Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Mat Mladin sent a shot across the bow of his competition in the final 20-minute Superbike practice Saturday before the first of two 25-lap races this weekend by turning a 1:22.861.

The time is well under Nicky Hayden’s Road Atlanta lap record of 1:23.287 set last year. Mladin’s time on the revised course will not be recognized as an official lap record because it was not recorded during official timed qualifying.

Eric Bostrom nearly matched his fast time (1:23.944) from Saturday morning’s qualifying with a 1:23.988 in the final warm-up session.

Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts was third-fastest in the 20-minute sessions with his fastest time of the weekend, a 1:24.125.

Saturday Afternoon AMA Superbike Practice Times:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:22.861
2. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:23.988
3. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, 1:24.125
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:24.862
5. Ben Bostrom, Honda, 1:25.111
6. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:25.518
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:26.406
8. Larry Pegram, Ducati, 1:26.772
9. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:27.174
10. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, 1:27.997

16. Anthony Gobert, Ducati, 1:32.928