Hayden on top in New Jersey

From AMA Pro Racing

MILLVILLE, NJ - Tommy Hayden and his Rockstar Makita Suzuki threw down the gauntlet Friday with his exceptional performance in the last moments of AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike initial qualifying at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Hayden's lap of 1:20.624/98.234 MPH eclipsed Ben Bostrom's similar time in the 1:20 range which bested the quick time set early in the session by Josh Hayes. 

Hayes, on his Team Graves Yamaha and Bostrom on his Pat Clark Motorsports Palms Casino Yamaha had set times that didn't look like they could be beaten. First, Hayes led the way, then Bostrom popped in his time and then right at the end, Hayden lowered the time even further, resulting in the provisional pole position for the weekend's races here in Millville, NJ.

Final qualifying will be Saturday morning at 9:30am in preparation for the doubleheader race weekend. The point for the pole position will be critical in the championship fight between Hayden and Hayes. Eleven points separate the two with this weekend's two races and then the season finale at Barber Motorsports Park later this month.  

Another rider showed good form today, John Hopkins on the M4 Monster Energy Suzuki was quick for the entire session and ended up third overall, just ahead of Hayes. A resurgent Jake Zemke and his National Guard Jordan Suzuki ended up fifth after a good morning practice and qualifying session. 

In Daytona SportBike, six-time race winner and championship contender Martin Cardenas put together an almost perfect lap in posting the best overall time in the first round of qualifying. Cardenas rode his M4 Monster Energy Suzuki to a time of 1:23.683/94.643 MPH, just ahead of championship points leader Danny Eslick, who got close to Cardenas' time right at the end of the session. Cardenas posted his lap early and then watched the weather conditions and his other competitors to see if anyone would challenge his time and after Eslick got close, Martin went back out but he still held the upper hand and stayed on top. 

Eslick, riding is GEICO Powersports Suzuki is leading the championship by 12 points from Josh Herrin and the Team Graves Yamaha. Cardenas is third in points, just 14 back from Eslick. Herrin's Team Graves Yamaha teammate Tommy Aquino ended up third just ahead of Cory West, who rode his Vesrah Suzuki to a time of 1:24.465/93.766 MPH.

In AMA Pro Racing SuperSport, East Division Young Gun Champion Joey Pascarella rode his DNA Energy Drink Yamaha to the fastest time of 1:25.547, ahead of his former teammate Huntley Nash on the LTD Racing Yamaha. Pascarella was the only rider to break into the 1:25 range.

Eric Stump ended up third with a lap of 1:26.655 on his Markbilt Racebikes Yamaha.

2010 Canadian Amateur Sport Bike champion Raphael Archambault of St-Colomban, QC was 14th fastest on his Archambault Racing Honda CBR600RR and series runner-up Jeremie Hade Precourt of Granby, QC placed 25th riding the JHP Racing Suzuki GSX-R600.

Final Qualifying will be Saturday morning for all three classes and the Vance & Hines XR1200 series as well at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

SuperBike Qualifying Results
1. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:20.624
2. Ben Bostrom (Pat Clark Motorsports) Yamaha YZF-R1 +0.358
3. John Hopkins (M4 Monster Energy Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +0.424
4. Josh Hayes (Team Graves Yamaha) Yamaha YZF-R1 +0.728
5. Jake Zemke (National Guard Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +0.868
6. Chris Peris (Team Iron Horse BMW ·ESP) BMW S1000RR +1.107
7. Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance ·Pegram Racing) Ducati 1098R +1.247
8. Geoff May (Erik Buell Racing) Buell 1125RR +1.510
9. Chris Ulrich (M4 Monster Energy Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1.692
10. Blake Young (Rockstar ·Makita ·Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1.750
11. Brett McCormick (Jordan Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1.795
12. Taylor Knapp (RidersDiscount.com) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1.882
13. Shane Narbonne (Celtic Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +2.866
14. Chris Clark (Pat Clark Motorsports) Yamaha YZF-R1 +3.920
15. Tim J. Bemisderfer (Bio Weapon) BMW S1000RR +4.227
16. Tim Hunt (Hooters ·Apex) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +6.437
17. Chris Trounson (Aussie Dave Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +7.486
18. Johnny Rock Page (Aussie Dave Racing) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +8.512