Two-time and defending AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies was the fastest man during AMA Superbike qualifying Friday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway, claiming the provisional pole position by lapping the 21-turn, 2.36-mile infield road course in 1:23.366 on his Dunlop-shod Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000. Spies said he tried a harder-compound race rear tire for an 18-lap run, before mounting a softer-compound, possible race tire for a shorter run, which resulted in his fastest time. Spies’ teammate and the current AMA Superbike Championship point leader Mat Mladin bounced back from a low-speed crash early in the session to post the second-quickest time, a 1:23.940. Jason DiSalvo came straight from the hospital (where he had his right foot X-rayed after crashing in Friday morning practice) and got a late start in the qualifying session, but he was able to record the third-best lap time, a 1:24.354, on his factory Yamaha YZF-R1. The last spot on the provisional front row was earned by Jamie Hacking, who did a 1:24.491 on his Monster Energy Kawasaki ZX-10R. AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited Auto Club Speedway Fontana, California April 25, 2008 Provisional Group A Qualifying Results: 1. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:23.366 2. Mat Mladin (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:23.940 3. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, 1:24.354 4. Jamie Hacking (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, 1:24.491 5. Tommy Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:24.507 6. Neil Hodgson (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:24.761 7. Eric Bostrom (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, 1:25.121 8. Aaron Yates (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:25.229 9. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:25.639 10. Matt Lynn (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:25.767 11. Jake Holden (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:25.805 * 12. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:26.239 * 13. Jason Pridmore (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:26.554 * 14. Chris Peris (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:26.771 * 15. Robertino Pietri (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:26.947 * 16. Scott Jensen (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:27.506 17. Hawk Mazzotta (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:27.780 * 18. Jeremy Toye (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:28.463 * 19. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, 1:29.311 20. Dean Mizdal (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:29.611 21. Tim Knutson (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.296 22. Eric Haugo (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.475 23. Reno Karimian (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.896 24. Scotty Van Hawk (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:31.216 * known to be riding a Superstock-spec motorcycle