Mladin still perfect in Superbike qualifying

From AMA Pro Racing

ELKHART LAKE, WI -  As he has done for every race thus far in 2009, Mat Mladin put the No. 7 Rockstar/Makita/Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 on pole in AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike qualifying for the Suzuki Superbike Doubleheader at Road America on Friday with a lap at 2:13.218 (109.391 mph).

The six-time American Superbike champion has won eight of the season's nine races to date and goes in search of his ninth Road America victory in Saturday's first race of the doubleheader.

"It was a decent lap for us," Mladin said. "We left a little bit out there, but it wasn't too bad. It's more important to get things sorted out for tomorrow, and we're definitely lacking some speed this week. A couple of other bikes have somehow picked up a lot of speed in the last month or so, straight-line speed. It looks like it might be a rough and tumble race and we'll see how it goes in the end."

Starting alongside Mladin will be teammate Blake Young on the No. 79 Rockstar/Makita/Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000. Young, who hails from nearby Madison, WI, posted the second-quickest lap of Superpole at 2:13.736 (108.967 mph). Young is returning to American Superbike action this weekend for the first time since he was injured in the second race of a doubleheader at Barber Motorsports Park early last month.

"This is the favourite track on the circuit for me, obviously to have the fans and friends and family here," Young said. "It's good to be back on the motorcycle. I'm really happy and it went really good for us. We moved up a spot, so we're just going to have to work on a few more things for tomorrow morning's warm-up session and we'll be back at it."

Josh Hayes qualified third on the No. 4 Yamaha Motor Corp. USA Yamaha R1 with a lap at 2:13.995 (108.756 mph). Hayes is the only rider other than Mladin to stand atop the American Superbike box this season, which he achieved with his victory in the first race of the doubleheader at Infineon Raceway last month.

"We need a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work," Hayes explained. "Mat's still setting the benchmark, so we're just out there working and we'll see if we can catch up to him and make him race for it a little bit."

Geoff May completes the American Superbike front row following a Superpole lap at 2:14.280 (108.525 mph) on the No. 54 National Guard/Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000.

The first American Superbike race of the Suzuki Superbike Doubleheader goes off from a standing start at 3:00 p.m. local time Saturday afternoon. The scheduled distance is 13 laps (50 miles).

Qualifying Results (1-10 Superpole; 11-27 Basic Qualifying)
1. Mat Mladin (Rockstar · Makita · Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:13.218
2. Blake Young (Rockstar · Makita · Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:13.735
3. Josh Hayes (Yamaha Motor Corp. USA) Yamaha YZF-R1 2:13.995
4. Geoff May (National Guard Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:14.280
5. Ben Bostrom (Yamaha Motor Corp. USA) Yamaha YZF-R1 2:14.470
6. Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance · Pegram Racing Ducati) Ducati 1098R 2:14.480
7. Aaron Yates (Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:15.121
8. Neil Hodgson (Corona Extra Honda) Honda CBR1000RR 2:15.202
9. Jake Holden (Holden Racing) Honda CBR1000RR 2:15.969
10. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar · Makita · Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:16.050
11. Michael Laverty (Celtic Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:15.162
12. Taylor Knapp (Taylor Knapp Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:15.255
13. David Anthony (Aussie Dave Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:15.792
14. Aaron Gobert (AGR Inc.) Honda CBR1000RR 2:17.071
15. Ryan Elleby (Team Hooters Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:17.957
16. Chris Ulrich (Roadracingworld.com · Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:18.159
17. Shane Narbonne (Shane Narbonne · DASPerformance.com) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:19.089
18. Dominic Jones (Moto Garage Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:20.617
19. Mark Crozier (Four Feathers Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:20.924
20. Eric Haugo (Liberty Waves Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:22.325
21. Trent Gibson (Aussie Dave Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:22.503
22. Ron Hix (Hix Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:23.077
23. Doug Polen (Four Feathers Racing) Yamaha YZF-R1 2:23.385
24. Shawn Higbee (Higbee-Racing.com) Buell 1125R 2:23.789
25. Timothy Hunt (Team Hooters Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:24.257
26. Brian Boyd (Boyd Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:24.942
27. Marcin Biernacki (Biernacki Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2:27.898