Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Graves Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert continued to set the pace in practice at Daytona International Speedway by leading the first, 40-minute AMA Superstock practice Wednesday morning.

Aided by new-for-2004 rules allowing 1000cc engines and 17-inch slick tires, Gobert turned a 1:48.631, which was well under Jason Pridmore’s Superstock lap record of 1:51.567, turned in 2003 on a Suzuki GSX-R750.

“The bike’s just incredible. I’m really impressed,” Gobert told Roadracingworld.com. “I’ve been trying really hard to get back in shape after all of my off-season surgery. I thought I was behind the 8-ball, but maybe I wasn’t as bad off as I thought. Maybe being on ‘Struggle Street’ isn’t so bad.

“I haven’t pulled the pin yet and I’m doing these times.”

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies was also brimming with confidence after turning a 1:49.132 on his third flying lap, according to the young Texan.

Spies crashed at 186 mph when his rear tire exploded during his last visit to Daytona.

Gobert’s teammate Jamie Hacking shook off the effects of a crash in Wednesday-morning Supersport practice to post the third-fastest Superstock time, 1:49.738. Hacking said his Yamaha Supersport bike “stepped out real quick” exiting the International Horseshoe and threw him over the highside. But Hacking – and his Superstock lap times – said he was uninjured in the fall.

Provisional AMA Superstock Practice Times:

1. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:48.631
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:49.132
3. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:49.738
4. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:49.813
5. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:50.074
6. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:50.261
7. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:50.695
8. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:50.887
9. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:51.155
10. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:51.259
11. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:51.503
12. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:51.568
13. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:51.919
14. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.289
15. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.445
16. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.477
17. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.916
18. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.197
19. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:53.344
20. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:54.218