Copyright 2003, Roadracing world Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin earned the provisional pole position for the AMA Superbike races at California Speedway with a new lap record time of 1:25.123 on the revised 2.3-mile infield road course Friday. Riding a GSX-R1000 Superbike, Mladin eclipsed Anthony Gobert’s previous mark of 1:25.250, set in 2002 on a Yamaha YZF-R7.
Friday’s AMA Superbike Qualifying Results:
1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.123
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.928
3. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:26.146
4. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:26.259
5. Larry Pegram, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.308
6. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:26.405
7. Anthony Gobert, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.460
8. Ben Bostrom, Honda RC51, 1:26.496
9. Doug Chandler, Honda CBR954RR, 1:28.081
10. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.738
11. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.041
12. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.688
13. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.792
14. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.863
15. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.058
16. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.269
17. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.438
18. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.623
19. Mark Ledesma, Honda CBR954RR, 1:30.666
20. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.719
21. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.916
22. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.932
23. Francis Martin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:30.970
24. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.008
25. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.123
26. Jack Pfeifer, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.304
27. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.359
28. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki, 1:31.432
29. Robert Christman, Suzuki, 1:31.447
30. Jason Curtis, Honda CBR954RR, 1:31.447
31. Clint McBain, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.734
32. Matt Furtek, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.863
33. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki, 1:31.905
34. Steve Crevier, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.926
35. James Compton, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.325
36. Robert Mesa, 1:32.385
37. Scott Jensen, Suzuki, 1:32.463
38. Kim Nakashima, 1:32.468
39. Marco Martinez, Suzuki, 1:32.803
40. Jeff Williams, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.022
Mark Ledesma crashed his Honda CBR954RR late in the session in the turn three-four chicane, forcing the session to be stopped.
On the re-start of the session, Shawn Higbee crashed.
Both Ledesma and Higbee were seen walking away from their crashes.
Although he practiced in the Superbike sessions, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies said he does not plan on racing his GSX-R1000 in the Superbike races at California Speedway.