Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin took provisional pole position during AMA Superbike qualifying Friday at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), near Danville, Virginia. In spite of suffering from cold symptoms, Mladin lapped the 2.25-mile circuit in 1:24.598 while using a race-compound Dunlop tire on his GSX-R1000. Ben Spies, Mladin’s teammate and the current AMA Superbike Championship point leader, was second-fastest in the session with a time of 1:25.779. Spies crashed early in the 40-minute session (a highside crash believed to have been caused by fluid on the track in turn three) and was “a little sore,” according to his Team Manager Don Sakakura. Spies only did a handful of laps on his back-up bike after the crash, including his fast time, before retiring to his motorhome to rest and heal. Sakakura said there were no plans for Spies to seek medical attention. Parts Unlimited Ducati’s Neil Hodgson was third-fastest with a 1:25.873 on his factory 999, and Tommy Hayden earned the final spot on the provisional front row with a time of 1:26.149 on his factory Kawasaki ZX-10R, which is now fitted with a Kawasaki-developed traction control system. One of the highlights of the session was John Haner, who qualified fifth ahead of five factory riders and machines on his Millennium KWS Suzuki GSX-R1000. Haner said he used a 2005-spec, 190-size, 16.5-inch rear Pirelli qualifying tire, but getting his confidence back was more important in obtaining the lap time. Final Superbike qualifying for this weekend’s double-header event, rounds 15 and 16 of the 19-race Championship, is scheduled to take place Saturday morning. AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited VIRginia International Raceway Alton, Virginia August 18 Provisional Qualifying Results: 1. Mat Mladin (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:24.598 2. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:25.779 3. Neil Hodgson (Duc 999F06), 1:25.873 4. Tommy Hayden (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:26.149 5. John Haner (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:26.245 6. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:26.260 7. Aaron Yates (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:26.311 8. Steve Rapp (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:26.343 9. Jason Pridmore (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:26.377 10. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:26.417 11. Jake Zemke (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:26.548 12. Ben Bostrom (Duc 999F06), 1:26.611 13. Jake Holden (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:26.675 14. Marty Craggill (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:27.365 15. Larry Pegram (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:27.818, crash 16. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:28.152 17. David Weber (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:28.677 18. Robertino Pietri (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:28.740 19. Mark Crozier (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:28.943 20. Eric Wood (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:29.031 21. Matt Lynn (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:29.551 22. Jason Curtis (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:29.642 23. Taylor Knapp (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:29.760 24. Scott Jensen (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:29.818 25. Fernando Amantini (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:30.271 26. Brad Hendry (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.513 27. Kenny Noyes (Yam YZF-R1 LE), 1:30.535 28. Michael Sanchez (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.576 29. Scott Carpenter (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.601 30. Akira Tamitsuji (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.633 31. Marco Martinez (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.759 32. Dean Mizdal (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.811 33. Dominic Jones (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.991 34. Barry Teasdale (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:31.759 35. Andi Notman (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:31.886 36. Marcin Biernacki (Yam YZF-R1), 1:31.984 37. James Kerker (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:34.577 38. Cory West (Suz GSX-R1000), no time, crash More, from a press release issued by Pirelli: When the checkered flag fell on the first official practice on Friday morning at Virginia International Raceway, Geoff May had ripped out the fastest time, reaffirming Pirelli’s giant-killing commitment to stepping to the top of the podium in professional races. Riding his Team M4 EMGO Suzuki GSX-R600 in Supersport practice, outfitted with a set of Pirelli SuperCorsa Pro tires, May laid down a fast lap of 1:27.386, on VIR’s 2.25-mile, technical North Course. May’s teammate, Michael Barnes, was seventh fastest. Neophyte pro-racer Michael Beck rode his Graves Motorsports sponsored Yamaha R6 to 13th fastest, again setting impressive times right off the truck. Later Friday morning, in Superstock practice, Geoff May rode his Suzuki GSX-R1000 to seventh fastest on a set of Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks. The M4 EMGO Suzuki rider nearly nipped his time into the 1:26’s, of most of the top Superstock qualifiers. Again leading the rest of the Pirelli riders was racer/journalist Chris Ulrich at 14th fastest, on his RoadracingWorld.com Suzuki. Pirelli shocked the paddock when privateer racer John Haner rode his Millennium KWS Suzuki GSX-R1000 to fifth fastest in Friday’s Superbike qualifying. Haner’s time put him at the head of row two, with four factory riders eating Pirelli gummy balls behind him. Haner’s time of 1:26.245 was merely 1.6 seconds behind the current pole position of Suzuki’s Mat Mladin. VIR’s brutally technical track, with severe elevation changes and complicated multi-radii corners, aided Haner’s riding skills to put his Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slick-shod Suzuki close to the best of the factories. Comparing Haner’s lap speed of 94.336 mph to Mladin’s of 96.175, shows that the difference in their laps is merely the speed of a walking child. In Friday’s Formula Xtreme practice, M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes put in a front-row performance, peeling off the fourth-fastest time in the low 1:27s. In afternoon qualifying, setting the grid for Saturday’s race, Barnes wicked up to an even faster time, nabbing third-place on his Suzuki GSX-R600, like his Supersport bike, on a set of Pirelli SuperCorsa Pros. Barnes will be starting the race from the right-center of the front row, looking for his fourth podium in the 2006 AMA Superbike Series. More, from a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati: HODGSON ON PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW IN VIRGINIA Alton (Virginia) 18 Aug 2006: Parts Unlimited Ducati’s Neil Hodgson qualified third in Friday’s preparations for the Virginia International Raceway Superbike Nationals. Hodgson put in a superb lap of 1:25.873 in the session, a mark that put him on the provisional front row. Hodgson’s teammate Ben Bostrom qualified with a time of 1:26.612 on his Ducati Superbike. The former World Superbike champion fought for traction on the 2.25-mile (3.22-kilometer) circuit and was able to encourage the Ducatisti rooting for Hodgson as he moved up the time charts. While several riders were crashing or running off course, Neil was able to concentrate and have a productive session at the track. “It was a pretty good day,” said Hodgson. “Things are going pretty well so far. We’re looking for more time like everyone else. I was quick this morning, which is positive because we are closer to the front and started the weekend on a good note. The track really doesn’t have a lot of grip right now and it’s tough finding time in the lap at the moment. We have a good direction and think we’ll be able to improve our time and hopefully our spot in the order tomorrow.” Ben Bostrom was 12th in qualifying, but the Californian was within a half second of the front row in what he characterized as a positive day. “It’s coming along pretty well. In the morning I was a little slow because we haven’t been here in a while, but we dropped a second from our time in the afternoon,” said Ben Bostrom. “This is a fun track for the rider and we’re looking forward to sleeping on it tonight and then coming back tomorrow for qualifying and the race.” Tomorrow’s 28-lap race begins at 4:00 local time.