Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Graves Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo led the first AMA Superstock practice of the weekend Friday morning at Laguna Seca. Not only was DiSalvo’s 1:27.288 the fastest time, it was well under Josh Hayes’ Superstock lap record of 1:28.598.

“The bike felt really comfortable,” DiSalvo told Roadracingworld.com. “It was one of the first times all year I just hopped on and everything felt good. The R1 felt like my 600 today.”

DiSalvo credited some of his success to the confidence he carried out of Brainerd, where he finished on the Superstock podium for the first time, and “breakthroughs” he and his team found while testing at Mid-Ohio last week.

The surprise of the session was Jamie Hacking, who rode with a freshly-plated, 11-day-old broken collarbone and recorded the fourth-fastest time (1:28.799).

“I’m pretty sore,” said Hacking. “It just totally screws up my riding style. In the right handers, I can’t do shit. I’m sitting up on the bike and everything, and pain shoots up my neck. I’m just trying to be careful on the exits of the corners. I can’t be losing the rear and have it all moving around on me. I’m just taking it easy.”

Another member of the Graves Yamaha team and the walking wounded at Laguna Seca is Damon Buckmaster, who turned the seventh-fastest lap time in the Superstock session but did so in considerable pain.

“I’m hurting pretty good,” said Buckmaster. Asked if he would continue riding, he added, “I’m gonna try to ride the 600 now.”

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp was 19th-fastest after suffering mechanical problems early in the 40-minute practice.

Six riders were under Hayes’ Superstock lap record in the first Superstock practice session, including Hayes himself at 1:28.235.


Provisional Friday Morning AMA Superstock Practice Times:

1. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:27.288
2. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:27.499
3. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:27.607
4. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:27.799
5. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:28.094
6. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:28.235
7. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:28.706
8. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.972
9. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.316
10. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.935
11. Jake Holden, Suzuki, 1:31.221
12. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.350
13. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.455
14. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:32.064
15. David White, 1:32.482
16. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.167
17. Jason Curtis, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.642
18. Corey Eaton, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:34.147
19. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.220
20. Garry Combs, 1:34.477