SONOMA, Calif. (May 16, 2008) - Ben Spies posted the top time on Friday at Infineon Raceway in provisional qualifying for the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts.
Spies (Suzuki) clocked a time of 1 minute, 35.840 seconds during the 90-minute qualifying session for Superbike in steamy 90-degree temperatures in the Sonoma Valley. Spies, the two-time defending AMA Superbike champion, is on a two-race win streak after sweeping the doubleheader at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana in April.
"The bike is working good, and we're working more on race set-up," said Spies. "It's hot out there, so the track record (1:34.991) wasn't really going to happen today. It was pretty good and hopefully there's more to come tomorrow."
Spies was followed by teammate Mat Mladin (1:36.423), Yamaha's Jason Disalvo (1:36.600) and Petaluma High School graduate Eric Bostrom (Yamaha, 1:36.655). Mladin, the most decorated rider in AMA history with six Superbike championships and 66 victories, entered the weekend with a 20-point lead over Spies (178-158).
"We need a good weekend right now with where we are in the points," Spies said.
In other qualifying on Friday, San Francisco native Jake Zemke (Honda) took the pole for Formula Xtreme with a time of 1:36.853. The time broke the track record held by Josh Hayes (2007, 1:37.244). Zemke won the 2005 Formula Xtreme title at Infineon Raceway.
"This track is one of the better tracks we go to on the circuit for the riders," said Zemke. "For this race it's important to be in the front row and a good start is a good way to go. It's going to take a lot of fast laps to win."
Zemke was followed by Oakland native Steve Rapp (Kawasaki, 1:37.185), who is a graduate of Acalanes High School in Lafayette. Josh Hayes (Honda, 1:37.678) and Chaz Davies (Kawasaki, 1:37.949) rounded out the top four.
"Every year I come here I want to win here, but it's not that easy," said Rapp. "The bike was great, you just have to put it all together. It doesn't take much to miss two-tenths and miss the pole."
Final qualifying for Superbike takes place on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., which will set the grid for Saturday's 28-lap main event at 3:30 p.m. Formula Xtreme will run its 17-lap main event also on Saturday at 4:40 p.m.
Other events taking place at Infineon Raceway over the weekend include Supermoto USA and Motocross on the hillsides behind Turn 7. This marks the first Motocross event at Infineon Raceway since 2002 as more than 500 competitors battle in 30 classes over the 1.3-mile circuit.
Gates open at 7 a.m. on Saturday; for more information on the race weekend, visit www.infineonraceway.com.
AGATE
KAWASAKI AMA SUPERBIKE SHOWDOWN
SONOMA, Cailf. - Top 10 qualifying results Friday from the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts, at Infineon Raceway. Riders are competing on the raceway's 12-turn, 2.2-mile road course.
PROVISIONAL SUPERBIKE
1. Ben Spies (Suzuki, 1:35.840)
2. Mat Mladin (Suzuki, 1:36.423)
3. Jason Disalvo (Yamaha, 1:36.600)
4. Eric Bostrom (Yamaha, 1:36.655)
5. Jamie Hacking (Kawasaki, 1:36.854)
6. Neil Hodgson (Honda, 1:37.205)
7. Aaron Yates (Suzuki, 1:37.338)
8. Miguel Duhamel (Honda, 1:37.643)
9. Matt Lynn (Honda, 1:37.874)
10. Geoff May (Suzuki, 1:37.892)
FORMULA XTREME
1. Jake Zemke (Honda, 1:36.853*)
2. Steve Rapp (Kawasaki, 1:37.185)
3. Josh Hayes (Honda, 1:37.678)
4. Chaz Davies (Kawasaki, 1:37.949)
5. Cory West (Suzuki, 1:38.291)
6. Aaron Gobert (Honda, 1:38.327)
7. Larry Pegram (Ducati, 1:38.357)
8. Danny Eslick (Suzuki, 1:38.678)
9. Fernando Amantini (Kawasaki, 1:40.799)
10. Nicky Moore (Kawasaki, 1:40.838)
*New track record. Prior record held by Josh Hayes (2007, 1:37.244)
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