Hayes grabs SuperBike pole

From AMA Pro Racing

LEXINGTON, OH - The final grids were set Saturday morning in the three AMA Pro Road Racing classes at the Honda Super Cycle Weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. 

In National Guard SuperBike, Josh Hayes set a fast time early, then backed it up and held on to the precious point awarded for the pole position as he jumped over his championship rival and Friday's provisional pole sitter Tommy Hayden. Hayes, riding his Team Graves Yamaha, posted a lap of 1:25.619/100.913mph, which was good enough to take him to his third pole position of the 2010 season and also into the lead for the $10,000 MotoConnect Pole Position Award that is presented at the end of the season. 

Second fastest was Hayden, who's time from Friday (1:25.637) was only bettered by Hayes. Hayden was riding his second Rockstar Makita Suzuki as he and the team worked on some different setup packages in preparation for Saturday afternoon's race. 

Jumping up to third overall was Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha rider Ben Bostrom, who joined Hayes and Hayden in the 1:25 range with his time of 1:25.743. Local rider Larry Pegram completed the front row with his Foremost Insurance Ducati. Pegram ran a 1:25.838 lap and went faster than he did on Friday, slipping one spot on the grid, but was pleased to be on the front row for his home race. 

Two other riders showed impressive speed in the final qualifying session. National Guard Jordan Suzuki rider Jake Zemke lines up fifth with his lap of 1:25.901 and he was followed by M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider Jake Holden, who was the last rider to post a lap in the 1:25 second range. Holden's time of 1:25.973 puts him sixth on the grid for the doubleheader National Guard Mid-Ohio race weekend.

In Daytona SportBike, points leader Josh Herrin and his Team Graves Yamaha were confirmed on the pole position. Even though two riders bettered their Friday times, the first four remained the same following the early morning final qualifying session. Herrin will start first with his Friday lap time of 1:28.732. 

Second will be Danny Eslick, who improved on his Friday time on his GEICO Powersports Suzuki. Eslick felt good about his 1:29.065 lap and after winning twice here in 2009, he is ready to go. Third is Team Latus Motors Ducati rider Steve Rapp, who just was just slightly slower than he was Friday but still lines up on the front row. Rapp's Friday lap was a 1:29.256. The final front row spot was taken by M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider and five time 2010 race winner Martin Cardenas, who also went quicker Saturday with his lap of 1:29.260.

AMA Pro SuperSport will also remain the same as after Friday with J.D. Beach and Cameron Beaubier on their Rockwall Yamahas starting one-two. This is Beach's first pole position of the season. Lining up third is LTD Yamaha rider Huntley Nash and fourth is Joey Pascarella on his DNA Energy Drink CNR Motorsports Yamaha.

American SuperBike Starting Line-Up
1. Josh Hayes (Team Graves Yamaha) Yamaha YZF-R1
2. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000
3. Ben Bostrom (Pat Clark Motorsports) Yamaha YZF-R1
4. Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance ·Pegram Racing) Ducati 1098R
5. Jake Zemke (National Guard Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000
6. Jake Holden (M4 Monster Energy Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000
7. Brett McCormick (Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000
8. Chris Ulrich (M4 Monster Energy Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000
9. Eric Bostrom (Cycle World Attack Performance Yoshimura Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000
10. Kurtis L. Roberts (RidersDiscount.com) Yamaha YZF-R1
11. Geoff May (Erik Buell Racing) Buell 1125RR
12. Jordan Szoke (Waznie Racing Ciclo Werks BMC Dewildt Honda) Honda CBR1000RR
13. Taylor Knapp (RidersDiscount.com) Suzuki GSX-R1000
14. Chris Clark (Pat Clark Motorsports) Yamaha YZF-R1
15. Johnny Rock Page (Aussie Dave Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000
16. Greg Fryer (FJ Racing) Yamaha YZF-R1