Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Parts Unlimited/PJ1/Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts set the fastest lap time in the even-numbered AMA Superbike qualifying session Thursday at Daytona International Speedway. Roberts’ best time, 1:48.554, was 0.001-second faster than Mat Mladin’s fastest lap, 1:48.555.

Mladin crashed his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the chicane during the session, returned to the pits, got on his back-up bike and returned to the track, but was unable to better his time.

Odd-numbered Superbike riders are now going out for their one-hour qualifying session.

Thursday’s top four Superbike qualifiers lock in front row starting spots for Sunday’s Daytona 200 by Arai.

The rest of the grid will be set in additional qualifying sessions on Friday.

Even-numbered Superbike Qualifying Times:

1. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:48.554
2. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:48.555
3. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:48.659
4. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:48.695
5. Anthony Gobert, Ducati 998RS, 1:48.935
6. Larry Pegram, Ducati 998RS, 1:49.087
7. Doug Chandler, Honda CBR954RR, 1:51.438
8. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:51.695
9. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.390
10. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:53.595
11. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.696
12. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:54.634
13. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:54.858
14. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:54.902