Rahal, has Ben Spies as team leader. Spies, former world champion of Superbike and winner in MotoGP, has followed the development of Yaakov since 2018, when he noticed his talent in training videos in his garage.
The team structure combines international experience with a focus on promising drivers. Esse continuous support, including guidance on equipment and career planning, directly contributed to the result achieved in Daytona.
Details of the test and performance of Ducati
The 84th edition of the 200 Milhas of Daytona took place under typical conditions of the mixed circuit, with high physical and technical demands on the competitors. Herrin led much of the race and crossed the line with a significant advantage of 38 seconds over second place.
Kayla Yaakov finished with a controlled gap to the winner, maintaining a consistent pace during driver changes and refueling. The Ducati Panigale V2 has proven mechanical and aerodynamic superiority in the endurance category.
The race brought together riders from diverse backgrounds, including rookies like Darryn Binder in his MotoAmerica debut and Alessandro Di Marco, who debuted in the race and finished in fifth place.
Yaakov trajectory and support received
From an early age, Yaakov received direct guidance from Spies, who exchanged messages with her father about choosing training bikes, schedules and professional trajectory. Esse monitoring helped build solid foundations for the transition to high-level competitions.
The podium in Daytona reinforces the team’s investment in young and female talent. Yaakov highlighted the intense work done in the offseason to arrive prepared for the most important challenge of her career to date.
The achievement comes at a time of greater visibility for women in motorsports, with the potential to inspire new generations of drivers in American and international categories.
Immediate repercussions in the paddock
Drivers and teams recognized the impact of the Yaakov result within the paddock. The feat gained prominence for breaking a historic barrier in one of the most prestigious races in American motorcycling.
Rahal Ducati Moto celebrated double success, with an absolute victory and a historic podium in the same race. The team plans to remain competitive throughout the full MotoAmerica season.
