Graves Motorsports Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom captured the AMA Supersport pole position during qualifying Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. Bostrom used a “soft” rear Dunlop on his YZF-R6 to lap the infield road course in 1:40.346, a new class lap record for the revised 2.9-mile track. “It was nice,” said Bostrom. “I was out there by myself, which is how I prefer it to be. I don’t want anybody around. I wasn’t expecting to win pole. I was expecting that to come on my second Q, but we didn’t make it out in time. I was concentrating on my race set-up. “Right now we’ve got the bike set-up for most of the other tracks, like Fontana, but Daytona’s a different place. In that session we pin pointed the problem, so it should be good for tomorrow.” In preparation for his first full season racing a 600cc Supersport bike in a decade, 33-year-old Bostrom said he lost 14 pounds, dropping from 165 to 151, prior to coming to Daytona. Second in qualifying was Bostrom’s teammate, 17-year-old Josh Herrin, who did a 1:40.754 on his 2008 YZF-R6 to earn his second-ever front-row start. Herrin said he worked hard during off-season testing to improve his qualifying performance, something he felt hurt his race results in 2007. Chaz Davies qualified his Attack Kawasaki ZX-6R third with a time of 1:40.819, which he said he did on race-compound Pirellis. “I got held up on my Q lap,” said Davies. “And on my second Q I didn’t make it around in time to start a lap before the checkered flag came out.” The final spot on the front row went to Josh Hayes, who lapped the course in 1:40.884 on his Erion Honda CBR600RR. The 22-lap AMA Supersport race is scheduled for 4:50 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday. Pro Honda Oils AMA Supersport Championship Presented by Shoei Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida March 5, 2008 Provisional Group One Qualifying Results: 1. Ben Bostrom (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:40.346 2. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:40.754 3. Chaz Davies (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, 1:40.819 4. Josh Hayes (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, 1:40.884 5. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-6R), Dunlop, 1:41.143 6. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, 1:41.206 7. Steve Rapp (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, 1:41.348 8. Martin Cardenas (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, 1:41.464 9. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, 1:41.518 10. Shea Fouchek (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, 1:41.861 11. Tommy Hayden (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, 1:42.113 12. Aaron Gobert (Hon CBR600RR), Dunlop, 1:42.147 13. Cory West (Suz GSX-R600), Pirelli, 1:42.462 14. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, 1:42.476 15. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:42.562 16. Taylor Knapp (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, 1:42.973 17. Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, 1:43.027 18. Garrett Carter (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, 1:43.160 19. Gabor Rizmayer (Suz GSX-R600), Michelin, 1:44.084 20. Josh Day (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:44.332 21. Nicky Moore (Kaw ZX-6R), Pirelli, 1:44.605 22. Fernando Amantini (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:45.383 23. Dominic Jones (Hon CBR600RR), 1:45.455 24. Eduard Alberts (Hon CBR600RR), 1:45.477 25. Rob Frost (Hon CBR600RR), 1:45.656 26. Brett Sassaman (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:45.661 27. Ryan Patterson (Yam YZF-R6), 1:45.696 28. Matt Hall (Yam YZF-R6), 1:45.700 29. Bostjan Pintar (Yam YZF-R6), 1:45.772 30. Rickey Corey (Yam YZF-R6), 1:45.836 31. Ryan Clay (Yam YZF-R6), 1:46.118 32. Bostjan Skubic (Yam YZF-R6), 1:46.172 33. Payton Sassaman (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:46.255 34. Chris Siebenhaar (Suz GSX-R600), Dunlop, 1:46.510 35. Eric Pinson (Yam YZF-R6), 1:46.543 36. Dr. Jeffrey Purk (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.047 37. Josh Galster (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:47.262 38. Jonas McCluskey (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.775 39. Dan Ortega (Yam YZF-R6), 1:47.882 40. Scott Decker (Suz GSX-R600), 1:48.028 41. Matthew Layt (Hon CBR600RR), 1:48.129 42. Lance Yeager (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.709 43. James Digiandomenico (Yam YZF-R6), 1:48.917 44. Misti Hurst (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:48.932 45. Blake Kelly (Hon CBR600RR), 1:48.951 46. Skip Salenius (Suz GSX-R600), 1:49.541 47. Patrick Johnson (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.353 48. John Orchard (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.373 110% of Fast Time: 1:50.381 49. Rhiannon Lucente (Yam YZF-R6), 1:50.564 50. Jeremiah Johnson (Suz GSX-R600), 1:50.632 51. Rodney Vest (Suz GSX-R600), 1:50.873 52. Jessica Zalusky (Yam YZF-R6), 1:51.937 More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway: Aaron Yates, Ben Bostrom Capture Poles For Superstock, Supersport DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Jordan Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom brought home pole positions in their respective classes on the first day of AMA activities at Daytona International Speedway. The pair of qualifying sessions for Superstock and Supersport kicked off the first of four days of AMA activities at DIS including Flat Track racing at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, the Daytona Supercross By Honda on Friday night and the AMA Superbike Opening Round and 67th Daytona 200 By Honda on Saturday. Yates led a 1-2 Jordan Suzuki qualifying effort for Thursday’s 22-lap Superstock event with a fast lap of 108.112 mph followed by his teammate Geoff May at 108.051 mph. Michael Barnes (108.013) and Blake Young (107.765) rounded out the front row. “It’s a great way to start the season off especially for Jordan Suzuki having a first and second right off in the first race in qualifying,” said Yates, who earns a point in the championship standings for his pole. “Hopefully we can take it on through the race.” “I guess I’ll give Aaron those five hundredths or whatever it was. He has got a year more on the team,” quipped May, who is in his first season riding for the NBA Basketball legend. “I’m happy with my performance. The Dunlop tires are unbelievable. I’m having a ball. It’s like starting racing all over again when I was a beginner privateer. It’s really fun.” Scott Russell, the five-time Daytona 200 By Honda champion, made his return to AMA competition at Daytona International Speedway by qualifying 15th with a speed of 103.489 mph. Bostrom led a 1-2 Yamaha qualifying effort for Thursday’s 22-lap Supersport race. Bostrom posted a lap of 105.834 mph followed by Yamaha teammate Josh Herrin at 105.406. Attack Kawasaki’s Chaz Davies was third at 105.337 and Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes in fourth with 105.270. “The R6 is fantastic,” Bostrom said. “Yamaha has outdone themselves when they built that bike. That’s pretty cool because we didn’t have it completely set up. We had the bike up for Fontana and we kind of had to bring it back to Daytona.” “It’s only the second time we’ve ever put it on the front row,” Herrin said. “Usually I’m a horrible qualifier, but I think we’re putting it together pretty good this year. The Yamaha couldn’t work any better.” The Superstock race will go green at 3:50 p.m. on Thursday while the Supersport race will start at 4:50 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Supersport At Daytona Qualifying Results DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The top 20 in Supersport qualifying at Daytona International Speedway: 1. Ben Bostrom, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:40.346, 105.834 mph. 2. Josh Herrin, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:40.754, 105.406. 3. Chaz Davies, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:40.819, 105.337. 4. Josh Hayes, Honda CBR600RR, 1:40.884, 105.270. 5. Roger Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:41.143, 105.000. 6. Blake Young, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:41.206, 104.935. 7. Steve Rapp, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:41.348, 104.788. 8. Martin Cardenas, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:41.464, 104.667. 9. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 1:41.518, 104.612. 10. Shea Fouchek, Honda CBR600RR, 1:41.861, 104.260. 11. Tommy Hayden, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:42.113, 104.003. 12. Aaron Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 1:42.147, 103.968. 13. Cory West, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:42.462, 103.648. 14. Danny Eslick, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:42.476, 103.634. 15. Michael Beck, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:42.562, 103.548. 16. Taylor Knapp, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:42.973, 103.134. 17. Bobby Fong, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:43.027, 103.080. 18. Garrett Carter, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:43.160, 102.947. 19. Gabor Rizmayer, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:44.084, 102.033. 20. Josh Day, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.332, 101.791. Superstock At Daytona Qualifying Results 1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.231, 108.112 mph. 2. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.287, 108.051. 3. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 138.321, 108.013. 4. Blake Young, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.548, 107.765. 5. Chris Peris, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1.38.761, 107.533. 6. Jeff Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39:300, 106.948. 7. Ben Thompson, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:39.530, 106.702. 8. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39.701, 106.519. 9. Robertino Pietri, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:39.826, 106.385. 10. Jake Holden, CBR1000RR, 1:40.209, 105.978. 11. Hawk Mazzotta, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:40.857, 105.298. 12. David Anthony, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:41.195, 104.946. 13. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:41.738, 104.386. 14. Seth Starnes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:42.592, 103.517. 15. Scott Russell, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:42.620, 103.489. 16. David Loikits, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:42.794, 103.313. 17. Brian McCormack, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:42.874, 103.233. 18. Santiago Villa, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:42.957, 103.149. 19. Shane Narbonne, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:43.079, 103.028. 20. Horst Saiger, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:43.643, 102.467.