Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking rode his Dunlop-equipped YZF-R6 to his first AMA Supersport pole position of the season today at California Speedway with a new lap record time of 1:26.362, bettering Tommy Hayden’s 2005 lap record of 1:26.672. Riding a Dunlop-sponsored Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R600, Ben Spies turned the second-fastest time, 1:26.833, with about seven minutes left in the session, before pulling into the pits to prepare for Saturday’s AMA Superbike race, which was scheduled to start immediately after Supersport qualifying. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes displayed what he called “desire” by recording the third-fastest time, 1:26.958, on his Pirelli-shod GSX-R600. The California Speedway event is only Barnes’ second outing since suffering a serious knee injury in a crash at Daytona in March. The fourth-spot on the front row went to Canadian rider Chris Peris, who turned a 1:27.029 on his Topline Printing Yamaha Canada YZF-R6. A regular on the FIM Supersport World Championship series, Peris is making his first AMA appearance of 2006. He started the weekend on Pirelli tires, which he uses in the Supersport World Championship, but switched to Dunlop tires Saturday morning due to a “communication problem,” he said. AMA Supersport Championship leader Roger Hayden, who suffered a double fracture and dislocation of his lower right leg a week ago at Barber Motorsports Park and had surgery to repair the damage earlier this week, did not ride during practice or qualifying at California Speedway. Hayden told Roadracingworld.com that he will start Sunday’s Supersport race because he doesn’t want to risk a long-term disability or putting other riders in danger. Pro Honda Oils AMA Supersport Championship California Speedway Fontana, California April 29 Qualifying Results: 1. Jamie Hacking (Yam YZF-R6), 1:26.362 2. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R600), 1:26.833 3. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R600), 1:26.959 4. Chris Peris (Yam YZF-R6), 1:27.028 5. Ben Attard (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:27.264 6. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R600), 1:27.357 7. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), 1:27.493 8. Damon Buckmaster (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:27.508 9. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R600), 1:28.549 10. Chris Siglin (Suz GSX-R600), 1:29.223 11. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R6), 1:29.369 12. Jeff Tigert (Hon CBR600RR), 1:29.500 13. Chris “Opie” Caylor (Suz GSX-R600), 1:29.543 14. Ryan Elleby (Hon CBR600RR), 1:29.756 15. Tony Meiring (Suz GSX-R600), 1:29.905 16. Nicky Moore (Yam YZF-R6), 1:30.250 17. Tristan Schoenewald (Suz GSX-R600), 1:30.465 18. Shea Fouchek (suz GSX-R600), 1:31.120 19. Barrett Long (Yam YZF-R6), 1:31.157 20. Grant Riggs (uz GSX-R600), 1:31.356 21. Brant Wiwi (Yam YZF-R6), 1:31.362 22. Jon Blaylock (Hon CBR600RR), 1:31.430 23. Jimmy Wood (Kaw Z-6RR), 1:31.633 24. Armando Ferrer (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:32.252 25. Kenny Carlotta (Suz GSX-R600), 1:32.568 26. Victor Chirinos (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:32.715 27. Jeremiah Johnson (Suz GSX-R600), 1:33.108 28. Ryan Teixeira (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:33.264 29. Andrew Brown (Yam YZF-R6), 1:33.724 30. David Glenn (Suz GSX-R600), 1:33.787 31. Chris Siebenhaar (Suz GSX-R600), 1:33.836 32. Spencer Stuart (Yam YZF-R6), 1:33.869 33. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R6), 1:33.988 34. Ivan Garza (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:34.064 35. Morgan Murphy (Suz GSX-R600), 1:34.191 36. Matt Eccleston (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.773 110% of Fast Time: 1:34.998 Did Not Qualify: 37. Craig Mason (Yam YZF-R6), 1:39.030 38. J.C. Gibbs (Yam YZF-R6), 1:40.516 More, from a press release issued by Team M4 EMGO Suzuki: BARNES ON SUPERSPORT FRONT ROW AT FONTANA Team M4 EMGO Suzuki picked up a front row grid position and a top-ten race result on Saturday at California Speedway. Carrying in the momentum of last weekend’s double podium performance in Alabama, the squad has continued to regularly challenge at the top of the charts. Michael Barnes impressed once again aboard his Pirelli-shod GSX-R600 Supersport machine on Saturday. After posting the fastest time in the class during Friday’s free practice, the Floridian proved that he could post hot laps in qualifying as well, claiming a spot on the front row for Sunday’s 17-lap final. Barnes clocked the third best time of the session with a fast lap of 1:26.959. Geoff May shot out of the blocks on Saturday morning. The Georgian battled for the top spot on the timing sheets in the Superstock and Supersport practice sessions, posting the second best time (1:25.438) in the big-bore class and the third best time (1:27.227) in the middleweight class. May went on to post solid times in the afternoon qualifying sessions as well, despite a spike in the track surface temperature. Geoff will look to rejoin the fight for first place in tomorrow’s finals. He’ll start the Supersport race from the second row, qualifying sixth fastest with a lap of 1:27.357. He’ll open the Superstock final from the third row, qualifying in tenth at 1:26.183. May said, “We’re trying to run down these factory guys and they’re going so fast. It’s hard work but we keep inching up on them every weekend and we continue to make progress. A lot of that has to do with Pirelli’s tire development because of all the work we did at the beginning of last year, sorting out a lot of stuff: the profile, the shape, the carcass, the compounds. Everything is different this year because of what we figured out last year. We’re really reaping the benefits from last year now.” After picking up a podium result in his first ride aboard the team’s FX machine, two-time class champion Kurtis Roberts put in a hard day’s work in Saturday’s 17-lap affair. Despite a small technical problem, Roberts still managed to finish in the tenth position even though an abrupt change in weather conditions left the team with a less than ideal tire situation. Developmental rider Shea Fouchek qualified in 18th for the Supersport race with a quick time of 1:31.120. The former motocrosser hopes to fare better in the race after lapping considerably quicker during the free practice. During the morning session he ranked 14th overall with a lap time of 1:30.510. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki has big expectations for Sunday’s Superstock and Supersport finals where the squad should be in contention to add to their 2006 trophy haul.