Armando “Armantito” Ferrer rode a borrowed Yamaha YZF-R1 to pole position for the opening round of the Venezuelan National Superbike Championship at Autodromo International Pancho Pepe Croquer at Turagua, Venezuela Saturday. Ferrer had been sixth and third-fastest in the two dry official practices Saturday but rain hit just before the start of the single qualifying session. Ferrer was unable to ride his usual Kawasaki due to a dispute with the Venezuelan Kawasaki importer, which backs Fernando Amantini, who was heavily favored to successfully defend his Championship. Amantini and his team practiced at the track earlier in the week and Amantini was fastest in the first official practice on Saturday. But Robertino Pietri, who missed Friday practice because his AMA Pro Superstock racebike was delayed in Customs in both Miami and Caracas, made three laps in the first session and was instantly second-fastest. On his first flying lap in the second session, Pietri went to P1 on the timesheets and then improved on his time, leaving Amantini second-fastest. When rain fell just before the start of qualifying, Pietri’s Crew Chief James Lickwar decided to send Pietri out on a stock GSX-R1000 fitted with racing suspension, bodywork and other parts, to safeguard the primary racebike. Ferrer turned his fastest lap on the last of his 17 laps, at 1:16.629. Pietri did his fastest lap on his 15th and final lap, at 1:16.648. Amantini´s fastest lap was his 14th and last at 1:17.333. Ferrer, Pietri, Amantini and Victor Chirinos all raced in the 2006 AMA Pro Series, Pietri and Amantini in Superstock and Superbike, and Ferrer and Chirinos in Supersport and Formula Xtreme. Chirinos, who was Ferrer´s teammate on Kawasakis in the AMA Pro Series, was also on a borrowed Yamaha for the same reason as Ferrer, and Chirinos qualified seventh-fastest. Ricardo Sune, who competed in the 2006 AMA Nationals at Barber Motorsports Park and California Speedway, was fifth-fastest in qualifying. Official Qualifying Venezuelan Superbike National Championship Turagua, Venezuela 1. Armando Ferrer, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:16.629 2. Robertino Pietri, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:16.648 3. Fernando Amantini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:17.333 4. Franklin Reveron, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:17.521 5. Ricardo Sune, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:17.552 6. Cesar Tellez, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:18.518 7. Victor Chirinos, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:19.467 8. Claudio Torres, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:22.765 9. Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:29.230 10. Manuel Bello, Suzuki GSX-1000, 1:35.169