Michael Barnes, Russ Wikle and Joel Spalding were the fastest riders during a challenging and lightly-attended ASRA qualifying session Saturday at cold and rainy Daytona International Speedway.
Spalding started things off by taking the Superstock pole position with a 2:01.571 on his new TeamMCC.com KTM RC8R, even though the only gearing choice he had was much too short for Daytona, he said.
Spalding came back moments later to top the Thunderbike qualifying session with a 2:03.483 on his Ducati Indianapolis 749R.
Wikle was the fastest rider in Superbike qualifying, recording a 2:01.357 on his Wikle Racing Suzuki GSX-R600.
Barnes then earned the pole position in the premier Sportbike class by lapping the 3.5-mile infield road course in 1:57.942 on his VRC Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Wikle was second-best with a 1:59.368, which put him just ahead of Geoff May (1:59.391) on his new GMR Suzuki GSX-R600. Celtic Racing/Orient Express rider P.J. Jacobsen, age 16, got the final spot on the front row with a 2:05.356 on his Suzuki GSX-R600.
Track conditions during qualifying were not ideal. The track was mostly dry, but it had puddles in some key locations, like at the exit of the chicane on the back straightaway. Temperatures were also uncooperative, hovering around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
As a result, many entered racers chose to skip the ASRA qualifying session and accept a starting position based on their order of entry.
American Sportbike Racing Association (ASRA) Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida February 27, 2010 Provisional Qualifying Results:
Superstock: 1. Joel Spalding (KTM RC8R 1190), 2:01.571 2. Reese Wacker (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:02.491 3. David Loikits (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:06.789 4. Paul Gaskin, 2:09.035 5. Rick Johnson, 2:13.085
Superbike: 1. Russ Wikle (Suz GSX-R600), 2:01.357 2. Norman Powerleau, 2:10.056 3. Andres Londono (Yam YZF-R6), 2:10.602 4. Antoine Richards (Suz GSX-R600), 2:10.733 5. Eric Wood (Hon CBR600RR), 2:16.963 6. Ray Hofman, 2:17.503 7. Russell Proctor, 2:17.521 8. P.J. Jacobsen (Suz GSX-R600), 2:24.093 9. Luis Barroso, 2:32.627
Thunderbike: 1. Joel Spalding (Duc 749R), 2:03.483 2. David King (Suz SV650), 2:31.603
Sportbike: 1. Michael Barnes (Yam YZF-R6), 1:57.942 2. Russ Wikle (Suz GSX-R600), 1:59.368 3. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R600), 1:59.391 4. P.J. Jacobsen (Suz GSX-R600), 2:05.356 5. Benjamin De Leon, 2:06.271 6. Eric Wood (Hon CBR600RR), 2:06.785 7. Aaron Smith, 2:06.952 8. Juan Lopez, 2:07.238 9. Ray Hofman, 2:07.256 10. Antoine Richards, 2:07.335 11. Dave Ebben (Kaw ZX-6R), 2:08.243 12. Charles Burton, IV, 2:14.320 13. Ludwig Ortega, 2:18.205 14. Luis Barroso, 2:25.723 15. Danial Jimenez, 2:38.443 16. Nahun Alvarez, 2:06.091*
* – did not go to post-qualifying technical inspection, time disallowed