Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Attack Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore took pole position for Friday’s Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock final with a new lap record time of 1:51.567 on his Dunlop-equipped GSX-R750.

“I just did what I knew I could do,” said 1997 AMA 750cc Supersport Champion Pridmore. “The team’s done a great job. Dunlop had a great tire. That fast lap was still on a race tire, so I’m pretty happy with it.

“The first tire – that I did some low-1:52s on – is my race tire, dual-compound. We just tried a single compound to see how it would work, because I haven’t had a lot of time on the bike. Once we had the 1:52.4 to start with, I thought, well, maybe we can put a soft one on and go out there and run it around. I’m pretty happy right now, happy for the team.”

Barden Bearings/Woodcraft’s Eric Wood came up just short of his first-ever AMA pole position with the fastest time from the even-numbered session but only the second-fastest time overall at 1:52.613.

Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden caught a terrific tow off Pridmore’s teammate Josh Hayes, and put his 636cc ZX-6R third on the front row with a 1:52.633. Arclight Suzuki’s Lee Acree took advantage of Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s’ Steve Rapp’s aerodynamic wake in a similar manner to put his Pirelli-equipped GSX-R750 on the front row with a 1:52.790.

Rapp, the former Daytona Superstock lap record holder (1:52.427), just missed the front row with a 1:52.869 on his Michelin-shod machine. Hayes was sixth-fastest at 1:52.882. Hooters Suzuki’s Mike Ciccotto was seventh-fastest with a 1:53.035, and two-time defending AMA Superstock Champion Jimmy Moore will start the 15-lap final from the outside of row two.

The 20-minute, even-numbered Superstock qualifying session was stopped at approximately the 11-minute mark when Rapp’s teammate Chris Ulrich got into the chicane too hot while drafting another rider, tucked the front and crashed heavily. Ulrich was slow to get up but was checked and released from the Infield Care Center relatively free from injury.



Provisional AMA Superstock Qualifying Results (all on Suzuki GSX-R750 unless noted):

1. Jason Pridmore, 1:51.567
2. Eric Wood, 1:52.633
3. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:52.633
4. Lee Acree, 1:52.790
5. Steve Rapp, 1:52.869
6. Josh Hayes, 1:52.882
7. Mike Ciccotto, 1:53.035
8. Jimmy Moore, 1:53.184
9. Vincent Haskovec, 1:53.433
10. Adam Fergusson, 1:53.576
11. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:53.663
12. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:53.938
13. Scott Greenwood, 1:54.200
14. Jordan Szoke, 1:54.207
15. Matt Furtek, 1:54.220
16. Chris Ulrich, 1:54.259
17. Chris Caylor, 1:54.477
18. John Dugan, 1:55.066
19. Brian Stokes, 1:55.112
20. Michael Hannas, 1:55.230
21. Matt Wait, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.445
22. John Haner, 1:55.933
23. Hawk Mazzotta, 1:56.250
24. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR600RR, 1:56.261
25. Jake Holden, 1:56.505
26. Ty Howard, Honda CBR600RR, 1:56.600
27. Rich Conicelli, 1:56.675
28. Scott Harwell, 1:56.732
29. Jason Peters, 1:56.896
30. J.J. Roetlin, 1:57.015
31. Greg Moore, 1:57.041
32. Kevin Pate, 1:57.356
33. Chris Peris, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:57.360
34. Justin Blake, 1:58.078
35. C.R. Gittere, 1:58.300
36. Thad Halsmer, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:58.392
37. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:58.546
38. David Estok, Buell Firebolt XB9R, 1:58.770
39. Darrin Mitchell, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:00.718
40. Eric Haugo, 2:00.787
41. Crash Chris Lowe, 2:01.745
42. Paul Vitale, 2:02.017
43. Ottis Lance, Moto Guzzi 1000, 2:02.313
44. Tom Wertman, 2:02.406
45. Michael Hanley, 2:03.041
46. Michael McAllister, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:03.078
47. Thomas Fournier, Ducati 996, 2:03.139
48. S. David Alley, 2:03.561
49. James Kerker, Honda CBR600, 2:03.800

112% of fast time: 2:04.955

50. Jessica Zalusky, 2:14.853