Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin was the fastest rider Tuesday at an AMA team test at Daytona International Speedway, turning a 1:40.547, 1.6 seconds faster than the time he led all riders with on Monday.

“It was the fairing,” joked the five-time AMA Superbike Champion, referred to the new carbon-fiber bodywork his GSX-R1000 was equipped with Tuesday. Mladin’s bike wore 2004 bodywork on Monday and a new, prototype 2005 set of bodywork Tuesday. Mladin’s bike also was equipped with a new engine while he mainly tested tires Tuesday morning.

“The track’s getting a bit of rubber down, evidently, because everyone is going quicker,” added the Australian.

Mladin’s teammate Ben Spies also lowered his best time to be second-fastest Tuesday morning, but he told Roadracingworld.com that he was not holding the throttle of his GSX-R1000 Superbike wide open around the 2.95-mile infield road course’s east banking.

Neil Hodgson, who said he had trouble getting used to the speed of Daytona’s high banks yesterday, improved his time even more than Mladin and Spies Tuesday, shaving 1.8 seconds from his Monday time to record a third-fastest 1:41.312 on his Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin 999F05.

The 2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000 is showing great potential as a Superstock racer at Daytona, as Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates, Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore and Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Vincent Haskovec were the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-fastest riders overall, respectively, and the fastest Superstock riders Tuesday morning.

Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo was the fastest 600cc rider Tuesday morning, lapping at 1:43.510 and going past the radar gun at 166 mph on his factory YZF-R6. DiSalvo also had the fastest split time from the start/finish line to the exit of turn one of all riders so far at the test.

The only known crasher Tuesday morning was Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell’s Dan Bilansky, who lost the front end of his XB12R Formula Xtreme bike in the new, turn four right-hander (the replacement to the Dogleg). Bilansky was uninjured in the crash, according to his Crew Chief Terry Galagan.

Alterations to the course between Monday and Tuesday included a change in the transition from the infield road course and the back straightaway and the addition of brake markers at turn one, turn four and the chicane.

Several riders complained about the lack of brake markers Monday.

AMA Pro Racing’s Ron Barrick also said that run-off room at the new turn seven would be increased before the AMA races in March.

Tuesday Morning’s Best Lap Times:

1. Mat Mladin, Suz GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:40.547
2. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:41.222
3. Neil Hodgson, Duc 999F05 Superbike, 1:41.312
4. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:41.671
5. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:42.175
6. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:42.589
7. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:42.673
8. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R Superstock, 1:43.170
9. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R Superbike, 1:43.330
10. Eric Bostrom, Duc 999F05 Superbike, 1:43.395
11. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R Superbike, 1:43.484
12. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:43.510
13. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-6RR Supersport, 1:43.784
14. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:44.053
15. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:44.156
16. Michael Barnes, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:44.325
17. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR1000RR Superbike, 1:45.037
18. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:46.003
19. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB12R Formula Xtreme, 1:46.027
20. Taylor Knapp, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:46.176
21. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R600 Supersport, 1:46.423
22. Jake Zemke, CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:46.497
23. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R600 Supersport, 1:46.662
24. Ben Attard, Kaw ZX-6RR Formula Xtreme, 1:47.302
25. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:47.351
26. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:47.932
27. Dan Bilansky, Buell XB12R Formula Xtreme, 1:54.548