Laguna Seca: Series Saturday qualifying report

Bostrom Gets First National Guard SuperBike Pole Since 2004 in Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Aquino to Start from Pole Position in Daytona SportBike for Third Time This Season

MONTEREY, Calif. (July 24, 2010) - The fields are set for Sunday's AMA Pro Road Racing National Guard SuperBike and Daytona SportBike races here at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. In National Guard SuperBike, Ben Bostrom, riding the Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha, took his first pole of the 2010 season with a lap of 1:24367/95.497 MPH. Bostrom had posted the fastest time in the morning qualifying session but went slightly quicker in the afternoon.

"I expect to race," said Bostrom, whose earned his last National Guard SuperBike pole in 2004. "If they don't hold on to me [at the start], I'll go, but if someone gets a hole shot on me, I'll have to fight back. It's going to be a great race tomorrow. It's a better track now, the curbs are good, they did pave over one of my trick spots here but it really is fun."

Team Graves Yamaha rider Josh Hayes qualified in what he considered to be a disappointed second position. Hayes had what he felt was an inconsistent session but still took second on the grid with his 1:24568/95.270 MPH lap.

"I am trying real hard but I keep making little mistakes," Hayes reflected on his day. "I have a really good race bike but I'm a little all over the place. I don't like to get beat, Ben's riding really good, this is a special place for him. It should be a fun race." Once again showing great form, M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider Jake Holden put in the third fastest time of 1:24.612/95.220 MPH. Holden was pleased with his day and his prospects for the race.

"We started out the qualifying session with used tires and we tried to work on some issues I had been having with the bike," said Holden. "With about 12 minutes to go, I told my M4 Monster Energy Team to throw the new tires on. It felt good and I just connected the dots and made a couple of good laps and here we are. This is one of my favorite tracks I always go really well here. If could be anybody's ball game, everyone is going really fast."

Holding on to a front row position was Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Tommy Hayden. He actually went quicker in the first qualifying session this morning and his fourth place starting position is based on his time from this morning's session. "We made a few changes to the bike and I wasn't quite as comfortable," said Hayden. "We'll go back and look at things and get back to where we were this morning."

In Daytona SportBike, Tommy Aquino surprised everyone with a spectacular lap of 1:27.039/92.566 MPH. Aquino was quick early only to be eclipsed by his Team Graves Yamaha teammate Josh Herrin but Aquino responded by really pushing the limits in capturing his series-high third pole position of the season.

"I was riding real hard," said Aquino. "I was all over the curbs and using all of the race track. I don't think I can go quite that fast in the race but I like to start up front."

Taking a measured second place on the grid was Herrin. He watched as the session evolved and then went out to set a time. When Aquino posted his lap, Herrin took another crack at it but didn't want to risk an accident while he is battling for the championship and continues his run of starting on the front row in every race this year.

Next up was M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider Martin Cardenas who captured his first career AMA Pro Road Racing pole position here last year but fell just short today.

"I really wanted to get pole but I was just a little off," said Cardenas. "But I feel good for the race so I am not unhappy."

The 23 lap Daytona SportBike race will kick off at 10:25 a.m. local time just before tomorrow's MotoGP race here at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and the weekend closes with the National Guard SuperBikes at 3:45 p.m. Be sure to tune into SPEED TV for flag-to-flag coverage of the National Guard SuperBike and Daytona SportBike races starting at 12:00 a.m. ET Midnight/9 p.m. PT, late this Sunday/early Monday July 26th.

-source: ama