Former Daytona 200 winner Michael Barnes will race a

MotoCorse Performance-built Ducati Monster 797 for Quarterley Racing in the

2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship beginning this coming weekend at Road Atlanta.

“Chris Boy at MotoCorse Performance called me out of the

blue and asked me if I was interested in doing it,” Barnes exclusively told

Roadracingworld.com today. “At that point, we were waiting for the homologation

of the bike. That came through, and then they built the bike. Then I went

through the extensive licensing process, and it seems that [MotoAmerica] has

accepted me.”

Among his many credentials, long-time journeyman racer

Michael Barnes is a former Formula USA Champion (in multiple classes), the 2012

AMA Pro XR1200 Champion, and the winner of the 2016 Daytona 200. Winning the

Daytona 200 at the age of 47 made Barnes the oldest rider to win the classic

race by a wide margin.

Barnes takes on this new challenge at age 50.

“I went down to Homestead [Homestead-Miami Speedway]

yesterday [March 31] and rode it for the first time,” said Barnes. “I couldn’t tell

you when I was last on a motorcycle, but I got the cobwebs knocked off. Even

though it was a crazy busy trackday I got some good laps in and the lap times

are more than competitive for the class the bike would be in with CCS. I just hope

that we have something competitive enough to run with all of the youngsters.”

For the record: Chris Parrish, the defending MotoAmerica

Twins Cup Champion is 42.