Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin was the fastest man in the final AMA Superbike qualifying session of 2008. The fiery Australian circulated the 2.2-mile, 11-turn Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca course in 1:23.592 to earn the 55th pole position of his career but only his third of the season. Mladin’s time was not a new lap record. His teammate Ben Spies still holds that honor with the 1:23.129 he did at Laguna Seca in July. But Mladin’s time held up as best thanks in part to the session ending about four minutes early due to a bad crash involving Jamie Hacking. Hacking was on a fast lap when the rear end of the Monster Energy Kawasaki ZX-10R stepped out exiting Rainey Curve. When his bike caught traction again, Hacking was bucked over his handlebars. When he came back down, both of his legs were dangling off the right side of the motorcycle. The motorcycle was heading off the track, towards a wall at a high rate of speed and Hacking did not have control. Hacking had no choice but to jump off the speeding machine. Hacking went for a long tumble and did not get up immediately, resulting in the session being stopped. Hacking was transported via ambulance to a local hospital for precautionary measures. He suffered from a concussion and a painful left hand, according to his team. Several riders said they were on their fastest laps when the session was stopped, including Mladin’s teammate Ben Spies. Spies, the newly-crowned AMA Superbike Champion, ended up second with a time of 1:23.802. It was only the third time this season that Spies did not get the pole position. Tommy Hayden, the third Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki rider, qualified third-fastest with a 1:24.037. In spite of his crash, Hacking ended earning the final spot on the front row with a 1:24.104. AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California September 27, 2008 Provisional Combined Qualifying Results: 1. Mat Mladin (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:23.592 2. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:23.802 3. Tommy Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:24.037 4. Jamie Hacking (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, 1:24.103, crash 5. Eric Bostrom (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, 1:24.136 6. Aaron Yates (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:24.505 7. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, 1:24.684 8. Neil Hodgson (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:24.841 9. Jake Holden (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:24.873 * 10. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:25.226 11. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:25.306 * 12. Jordan Szoke (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, 1:25.623 13. Matt Lynn (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:26.142, crash 14. Ben Thompson (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:26.780 15. David Anthony (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:26.802 * 16. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:26.847 * 17. Jeremy Toye (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:27.205 * 18. Scott Jensen (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:27.322 19. Chris Peris (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:27.326 * 20. Hawk Mazzotta (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:27.421 * 21. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:27.454 * 22. Jeffrey Tigert (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:27.510 23. Robertino Pietri (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:27.727 * 24. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:28.094 * 25. Robert Jensen (Hon CBR1000RR), Michelin, 1:28.143 26. Dean Mizdal (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:29.763 27. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, 1:29.913 108% of Fast Time: 1:30.279 Did Not Qualify: 28. Reno Karimian (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.490 29. Eric Haugo (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:30.753 30. Shane Turpin (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.851 * = known to be riding a Superstock-spec motorcycle.