Yamaha factory rider Jason DiSalvo claimed pole position for the Lockhart Phillips USA AMA Formula Xtreme race during qualifying Friday at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), near Danville, Virginia. DiSalvo used a rear Dunlop qualifying tire on his YZF-R6 to lap the 2.25-mile road course in 1:26.264, better than Jake Zemke’s lap record of 1:26.581. More importantly, the pole position earned DiSalvo a bonus point, extending his Championship lead from four to five points over his teammate Eric Bostrom and Parts Unlimited PJ1 Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes. Hayes qualified second with a 1:26.468 on his Dunlop-equipped CBR600RR, which was fitted with the more aerodynamic bodywork the American Honda factory FX racebikes wore at Daytona. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes qualified third with a 1:26.937 on his Pirelli-shod GSX-R600, making three brands of motorcycles and two brands of tires in the top three positions. Bostrom, winner of the last two races and five races in total this season, claimed the final spot on the front row with a 1:27.028 on his Dunlop-fitted YZF-R6. Race eight of the 11-race AMA Formula Xtreme Championship is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday. Lockhart Phillips USA AMA Formula Xtreme Championship VIRginia International Raceway Alton, Virginia August 18 Provisional Qualifying Results: 1. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R6), 1:26.264 2. Josh Hayes (Hon CBR600RR), 1:26.468 3. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R600), 1:26.937 4. Eric Bostrom (Yam YZF-R6), 1:27.028 5. Aaron Gobert (Hon CBR600RR), 1:27.256 6. Chris Peris (Yam YZF-R6), 1:27.584 7. Ryan Andrews (Hon CBR600RR), 1:27.748 8. Ty Howard (Hon CBR600RR), 1:28.116 9. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R600), 1:28.552 10. Eric Wood (Hon CBR600RR), 1:28.622 11. Danny Eslick (Suz GSX-R600), 1:28.851 12. Tony Meiring (Suz GSX-R600), 1:30.385 13. Steve Crevier (Buell XB-RR), 1:30.634 14. Taylor Knapp (Suz GSX-R600), 1:30.752 15. Alastair Seeley (Yam YZF-R6), 1:31.286 16. Marco Martinez (Yam YZF-R6), 1:31.517 17. Shane Narbonne (Suz GSX-R600), 1:31.554 18. Mike Hale (Buell XB-RR), 1:32.243 19. Armando Ferrer (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:32.492 20. Trey Yonce (Yam YZF-R6), 1:32.638 21. Victor Chirinos (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:32.713 22. Keith Marshall (Suz GSX-R600), 1:32.725 23. Chris Siebenhaar (Suz GSX-R600), 1:32.898 24. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.479 25. Joseph Ford (Yam YZF-R6), 1:35.218 26. Jessica Zalusky (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:36.005 27. Joao Carlos Rodriquez (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:36.155 More, from a press release issued by Team M4 EMGO Suzuki: BARNES ON FRONT ROW IN VIRGINIA FORMULA XTREME, MAY FASTEST IN SUPERSPORT Team M4 EMGO Suzuki opened the Virginia International Raceway AMA weekend in strong fashion on Friday, claiming a front-row grid position in Formula Xtreme and posting the fastest time in Supersport. Michael Barnes will start Saturday’s FX contest from a prime position after qualifying third best in the class aboard his Pirelli-shod GSX-R600. The Floridian clocked a 1:26.937 during the session in preparation of tomorrow’s race. “This is a real soft compound tire track and we’ve got such a wide range of Pirelli tires available to us that we were just able to throw a bunch of different stuff at it for this sticky session,” ‘Barney’ said. “We have to figure out a race tire yet. I believe we’ve got some that will do the job, it’s just a matter of deciding which one to run and making the best judgment for the race. Overall, the bike ran really well and my crew just worked great.” Geoff May got off to a quick start at VIR as well, topping the morning Supersport practice just as he did to open the last round at Mid-Ohio. The Georgian circulated the 2.25-mile course with a best time of 1:27.386 to lead the way in the class. May also practiced in Superstock on Friday, running seventh fastest aboard his GSX-R1000 at 1:27.217. “The GSX-R600 is running unbelievably around here at VIR,” May remarked. “It’s hooked up. What can I say? It’s easy to do the times. We’re not quite where we want to be in Superstock but that seems to be a common trend. We usually have to work a lot harder on the big bike to find a set-up that will make the thing happy. “We’re going to try to get both bikes up on the front row — that’s the main goal for tomorrow. And then in the races we want to get a win. We’ve been fighting all year for one. We’ve been so close a few times, and this being one of my home tracks, I think we’ve got a good shot here.” Barnes and Shea Fouchek joined May in the Supersport practice and gave Team M4 EMGO Suzuki three bikes in the top fifteen. Barnes was seventh at 1:28.562 while Fouchek was fifteenth at 1:30.465. On Saturday, the team will contest the Formula Xtreme final and qualify for Sunday’s Supersport and Superstock races.