Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel was the quickest rider Wednesday morning at the multi-team tire test at Daytona International Speedway.

Duhamel lowered his time to 1:40.987 by switching to Ohlins suspension on his CBR1000RR “kit” Superbike and making some small adjustments, according to his Crew Chief Al Ludington.

Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s Neil Hodgson and Eric Bostrom were second- and third-fastest, respectively, Wednesday morning, with Bostrom making the large improvement due to his growing comfort with his 999 factory Superbike.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates made his first serious runs of the test on his new 2005 GSX-R1000 Superbike and concentrated mainly on getting the riding position right on his new bike. He will do an intensive tire test program Wednesday afternoon.

In limited time on a shared Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000, Jason Pridmore was the fastest Superstock rider with a 1:42.150. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s new rider Geoff May, however, was the second-fastest Superstock man at Daytona Wednesday morning on only his 17th lap on the same Pirelli-shod 2005 GSX-R1000 that his teammate Vincent Haskovec tested Monday and Tuesday.

Haskovec started looking for a baseline on his GSX-R600 Formula Xtreme bike Wednesday morning.

Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo was once again the fastest 600cc rider, turning a 1:43.576 on his Supersport-spec YZF-R6 Wednesday.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies spent most of this morning turning his first laps of the test on his GSX-R600 Supersport bike. He will switch back to his Superbike in the afternoon.

2004 AMA Supermoto Champion Jeff Ward rode an Erion Honda CBR600RR Formula Xtreme bike Wednesday morning, quickly getting down to the 1:51-range, where he said he was comfortable.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin, the fastest man during the first two days of the test, did not ride Wednesday after crashing heavily Tuesday afternoon. As eyewitness accounts of Mladin’s crash come in, it becomes increasingly apparent that he is lucky to have come away with only a chipped ankle bone and mild concussion.

Wearing a light splint on his left ankle and walking with crutches, Mladin came to the track as a spectator Wednesday and told reporters that he plans to see a doctor in Southern California Thursday, before heading home to Australia. He hopes he will not require surgery and will be ready to continue testing in February, when the next test is scheduled.

Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell’s Mike Ciccotto also sat out Wednesday, after crashing his XB12R Formula Xtreme bike in the chicane Tuesday. Ciccotto told Roadracingworld.com that he suffered soft tissue injuries to his right hand and shoulder, as well as his neck and head, when he hit the barrier on rider’s left in the chicane.

The weather at Daytona has been picture-perfect since a brief, light rain shower hit the track at lunch time on Monday.

Wednesday Morning’s Best Lap Times (as supplied by AMA Pro Racing):

1. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR1000RR Superbike, 1:40.987
2. Neil Hodgson, Duc 999F05 Superbike, 1:41.027
3. Eric Bostrom, Duc 999F05 Superbike, 1:41.078
4. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:41.106
5. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR1000RR Superbike, 1:41.602
6. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R Superstock, 1:42.084
7. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:42.150
8. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:42.334
9. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:42.334
10. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R Superbike, 1:43.060
11. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R Superstock, 1:43.102
12. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:43.268
13. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:43.576
14. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR Supersport, 1:44.367
15. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:44.454
16. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:45.112
17. Michael Barnes, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:45.261
18. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R600 Formula Xtreme, 1:45.334
19. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R600 Supersport, 1:45.466
20. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:45.470
21. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:46.181
22. Taylor Knapp, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:47.250
23. Montez Stewart, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:47.719
24. Ben Attard, Kaw ZX-6RR Formula Xtreme, 1:47.965
25. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R Superstock, 1:48.341
26. Jeff Ward, Hon CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:51.813
27. Dan Bilansky, Buell XB12R Formula Xtreme, 1:53.872


Wednesday Morning’s Fastest Trap Speeds At Start/Finish (as supplied by AMA Pro Racing):

Superbike: Jake Zemke, Hon CBR1000RR, 192.361 mph
Superstock: Geoff May, Suz GSX-R1000, 188.367 mph
Formula Xtreme: Alex Gobert, Hon CBR600RR, 175.363 mph
Supersport: Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR, 172.975 mph