Colombian Martin Cardenas captured the provisional pole position during AMA Pro Daytona SportBike qualifying Friday at Road America. Riding his Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki GSX-R600, Cardenas lapped the four-mile-long course in 2:21.136, which is roughly equal to the fastest lap he did (2:21.124) when he won Daytona SportBike Race Two last year in Wisconsin. And he appeared confident in his chances to repeat his winning performance again this weekend. “I was feeling very good, and my bike was working very good,” Cardenas told reporters Friday afternoon. “We didn’t make any changes. I just rode the bike. I have always liked this track. It is important that you brake very deep here, and I am good at that.” Graves Yamaha’s Josh Herrin was fastest in the first practice and later was just behind Cardenas in qualifying with a lap of 2:21.190 on his YZF-R6. Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha’s Dane Westby posted the third-best time in qualifying, a 2:21.444. Steve Rapp was the final rider to dip into the 2:21 bracket with the 2:21.578 he did on his Latus Motors Racing Ducati 848. AMA Pro Daytona Sportbike Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin June 4, 2010 Qualifying Session One Results (all on Dunlop tires): 1. Martin Cardenas (Suz GSX-R600), 2:21.136 2. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6), 2:21.190 3. Dane Westby (Yam YZF-R6), 2:21.444 4. Steve Rapp (Duc 848), 2:21.578 5. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), 2:22.067 6. Cory West (Suz GSX-R600), 2:22.160 7. Tommy Aquino (Yam YZF-R6), 2:22.277 8. Chris Fillmore (Suz GSX-R600), 2:22.576 9. Clinton Seller (Yam YZF-R6), 2:23.533 10. P.J. Jacobsen (Suz GSX-R600), 2:23.977 11. Fernando Amantini (Kaw ZX-6R), 2:24.339 12. Kris Turner (Suz GSX-R600), 2:24.759 13. Bobby Fong (Duc 848), 2:24.804 14. Dominic Jones (Yam YZF-R6), 2:25.001 15. Michael Beck (Duc 848), 2:25.002 16. Michael Morgan (Suz GSX-R600), 2:25.331 17. Santiago Villa (Suz GSX-R600), 2:26.460 18. Paul Allison (Yam YZF-R6), 2:26.652 19. Marcos Reichert (Yam YZF-R6), 2:26.765 20. Jimmy Wood (Kaw ZX-6R), 2:26.887 21. Lenny Hale (Yam YZF-R6), 2:27.073 22. Melissa Paris (Yam YZF-R6), 2:27.748 23. Reese Wacker (Suz GSX-R600), 2:32.001 24. Paul James (Buell 1125R), 2:32.517 25. Calvin Martinez (Duc 848), 2:32.864 26. Marie-Josee Boucher (Hon CBR600RR), 2:33.202 27. Sam Rozynski (Yam YZF-R6), 2:33.514 28. Shawn Hill (Suz GSX-R600), 2:36.305 More, from a press release issued by Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki: CARDENAS ON PROVISIONAL POLE AT ROAD AMERICA Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas got his weekend off to a blistering start on Friday, claiming the provisional pole for this weekend’s AMA Pro Daytona SportBike doubleheader at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. The Colombian registered a session-best time of 2:21.135 aboard his GSX-R600 around the high-speed four-mile road course to lead the way by 0.054 seconds in the ultra-competitive class. Cardenas, who typically elevates his game a step higher in the races than in practice and qualifying, will look to secure what would be just his second career pole position in Saturday morning’s final session. After qualifying is complete, he’ll then turn his attention to adding to his class-leading tally of four victories in 2010. “As soon as I started practice today I felt pretty good and the bike was working great,” Cardenas said. “We didn’t have to make any changes to the bike, I could just ride it — I think that helps a lot. I have always liked this track. “I think it’s very important here to brake very deep and I think I’m good at that. Maybe that’s a strong point that I have here, and I think that helped me make my fast lap. We tried some things with the brakes today and I pushed as hard as I could for two laps and one of them was the fastest lap of the session. “I think if you’re in the first row, you’re okay. You have the same possibilities as if you have the pole because the racing has been very tight so if you start in fourth or first it’s the same. The first few laps you can change a lot of positions, but it’s always good to be on the pole and know that you were the fastest.” Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki’s AMA Pro American Superbike riders put in strong efforts on Friday, taking a pair of slots on the provisional second row. Jake Holden, who is taking part in his second race weekend with the team as a substitute for the mending John Hopkins, was sixth fastest on Friday. The multi-time AMA Superstock race winner laid down a best time of 2:15.427 aboard the team’s GSX-R1000 racebike. Chris Ulrich was just two sports further down the order. The Californian posted the day’s eighth best time, clocking a 2:16.059 around the scenic midwestern circuit. On Saturday morning Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki will settle their final grid positions and then kick off the weekend’s Daytona SportBike and American Superbike race action in the afternoon. More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing: Cardenas Backs Up Last Year’s Win with Solid Day One Qualifying Performance at Road America ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (June 4, 2010) – Martin Cardenas’ No. 36 M4 Monster Energy Suzuki GSX-R600 came out of the box fast and to post a qualifying laptime of 2:21.136 (103.254 mph), good for the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike provisional pole for this weekend’s Suzuki SuperBike Doubleheader at Road America. Cardenas’ 2010 season has been anything but dull, claiming four victories in seven Daytona SportBike races after a disappointing early-race crash and 44th place finish in the Daytona 200 season opener. The Colombian is no stranger to success at 4.05-mile natural road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, winning last year’s Daytona SportBike race two barn-burner in bold fashion with a last-lap, last-turn pass over this year’s American SuperBike points leader Jake Zemke. “As soon as I started practice in the morning I felt pretty good,” Cardenas said. “The bike was working great. We didn’t have to make any changes to it, I could just ride it. I have always liked this track, I think it’s very important here to brake very deep and I think I’m good at that. Maybe that’s the strongest point that I have here. I’m hoping for a good race tomorrow and if it’s not raining, another good qualifying run.” 2010 Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin piloted his No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6 to second fastest in today’s qualifying session with a lap of 2:21.190 (103.214 mph) after leading the charts in the practice session earlier in the afternoon. Third fastest was Dane Westby’s No. 2 Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha YZF-R6 with a time of 2:21.444 (102.931 mph). Westby has finished in the top five in six races this season, earning three podiums in the process. Final qualifying for Daytona SportBike begins at 10:50 a.m. local time tomorrow, with an open grid fan walk kicking off at 12:30 p.m. and race one of the weekend’s doubleheader at Road America scheduled for 3:45 p.m. Sunday will see a rider autograph session at 10:50 a.m., a second fan grid walk at 11:30 a.m. and race two of Daytona SportBike competition closing the weekend with a 3:45 p.m. start time. SPEED will be broadcasting same-weekend coverage of both Daytona SportBike races, with race one airing Saturday, June 5th at 11 p.m. ET and race two airing Sunday night at 11 p.m. ET. A re-broadcast of Saturday’s race one final will also be broadcast on Sunday, June 6th at 3 p.m. ET. Please visit www.roadamerica.com for ticket and schedule information of the Suzuki SuperBike Doubleheader Weekend and visit www.amaproracing.com for additional series information. AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.