Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional AMA Superbike Qualifying Results:
1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.573
2. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:26.486
3. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.802
4. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.862
5. Ben Bostrom, Honda RC51, 1:26.905
6. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:27.099
7. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.102
8. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.308
9. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.630
10. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.694
11. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.837
12. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:28.907
13. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.591
14. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.838
15. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.913
16. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.269
17. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.459
18. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.489
19. John Haner, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:30.549
20. Chris Voelker, Ducati 996, 1:30.786
21. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSXR-R750, 1:31.356
22. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.684
23. Doug Duane, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.734
24. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.744
25. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.936
26. Scott Carpenter, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.005
27. David Duprey, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.041
28. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.102
29. Rob Christman. Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.115
30. Tony Fania, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.120
31. Monte Nichols, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.284
32. Rick Narup, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.558
33. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.608
34. Chuck Allen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.673
35. Tom Wertman, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.824
36. James Kerker, Honda CBR954RR, 1:33.094
37. Kevin Hanson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.186
38. Dyron Barbour, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.414
39. Chris Greer, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.475
40. Kevin Lehman, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:34.007
41. David Bell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.242
42. Jeremiah Johnson, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.421
43. Shane Gonyea, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:34.815
44. Mickey Lane, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:35.090
45. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:36.893


Top speeds at Start/Finish:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 169.186 mph
2. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 168.168 mph
3. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 167.936 mph
4. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 167.122 mph


Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates crashed in turn five with two minutes remaining in the session. He was seen walking away from the incident.


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

Rd’s 15 & 16 – 2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship
Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia, USA
First Qualifying Session Report

MLADIN SETS FASTEST TIME IN OPENING SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING SESSION AT VIRGINIA

Alton, Virginia, USA (Friday, 29 August) – Three times American Superbike champion, Australian Mat Mladin, has dominated the first day of official practice and qualifying for this weekend’s penultimate double-header round of the AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship being held at Virginia International Raceway.

Mladin was the fastest rider around the 3.58km (2.225 miles) layout, heading the time sheets in both the morning’s opening practice session and then later in the afternoon in the first of two qualifying sessions scheduled for the weekend.

In hot and humid conditions, Mladin rode his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a best time of 1:25.572, to lead the field by almost a second. Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts posted the second fastest time with a 1:26.486, followed by Italian Giovanni Bussei (Ducati Austin) with a 1:26.802 and Attack Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore who completes the provisional front row of the grid with a 1:26.861.

“We were a bit off the times that we have done there over the past couple of years, but we still achieved what we needed to do so far” said Mladin. “It is difficult to get a clear lap in around here because of the nature of the track, but everyone is in the same situation as us. I was a bit surprised to see how much of a time gap we had on the others, so I’m not sure what they were up to. I know there was room for us to go a bit quicker, but we still have tomorrow to try and find a bit more with the bike.”

Heading into this weekend’s round, Mladin leads the championship points chase with a total of 431 and holds a 33-point break over second placed Aaron Yates on the second of the Yoshimura Suzuki’s. Yates posted the seventh fastest time in today’s qualifying session, which also saw him walk away from a crash in the final minutes of the session.

Qualifying for this weekend’s Double-Header Superbike round concludes tomorrow morning, before the first of two 26-lap AMA Superbike races takes place later in the afternoon.


QUALIFYING, Friday – Top 10
1. Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:25.572 mins
2. Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda) 1:26.486
3. Giovanni Bussei (Ducati Austin) 1:26.802
4. Jason Pridmore (Attack Suzuki) 1:26.861
5. Ben Bostrom (American Honda) 1:26.905
6. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda) 1:27.099
7. Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:27.102
8. Shawn Higbee (KWS Suzuki) 1:28.308
9. Jordan Szoke (Corona Extra Suzuki) 1:28.631
10. Michael Barnes (Prieto Suzuki) 1:28.693

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship (points after 14 of 18 rounds):
1. M Mladin (431); 2. A Yates (398), 3. B Bostrom (376); 4. E Bostrom (350); 5. K Roberts (349), 6. M DuHamel (332); 7. J Pridmore (315); 8. S Higbee (299), 9. V Haskovec (221), 10. J Szoke (212).