Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies, the 2003 Formula Xtreme Champion, took pole position for the AMA Superstock race Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway with a new lap record of 1:48.202 on his GSX-R1000.

The amazing part of the effort was that Spies encountered technical problems with his preferred, or A-bike, during the session, switched to his back-up bike late, and did his pole time on his one and only flying lap without the aid of a drafting partner.

Graves Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo had the fastest lap until Spies’ flyer. DiSalvo turned a 1:48.496 while doing unplanned drafting with teammate Jamie Hacking in the middle of the session.

DiSalvo ended up second-fastest, and Hacking finished third-fastest with a 1:48.643.

Hacking started feeling the effects of his morning Supersport crash Wednesday afternoon, could not walk and had to be carried to his bike, and did his fastest time on his only flying lap of the session.

Aaron Gobert earned the final spot on the front row with a time of 1:48.763 on his Graves Yamaha YZF-R1.

Larry Pegram crashed his Triangle Cycles Yamaha YZF-R1 in turn one during the Superstock qualifying session.

Provisional AMA Superstock Qualifying Results:

1. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:48.202
2. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, 1:48.496
3. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:48.643
4. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:48.763
5. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:49.252
6. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:49.295
7. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:49.394
8. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:50.181
9. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki, 1:50.263
10. John Haner, Suzuki, 1:50.333
11. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:50.873
12. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, 1:50.993
13. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, 1:51.265
14. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:51.418
15. Eric Wood, Suzuki, 1:51.454
16. Geoff May, Suzuki, 1:51.592
17. Jake Holden, Suzuki, 1:51.633
18. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:51.697
19. Jordan Szoke, Honda, 1:52.163
20. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:52.194
21. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:52.243
22. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha, 1:52.800
23. Chris Caylor, Suzuki, 1:53.185
24. Corey Eaton, Suzuki, 1:54.218
25. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki, 1:54.319
26. John Dugan, Suzuki, 1:54.783
27. Frank Trombino, Yamaha, 1:55.063
28. Jason Curtis, Suzuki, 1:55.822
29. John McGarity, Suzuki, 1:55.895
30. Craig Fitzpatrick, Suzuki, 1:56.233
31. Marco Martinez, Suzuki, 1:56.352
32. Bostjan Skubic, Suzuki, 1:57.821
33. Roger Bell, Suzuki, 1:57.893
34. Ron McGill, Suzuki, 1:58.433
35. Montez Stewart, Yamaha, 1:58.620
36. David Bell, Suzuki, 1:59.008
37. John Scott Wilson, Suzuki, 1:59.675
38. Eric Haugo, Suzuki, 1:59.918
39. Dave Loikits, Suzuki, 2:00.662
40. Joe Capelli, Suzuki, 2:00.818