Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Superbike
Friday Qualifying
Brainerd International Raceway

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:35.901
2. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:36.694
3. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, 1:37.003
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:37.038
5. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:37.557
6. Ben Bostrom, Honda, 1:38.010
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:38.052
8. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:38.186
9. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:38.215
10. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, 1:38.469
11. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki, 1:38.741
12. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, 1:38.349
13. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, 1:39.360
14. Josh Hayes, Suzuki, 1:39.499
15. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, 1:39.943
16. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki, 1:40.605
17. Opie Caylor, Suzuki, 1:40.698
18. John Dugan, Suzuki, 1:41.112
19. Robert Jensen, Suzuki, 1:41.238
20. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:41.245
21. Brian Stokes, Suzuki, 1:42.043
22. Chris Voelker, Ducati, 1:42.208
23. Scott Jensen, Suzuki, 1:42.496
24. Tom Wertman, Suzuki, 1:42.693
25. JJ Roetlin, Suzuki, 1:42.711
26. Matt Furtek, Suzuki, 1:42.902
27. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki, 1:43.056
28. Jake Holden, Suzuki, 1:43.173
29. Rob Christman, Suzuki, 1:43.469
30. David Duprey, Suzuki, 1:43.490
31. Jeff Bostrom, Suzuki, 1:43.515
32. Wes Good, Suzuki, 1:43.611
33. Roger Hendricks, Suzuki, 1:43.797
34. Brian Boyd, Suzuki, 1:44.418
35. Kevin Lehman, Yamaha, 1:44.793
36. Jason Knupp, Suzuki, 1:45.055
37. Monte Nichols, Suzuki, 1:45.101
38. Dr. Jeff Purk, Suzuki, 1:45.553
39. Kevin Hanson, Suzuki, 1:46.285
40. Paul Heinen, Yamaha, 1:46.566
41. Eric Dooyema, Suzuki, 1:46.704
42. Jim Bonner, Yamaha, 1:49.013
43. Michael Kosta, Suzuki, 1:51.481


More, from a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship
Round 11 – Brainerd International Raceway, Minnesota, USA

First Qualifying Session Report

PROVISIONAL SUPERBIKE POLE FOR MLADIN AT BRAINERD

Brainerd, Minnesota, USA (Friday, 27 June) – Mat Mladin has set the fastest time of the opening qualifying session to take provisional position for this weekend’s eleventh round of the AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship being held at Brainerd International Raceway, Minnesota.

Mladin blasted his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike around the fast 4.828km (3.00miles) layout, recording a best time of 1-min 35.901-secs on his twelfth lap of the afternoon’s one-hour qualifying session.

His time was 0.793 seconds faster than his nearest rival, American Honda’s Miguel DuHamel (1:36.694), while Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda, 1:37.003) and Aaron Yates (1:37.038) on the second Yoshimura Suzuki completed the provisional front row of the grid. Current championship points leader Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki) posted the eighth fastest time with a 1:38.186.

“Everything is going well at the moment with the set up of the bike, so we’ve just got to keep at it tomorrow,” said Mladin. “We’re a little bit off the lap record time, but the track has got a lot bumpier over the last couple of years. We just have to wait and see what the weather brings more than anything. They’ve had a few storms around here in the past week and there is forecast for showers, but hopefully that bad weather will bypass us.”

Mladin’s fast qualifying time was slightly down on his 2001 lap record of 1:35.320, but attributes that to a deteriorating track surface along with the fact that this year they no longer use soft qualifying tyres, but if needed, he could go quicker.

“Definitely the track is deteriorating. Even last year, the track wasn’t as good as it was in 2001 when I set the lap record, but this year it appears to be a bit rougher than it was last year. However, we should still be able to get close to my lap record time if the conditions remain as they are. The time that I did in 2001 was done on qualifying tyres, but we don’t use them anymore. I think if we really needed to we could do a screamer and possibly get under than time, but that’s if we need to.”

The Australian had been on the pace all day, setting the fastest time in the morning’s free practice session, before making it official in the afternoon.

With the championship turning into the second half of the 18-race season, Mladin arrived at Brainerd lying one point adrift of Eric Bostrom on the points table. Having amassed a total of six race wins and three pole positions this season, the three-times AMA Superbike champion will be looking to increasing those statistics over the weekend.

Superbike qualifying concludes tomorrow afternoon, with Sunday’s race program featuring the 21-lap Superbike national.


QUALIFYING, Friday – Top 10

1. Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki), 1:35.901

2. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda), 1:36.694

3. Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda), 1:37.003

4. Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki), 1:37.038

5. Steve Rapp (Valvoline EMGO Suzuki), 1:37.557

6. Ben Bostrom (American Honda), 1:38.010

7. Jason Pridmore (Attack Suzuki), 1:38.052

8. Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki), 1:38.186

9. Vincent Haskovec (Hooters Suzuki), 1:38.215

10. Giovanni Bussai (Ducati Austin), 1:38.469

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship (points after 10 of 18 rounds)
1. E Bostrom (294); 2. M Mladin (293); 3. A Yates (276); 4. B Bostrom (274); 5. K Roberts (272); 6. M DuHamel (246); 7. L Pegram (211); 8. S Higbee (207); 9. J Pridmore (200); 10. V Haskovec (159).


More, from a press release issued by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp made his presence felt in the opening day of action at Brainerd International Raceway. Fresh off his Road America triumph, the 30-year-old ran at or near the top of the order in three separate classes throughout the day on Friday.

Riding his Michelin-shod GSX-R750, Rapp sat atop the timesheets in both Superstock practice sessions. He then jumped aboard his firebreathing GSX-R1000 and humbled a number of factory men in the opening Superbike qualifying session to claim fifth on the provisional grid. Immediately afterwards, Rapp backed up his performance on the 1000cc Suzuki by qualifying sixth best for tomorrow’s Formula Xtreme final.

“Today was good,” he said. “Everything is going smoothly and the bike is working great. It’s really fast — I was drafting past the Ducati and the Honda Superbikes. We know the bike has speed, now we can focus on getting the set-up dialed in.

“I’m really looking forward the Formula Xtreme race tomorrow, and I want to do both the Superbike and Superstock races on Sunday as well” said the top Michelin rider in the Superbike class.

Chris Ulrich also put together a strong Friday showing, ranking inside the top 10 in both of the day’s Superstock sessions. After struggling with pain in his shoulder at the last round, the 23-year-old received an injection from noted surgeon Dr. Ting last week and felt more comfortable on the bike Friday. It appears Chris is well on the way to getting his confidence back after some struggling a bit earlier in 2003

“I’m focused on getting into the top five or ten this weekend and building from there,” Chris said. In addition, a front suspension change greatly aided Ulrich’s front-end feel, helping him push harder and move up the timing charts.

Young rider Matt Furtek suffered a crash in the morning but was encouraged by the performance of his machinery. The Illinois-native fully expects to improve upon his 19th place practice ranking as the weekend develops.