AMA Pro Daytona Sportbike Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio July 8 Qualifying Session One Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), 1:29.723
2. Jake Holden (Duc 848EVO), 1:30.037
3. Jason DiSalvo (Duc 848), 1:30.199
4. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6), 1:30.398
5. Tommy Aquino (Yam YZF-R6), 1:30.720
6. Cameron Beaubier (Yam YZF-R6), 1:30.838
7. Dane Westby (Suz GSX-R600), 1:31.093
8. Taylor Knapp (Suz GSX-R600), 1:31.099
9. Cory West (Suz GSX-R600), 1:31.102
10. Paul Allison (Yam YZF-R6), 1:31.259
11. Kris Turner (Suz GSX-R600), 1:31.660, crash
12. P.J. Jacobsen (Duc 848EVO), 1:32.037
13. Tyler O’Hara (Yam YZF-R6), 1:32.399
14. Huntley Nash (Yam YZF-R6), 1:32.885
15. Fernando Amantini (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:32.895
16. Santiago Villa (Suz GSX-R600), 1:33.069
17. Josh Galster (Yam YZF-R6), 1:33.332
18. Kyle Wyman (Yam YZF-R6), 1:33.418
19. Emerson Connor (Duc 848), 1:33.514
20. Christian Cronin (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.075
21. Melissa Paris (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.905
22. Michael Morgan (Suz GSX-R600), 1:35.421
23. Raul Alzate (Yam YZF-R6), 1:35.472
24. Sam Rozynski (Yam YZF-R6), 1:36.711
25. Kenny Riedmann (Tri Daytona 675), 1:37.002
More, from a press release issued by LTD Racing:
MOST POSITIVE DAYTONA SPORTBIKE QUALIFYING YET FOR HUNTLEY NASH AND LTD RACING Y.E.S. YAMAHA
Lexington, OH (July 8, 2011) — LTD Racing’s Huntley Nash qualified 14th on the first day of the AMA Pro Mid-Ohio Daytona SportBike weekend. Huntley was pleased with his result as the fast teenager continues to improve in his rookie year in the ultra-competitive class. Tomy Puerta put his LTD Racing Y.E.S. Yamaha on the provisional front row, qualifying fourth, while West points leader David Gaviria earned eighth.
Nash, after finishing in the top ten at the last race in Alabama, took on the challenge of maintaining his progress at a track that he confesses isn’t one of his favorites. Huntley was strong in qualifying as he upped his pace throughout the session, culminating with his two best laps on his 19th and 20th times around in the session.
“It was our best qualifying so far,” said Nash, a three-time SuperSport race winner last season. “We’ve been able to pick up speed during the race weekend before but we’ve been too far back to really make a big splash in a race yet. The goal is to be there with the lead pack in the race. I need to drop some more time tomorrow. I’m looking at dropping a half second and getting it in the top twelve. That puts us on the third row and we can go from there. I’m getting more confident in the front end, which has been our issue this year as we have joined this new class with different rules. It gets better every time I ride the bike and I like the way things are going.”
Puerta was pleased to be healthy again after a tough weekend in Alabama that saw injuries from a crash hurt his chances in Sunday’s race. He achieved his goal of earning the provisional front row on Friday. “It was a good qualifying,” said the Colombian. “The team has the bike working really well. I was able to get down to a 1:32. I tried to do a better lap but there was traffic at first and I wasn’t able come right back with a quick lap. Then the tire was about finished and the grip was falling by the time I got some clear track again. I am looking for a good race tomorrow and I think six or seven riders will be at the front. I am ready to be one of them.”
Gaviria is looking to improve his form at this track that doesn’t necessarily suit his riding style. The Colombian also knows that the West points are not a factor this weekend and so the stakes are not quite the same as at other events. “I feel pretty good on the bike but the track is tricky for me,” said David. “It’s the toughest track for me in the whole championship. I fight with the bike a little here and it is tough. It’s more my riding style than anything else and I’ll have to change it to get the results I want. I’m putting all the weight of my body on my hands and I need to get some of it on my feet instead. A podium result is the goal but there are a lot of good riders here as always. I will try my best and not give up.”
“It’s a rhythm track; the easier you ride, the quicker you go here,” said LTD Racing’s Gary Medley. “We’re preaching that to the boys and trying to help get the bikes adjusted just right. Huntley is looking good. The track and conditions seem quite a bit slower for most riders but he’s doing well so far. He’s doing a nice job and getting more confident all the time. Tomy and David struggled some but much of that is because of the expectations. With David, it’s more about being comfortable. With Tomas, we’re already close but we want to be at the front. He’ll be strong in the race tomorrow.”