Dunlop, a 19-time TT winner - on his first visit to the infamous high Daytona banking used as part of the 3.15-mile circuit - was some five seconds shy of the pace set by 18-year-old local star and 2019 Daytona 200 runner-up Sean Dylan Kelly (Suzuki).

Another 19-year-old, 2019 British Motostar champion Brandon Paasch, finished in second position on his Yamaha, with Corey West (Yamaha) third fastest in an American-dominated field.

Danny Eslick (Yamaha), a four-time winner of the event in the last seven years, was seventh fastest.

The Daytona 200 first ran as a beach race in 1937 and then moved to the International Speedway in 1961. It has been won by some of the greats of motorcycle racing, including Kenny Roberts, Graeme Crosby, Jarno Saarinen (the first European winner), Giacomo Agostini, Freddie Spencer, Scott Russell and Eddie Lawson.

However, with ever-increasing speeds and tyre longevity an issue - such as Barry Sheene's 170mph crash on the banking in 1975 - fewer international competitors entered the event and its prestige began to decline.

Superbikes were eventually replaced by Formula Extreme in 2005 and then Daytona SportBike (basically Supersport machines) in 2009 until the present day.

Only one UK rider has won the Daytona 200 race - Chaz Davies in 2008 on his Formula Extreme Attack Kawasaki, but only after Josh Hayes had been disqualified for a crankshaft anomaly with his Erion Honda.

Pit stops for tyres and fuel added to the 57 laps make for unpredictable scenarios during the race, which has, in its heyday, been won by nine FIM world champions, seven of whom were 500cc/MotoGP champions.

Cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Daytona 200 is back and with spectators allowed.

Dunlop follows in the wheel tracks of his uncle Joey and many other Irish riders who were regulars at the pre-season event, including Con Law, Eddie Laycock, Ernie Coates, Simon Turner and most recently Ross Patterson, to name a few.

Dunlop still had another practice session and two 25-minute qualifying sessions yesterday ahead of today's race, which starts at 6pm (UK time).