Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes rode through pain to take a critical pole position during AMA Supersport qualifying Saturday afternoon at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. In spite of riding with two suspected broken feet suffered in a crash just a few hours earlier, Hayes turned a 1:26.706 to break Roger Hayden’s lap record of 1:27.496 and earn the pole position and the bonus Championship that comes with it. The bonus point puts Hayes in a position where if he leads the most laps and wins the race he can win the 2007 Supersport Championship if Roger Hayden, the current Championship leader, finishes fourth or worse. If Hayes wins the race, he will also beat Jamie Hacking, who is currently second in points, in the Championship. In the recent past Hacking, a two-time AMA Supersport Champion, has insinuated he may do what he can to help Roger Hayden win the Championship. Asked about the crash, Hayes said, “It was just your typical, really big highside out of Turn Two. It threw me way up in the air. I kept thinking, ‘Man, I’m gonna land any time now.’ And when I did, I landed on my feet. Luckily, Dr. Elleby was here. He had to remove the toe nail on my right foot, on my big toe, tried to numb it up a little bit. I’m not sure about the left foot. It’s probably the one that’s bugging me the worst right now. Both feet are pretty bad, so we’re going to get it checked out to make sure we’re good to go for tomorrow. “Getting pole was pretty awesome for the team and for all of us. I put together a couple of good laps. I feel like I’m struggling a little bit. I’m pretty sure I can go a little faster. It’s really hard changing directions because my feet are hurting so bad. I have new boots. They were really crammed in the boots, and I was dragging my feet on the ground and just not a good feel for where I was on the racetrack. I think it’ll be better tomorrow.” Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking put in a last-lap attempt to steal the pole away from Hayes but came up just short with a 1:26.766. Graves Yamaha’s Josh Herrin earned the third starting spot with a 1:27.108 on his YZF-R6, and Geoff May was the top non-Dunlop and top Suzuki qualifier with a 1:27.152 on his Pirelli-shod Team M4 EMGO Suzuki GSX-R600. Hacking’s teammate Roger Hayden qualified fifth with a 1:26.250. The top seven qualifiers were under the old lap record. Update: Josh Hayes has confirmed that he suffered bone fractures in both of his feet. He has decided to sit out the Formula Xtreme race to focus on the Championship-deciding Supersport finale. 2007 Pro Honda Oils AMA Supersport Championship Presented by Shoei Helmets Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California September 15, 2007 Provisional Qualifying Results (old lap record – Roger Hayden, 1:27.496): 1. Josh Hayes (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, 1:26.706 2. Jamie Hacking (Kaw ZX-6R), Dunlop, 1:26.766 3. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:27.108 4. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, 1:27.152 5. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-6R), Dunlop, 1:27.250 6. Martin Cardenas (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, 1:27.272 7. Aaron Gobert (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, 1:27.442 8. Ben Attard (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, 1:27.593 9. Steve Rapp (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, 1:27.601 10. Chris Peris (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:27.662 11. Cory West (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:27.708 12. Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, 1:28.005 13. Chaz Davies (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:28.180 14. Garrett Carter (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:28.254 15. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, 1:28.313 16. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, 1:28.436 17. Tommy Hayden (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, 1:28.624 18. David Anthony (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:28.683 19. Ryan Andrews (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, 1:29.262 20. Chad Lewin (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, 1:29.375 21. Ben Thompson (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, 1:29.413 22. Hawk Mazzotta (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:29.981 23. Michael Beck (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, 1:30.024 24. Chris Siebenhaar (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, 1:30.734 25. Scott Ryan (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, 1:31.122 26. Steve Atlas (Hon CBR600RR), 1:31.279 27. Mark Cernicky (Hon CBR600RR), 1:32.493 28. C.R. Gittere (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, 1:33.133 29. Eric Pinson (Yam YZF-R6), 1:33.432 30. Reno Karimian (Suz GSX-R600), 1:33.693 31. Oscar Covarrubias (Yam YZF-R6), 1:33.978 32. Sahar Svik (Suz GSX-R600), 1:34.463 33. David Glenn (Suz GSX-R600), 1:34.746 34. Misti Hurst (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:34.924 110% of Fast Time: 1:35.377 Did Not Qualify: 36. Craig Mason (Yam YZF-R6), 1:35.570 37. Shaun Summers (Suz GSX-R600), 1:36.223 38. Shea Fouchek (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, 1:36.254 39. Jon Blaylock (Hon CBR600RR), 1:36.303 40. Danny Demel (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.479 41. Chris Siglin (suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, no times 42. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R600), no times 43. Lash Mullen (Suz GSX-R600), no times More, from a press release issued by Team M4 EMGO Suzuki: FRONT ROW STARTS FOR TEAM M4 EMGO SUZUKI Team M4 EMGO Suzuki claimed a pair of front-row grid positions on Saturday at Laguna Seca in preparation of Sunday’s Superstock and Supersport season finales. Geoff May put in a gritty effort on the day, overcoming illness to claim a starting position on the outside of the front row in both of his classes. The Georgian first set the fourth fastest time in the Superstock session aboard his Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000 (1: 25.578), and then backed it up with the fourth quickest lap in Supersport qualifying aboard his GSX-R600 (1:27.152). “It was a really good day for me considering I’ve been dealing with some kind of stomach virus,” May said. “I’ve been struggling all day and I really didn’t want to be on a motorcycle today. It was one of those days where you’ve got to suck it up and do your job so I’m really happy to be on the front row. I was roughing it all day but I’ve taken a bunch of medicine and I’m feeling better. “I did a seven-lap run and every lap we just kept getting faster. We’re down in the low ’25s and that should put us right where we need to be as long as we can stay fast until the end. If we’ve ever had a shot at doing well, this could be it because we’re not having any issues whatsoever.” “I’m just here having fun with my team and my crew. It’s been a long year and we’ve had a lot of ups and downs. We’re just enjoying the sunshine and having fun.” Martin Cardenas should be a threat in Sunday’s 17-lap Supersport final as well. The Colombian, who has finished on the podium in two of most recent four Supersport races, will start from the second row after qualifying sixth fastest at 1: 27.272. Michael Beck will open the season’s final race from the fifth row. The Californian is hoping to build upon his Road Atlanta top ten result in Sunday’s season finale after qualifying 23rd (1:30.024). Cardenas was fifth fastest in Formula Xtreme practice on Saturday (1:27.376) and will qualify for the 17-lap race on Sunday morning. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki will conclude the 2007 AMA season on Sunday afternoon with the final races of the Superstock, Supersport, and Formula Xtreme championships.