Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Four-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin was the fastest rider Monday morning at the start of the three-day Dunlop tire test at Daytona International Speedway. Mladin turned a time of 1:50.388 on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, which was equipped with stock throttle bodies and airbox, and was heard reporting to his Crew Chief Peter Doyle, “I can do that (time) easy.”

Ben Bostrom was second-fastest on the brand new American Honda CBR1000RR Superbike with a 1:51.957, within his first 10 laps on the machine. Bostrom was heard telling the half-dozen HRC engineers, “You did a good job on the bike. It’s awesome. It’s so fast.” The huge smile on Bostrom’s face added weight to his words.

Third-fastest overall Monday morning was Jason DiSalvo on his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport bike with a 1:52.792, which is just off Miguel Duhamel’s 2003 Supersport pole time of 1:52.785. DiSalvo swore his time was legitimate and not done by cutting the chicane. “And I did it pretty much without a draft, so I’m pretty happy about that,” said DiSalvo.


Monday morning test times (as provided by AMA Pro Racing Timing & Scoring at 11:40 a.m. local time):

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:50.388
2. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR1000RR Superbike, 1:51.957
3. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:52.792
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:53.189
5. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:53.559
6. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock, 1:53.594
7. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:54.051
8. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:55.424
9. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR Supersport, 1:55.598
10. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R600 Supersport, 1:56.882
11. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6RR Supersport, 1:59.152
12. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6RR Supersport, 1:59.366