Day takes VIR SuperSport pole

From AMA Pro Racing

ALTON, VA - Josh Day (No. 4 Team E.S.P. Yamaha YZF-R6) continued his current stranglehold on the AMA Pro SuperSport class and moved closer to the East division title with his second straight pole Saturday in qualifying at VIR. Day was also on the pole one race ago in Topeka where he went on to lead every race lap for his second-consecutive series victory.

Saturday at VIR, Day clocked in at 1:29.398 (91.008 mph), the fastest lap any rider has run in SuperSport so far this weekend. Day also remains the only SuperSport rider at the Big Kahuna to get around the 2.25-mile circuit in less than 90 seconds. He also paced Friday's opening practice session with a top lap time of 1:29.707 (90.695 mph).

"I just went out there and tried the best that I could," said Day, who edged out nearest title challenger Leandro Mercado (No. 92 Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R). "I knew they were going to be closing in on my time, and I know all of them are going to be up there for the race. Leandro hasn't been able to ride for awhile so I'm sure he's fine tuning his riding this weekend and he'll be right up there during the race."

Mercado led the East point standings earlier in the season and also has a pair of victories, but his title hopes took a severe hit when travel issues forced him to miss the Topeka round. He was second fastest in VIR qualifying with a lap time of 1:30.125 (90.275 mph).

"I always think of races for what they are but I have to be thinking for the championship," Mercado said. "Tomorrow I have to work on the race to make points, so we'll see for the championship."

Day now has a 46-point lead over Mercado, 127-81. That equates to more than a full-race lead and guarantees he will leave the Big Kahuna on top of the standings even if he fails to clinch the crown. Even if Mercado scores all 31 remaining available points at VIR, Day only needs to finish third or better to leave Virginia with the East title. 

Corey Rech (No.7 AB1 Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R600) is making his SuperSport debut and recovered from a Friday practice spill to qualify third with a lap time of 1:30.160 (90.240 mph).

"I'm riding with AB1 Motorsports this weekend," said Rech, who also has a three AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT wins this season. "The bike was running really good, the tires were working great. We clicked on a really good setup in the first practice and I just have to thank my team. I crashed yesterday in practice and demolished the bike. They stayed up pretty late putting it back together so I just have to put it all to them. My wrist is a little banged up, but I'm fine."

Joey Pascarella (No. 25 LTD Racing Yamaha YZF-R6) has missed two of the last three SuperSport races while recovering from a broken right wrist and splitting his schedule with Supermoto. He returned at VIR and earned a front-row start with the fourth-fastest qualifying time of 1:30.168 (90.232 mph).