AMA Superbike qualifying was abandoned Friday afternoon at Barber Motorsports Park due to heavy rain, hail and lightning during a 40-minute session for Group Two (made up of riders who turned lap times in the top 50% during Superbike practice). Some of the factory Superbike riders, particularly the Yoshimura Superbike trio of Mat Mladin, Aaron Yates and Ben Spies, tried to get a quick lap in at the beginning of the session, while it was only raining lightly, but the rain intensified seven minutes into the session, leading to all riders pulling off the track. The session was red-flagged three minutes later when bolts of lightning were seen in the area of the track. About 10 minutes later the rain further intensified and hail began to fall. At 4:45 p.m. local time AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series Media Manager Donnie Clark announced that AMA Superbike qualifying Group Two would not be resumed and that a provisional AMA Superbike pole position would not be awarded Friday. AMA Pro Racing officials are evaluating Saturday’s schedule, which already includes 40-minute qualifying sessions for AMA Superbike Group One and Group Two. Group One, the Superbike qualifying group for riders who either did not turn lap times in the top 50% during Superbike practice or who did not go out in Superbike practice, ran a full, 40-minute qualifying session in dry conditions Friday, with Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Steve Rapp the quickest rider with a 1:28.171 on his Dunlop-equipped GSX-R1000. Update: AMA Superbike qualifying Group One’s times from Friday afternoon will count. Group Two will get 15 minutes added to its 40-minute qualifying session Saturday morning for a 55-minute qualifying session. The extra time will be taken from Saturday’s lunch break. AMA Superbike Qualifying Group One Times: 1. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:28.171 2. Pascal Picotte, Yam YZF-R1, 1:29.238 3. John Haner, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.491 4. Jake Holden, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.622 5. Mike Smith, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.654 6. Eric Wood, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:29.749 7. Chris Ulrich, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.492 8. Scott Jensen, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.119 9. Chuck Ivey, Yam YZF-R1, 1:31.725 10. Reuben Frankenfield, Yam YZF-R1, 1:31.784 11. J.J. Roetlin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.818 12. Francis Martin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.839 13. Scott Carpenter, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:32.116 14. Jimmy Moore, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:32.728 15. Giovanni Rojas, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:32.817 16. C.R. Gittere, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:33.181 17. Roger Bell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:33.995 18. Mike Sullivan, Yam YZF-R1, 1:34.236 19. Dean Mizdal, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:34.734 20. Taylor Knapp, Yam YZF-R1, 1:35.476 21. Sean Wray, Yam YZF-R6, 1:36.064 22. Reno Karimian, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:37.530 AMA Superbike Qualifying Group Two Times: 1. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:30.905 2. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:31.750 3. Larry Pegram, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:33.713 4. Marty Craggill, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:34.348 5. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:35.514 6. Mat Mladin, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:35.527 7. Cory West, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:35.987 8. Kurtis Roberts, Hon CBR1000RR, 1:36.603 9. Matt McBride, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:37.275 10. Lee Acree, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:37.495 11. Tom Kipp, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:38.265 12. David Bell, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:38.759 13. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000, 1:41.341 14. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R, 1:53.884 15. James Kerker, Hon CBR1000RR, 2:00.468 16. Brent George, Suz GSX-R1000, 2:07.109 More, from a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin: FRIDAY A WASHOUT FOR BOSTROM AND HODGSON Birmingham, AL – Friday, April 22: The Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team of Eric Bostrom and Neil Hodgson spent much of Friday with their factory Ducati 999s parked and watching the rains fall at the 2.3-mile Barber Motorsports Park circuit. A controversial afternoon qualifying session was red-flagged and eventually cancelled just minutes after it began prematurely. Heavy winds and hail began to fall shortly after the riders were signaled to begin the qualifying period, which was started several minutes before the scheduled time of 4:30 PM. “They decided to drop the green flag about ten minutes early, and the people that were ready got to go. We were thinking of the schedule, so we got left out,” says Eric Bostrom. “Neil and I both made one circulation, but not a lap at speed. Then the red flag came out.” While the AMA would not rule the session times invalid, they did refuse to award any rider the provisional pole position. “It’s not the end of the world, it’s just frustrating,” says Hodgson, who will have the opportunity to qualify tomorrow morning for the Barber races. “As a rider, you’ve come here with some built-up nerves and anticipation of a good day. This race is what I call the real beginning of the season and you just want to get started after all the time off since Daytona. And you get here and this develops.” Hodgson says the lack of track time hasn’t helped any with his acclimation to the AMA-style doubleheader with one race on Saturday and one on Sunday. “What seems weird to me now is knowing that I’ll be racing tomorrow afternoon. In all my years racing, I’ve always had four hours of total practice before the races. Thankfully, we tested here, and the situation (with the weather) is pretty much the same for everyone else.” In a rainy AM practice, Hodgson was a fine third quickest with a time of 1:39.502. Bostrom was clocked at 1:43.579, which was 14th place in the session standings. Tomorrow’s morning qualifying will set the grid for the two 28-lap, 100 kilometer Superbike races, the first of which is to be held at 3:50 PM local time on Saturday.

Provisional AMA Formula Xtreme Qualifying Results: 1. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR600RR, 1:27.745 2. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR600RR, 1:27.924 3. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R600, 1:28.883 4. Robert Jensen, Yam YZF-R6, 1:30.385 5. Steve Crevier, Hon CBR600RR, 1:30.921 6. Ben Attard, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:30.930 7. Chris Peris, Yam YZF-R6, 1:31.003 8. Tom Kipp, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:31.884 9. Ryan Andrews, Duc 749R, 1:31.977 10. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR600RR, 1:31.995 11. Pascal Picotte, Yam YZF-R6, 1:32.032 12. Chris Caylor, Suz GSX-R600, 1:32.053 13. Danny Eslick, Suz GSX-R600, 1:33.221 14. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB12R, 1:37.189 15. William Meyers, III, Yam YZF-R6, 1:37.749 16. Nicky Moore, Yam YZF-R6, 1:38.642 17. Matt McBride, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:38.973 18. Armando Ferrer, Yam YZF-R6, 1:39.450 19. Jeremiah Johnson, Suz GSX-R600, 1:39.560 20. Roger Bell, Suz GSX-R600, 1:40.293 21. Justin Filice, Hon CBR600RR, 1:42.757 22. Matt Furtek, Kaw ZX-6RR, 1:42.940 23. Victor Chirinos, Yam YZF-R6, 1:44.749 24. Tim Knutson, Yam YZF-R6, 1:45.336 25. Taylor Knapp, Yam YZF-R6, 1:48.440 26. Jason Mathiason, Yam YZF-R6, 1:49.969 27. Mark Hatten, Duc 749R, 1:50.385 28. Nathan Hester, Yam YZF-R6, 1:50.984 More, from a press release issued by Team M4 EMGO Suzuki: HASKOVEC AND MAY CHALLENGE AT BARBER Intermittent showers at Barber Motorsports Park on Friday may have limited track time but they didn’t prevent Team M4 EMGO Suzuki from flashing their potential once again. Coming off an incredible season opener at Daytona that saw the squad claim four top-tens including Vincent Haskovec’s outstanding Superstock victory, Team M4 EMGO Suzuki opened the second round of the 2005 season again ranking consistently near the top of the charts. In the morning’s opening practices that were run before the day’s first rain showers hit, Haskovec came out in stellar form. He topped the opening Formula Xtreme session, guiding his Pirelli-shod GSX-R600 around the 2.3-mile circuit with a best lap of 1:28.543. Immediately following that session, the Czech Republic native went back out on the track aboard his fire-breathing GSX-R1000 Superstock machine and registered the second fastest time (1:27.367) of that free practice. Teammate Geoff May ran strong in the morning as well, ranking seventh best in the Superstock session with a best time of 1: 28.378. Unfortunately, frequent showers plagued the remainder of the day. Haskovec still managed to earn himself a front row starting position for tomorrow’s 17-lap Formula Xtreme final, however, posting a 1:28.882 despite contending with treacherous drying track conditions for much of the session. His quick lap was enough to earn him the third spot on the grid. “We tried something different in the afternoon with Vincent in FX,” said Team M4 EMGO Suzuki Crew Chief Keith Perry. “We wanted to give some new settings a try. We can always go back to what we used on Friday morning but we wanted to experiment.” Haskovec said of the session, “You could see the spray from the tires early in the session, so I just hoped for the sun to come out and waited for the track to dry out. It actually happened towards the end. We had an almost dry track except for a few damp spots and the seams which were still slick.” He credited much of his success to the simple fact that the undulating Alabama track suits his relentless riding. Along with today’s strong showing, Haskovec also claimed the Formula Xtreme pole at this track last season. He explained, “Definitely I feel really good here. It’s a momentum track, and it just suits my style. I just feel comfortable everywhere around it.” However, he added that there is still room for improvement. “Pirelli are really searching so far because I’m pretty much the only guy riding them in the Formula Xtreme class. There is no data on anything, so they are working really hard to get these results we’ve been getting. Even the engineer is sometimes very surprised with the outcome of what’s actually happening with this very light bike. It’s good now, but we have plenty of areas where we can make up more time and be even more competitive down the road.”

Foggy PETRONAS Racing riders Garry McCoy and Steve Martin have the benefit of a new PETRONAS engine oil powering their FP1 machines in the 2005 WSBK championship, starting at this weekend’s Valencia round. The Team is using a race formulated PETRONAS Sprinta 4T 5000 fully Synthetic 4-stroke motorcycle oil for the first time in the PETRONAS FP1 race bike. Rigorous testing of the PETRONAS Sprinta 4T 5000 against a benchmark lubricant has indicated a power advantage at higher speeds, as well as added protection for the engine. This multigrade engine oil has been specially engineered for racing purposes and for modern high-performance four-stroke road bike engines. The PETRONAS Sprinta 4T 5000 is formulated with a fully synthetic base fluid and specially selected extreme performance additives that guarantee ultimate engine protection under all operating conditions. The oil has been tested and proven under the most extreme track and road conditions. FPR team owner Carl Fogarty, the four-times World Superbike champion, said: “An awful lot of work has been done by the PETRONAS engine development team in the build-up to this race and, with the use of the PETRONAS Sprinta 4T 5000, we know that we now have the best high-performance engine oil available.” Applications of the retail oil include high-performance air and water cooled four-stroke motorcycle engines, including race-tuned engines and turbos, as well as two-stroke motorcycle gearboxes.

Provisional Friday Afternoon AMA Superbike Practice Times: (conditions: wet track) 1. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R1000) 1:37.966 2. Mat Mladin (Suz GSX-R1000) 1:39.098 3. Neil Hodgson (Duc 999F05) 1:39.502 4. Matt McBride (Kaw ZX-10R) 1:40.153 5. Aaron Yates (Suz GSX-R1000) 1:40.460 6. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR1000RR) 1:41.175 7. Tom Kipp (Kaw ZX-10R) 1:41.496 8. Josh Hayes (Kaw ZX-10R) 1:42.042 9. Kurtis Roberts (Hon CBR1000RR) 1:42.642 10. Matt Lynn (Suz GSX-R1000) 1:42.781 11. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR1000RR) 1:43.185 12. Lee Acree (Suz GSX-R1000) 1:43.267 13. Marty Craggill (Suz GSX-R1000) 1:43.329 14. Eric Bostrom (Duc 999F05) 1:43.579 15. Larry Pegram (Hon CBR1000RR) 1:43.637 16. Jason Pridmore (Suz GSX-R1000) 1:43.806 17. Brent George (Suz GSX-R1000) 1:44.610 18. Tony Meiring (Suz GSX-R1000) 1:45.278 19. Jeremy Toye (Hon CBR1000RR) 1:45.786 20. Cory West (Suz GSX-R1000) 1:46.084

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Provisional Friday Afternoon AMA Supersport Practice Times: (conditions: wet track) 1. Robert Jensen (Yam) 1:41.477 2. Chris Peris (Yam) 1:41.910 3. Roger Lee Hayden (Kaw) 1:41.916 4. Aaron Gobert (Yam) 1:42.186 5. Danny Eslick (Suz) 1:42.469 6. Ben Spies (Suz) 1:42.507 7. William Meyers, III (Yam) 1:42.617 8. Nicky Moore (Yam) 1:42.871 9. Tommy Hayden (Kaw) 1:42.908 10. Ben Attard (Kaw) 1:44.427 11. Damon Buckmaster (Yam) 1:44.823 12. Steve Crevier (Hon) 1:45.104 13. Blake Young (Suz) 1:45.883 14. Jeremiah Johnson (Suz) 1:46.262 15. Eli Edwards (Suz) 1:46.306 16. Jamie Hacking (Yam) 1:46.388 17. Trey Yonce (Yam) 1:47.307 18. Jason DiSalvo (Yam) 1:47.653 19. Justin Filice (Hon) 1:57.267 20. Barrett Long (Yam) 2:14.900

Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore walked away from a violent crash into a tire wall during Friday morning’s AMA Superstock practice at Barber Motorsports Park. Pridmore said he was exiting the very fast turn 8/9 chicane on the back straightaway when his rear tire broke traction and threw him out of the seat. He landed partially off the right side of the bike, which then veered off the track to the right. Once off the track, Pridmore and the bike separated before they both impacted a tire wall in front of an Armco barrier. After Pridmore fell off, his GSX-R1000 ghost rode into the tire wall hard enough that both the bike’s top and bottom triple clamps were broken in half, along with both fork legs. And Pridmore was tumbling at about 40 mph when he hit the tire wall, according to eye witness Geoff May, who was behind Pridmore on the track at the time of the crash. Pridmore hit his head hard enough to see “stars,” something he said hasn’t happened “in a while” and got his right hand caught under the bike, leading him to ice the hand after the session. Still, Pridmore got up from the crash, ran back to pit lane and took his back-up bike out in the same practice.

Heavy rains, high winds and lightning forced AMA Pro Racing officials to stop AMA Superstock practice Friday morning at Barber Motorsports Park. Race officials saw the severe weather approaching on weather radar and warned teams along pit lane during the Superstock session. As the rain began to fall and the winds picked up, teams scrambled to disassemble canopies on pit lane and seal and secure the larger canopies attached to their semi-trucks in the paddock. At least one large canopy in the paddock, that of the Parts Unlimited dealer hospitality area, was destroyed by the winds. AMA Pro Racing announced at the rider’s meeting, held at lunch time, that Friday’s activities would resume with Supersport practice following the lunch break, provided there was no lightning or severe winds. Barber is one of the few racetracks AMA Pro Racing will conduct activities on in the rain. The weather forecast for the rest of the weekend shows a decreasing chance of rain along with lower temperatures. The forecast high temperature for the Barber area for Saturday is in the low-to-mid 60-degree range.

1. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:27.138 2. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:27.367 3. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, 1:24.429 4. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:28.138 5. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:28.158 6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:28.216 7. Geoff May, Suzuki, 1:28.378 8. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:28.422 9. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:28.657 10. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:28.794 11. Roger Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:28.828 12. John Haner, Suzuki, 1:29.971 13. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:30.265 14. Blake Young, Suzuki, 1:30.422 15. Brent George, Suzuki, 1:30.790 16. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:30.804 17. Jake Holden, Suzuki, 1:31.095 18. Eric Wood, Suzuki, 1:31.118 19. Francis Martin, Suzuki, 1:31.364 20. Tony Meiring, Suzuki, 1:31.573 21. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki, 1:31.821 22. James Stroud, Honda, 1:32.129 23. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:32.263 24. Matt Lynn, Suzuki, 1:33.263 25. Eli Edwards, Suzuki, 1:33.843 26. Jeremy Haiduk, Yamaha, 1:34.005 27. Montez Stewart, Suzuki, 1:34.881 28. William Bush, Honda, 1:36.192 29. Jessica Zalusky, Kawasaki, 1:37.183 30. Brad Puetz, Suzuki, 1:38.291 31. Sean Wray, Yamaha, 1:38.686 32. Reno Karimian, Suzuki, 1:39.890