FIM Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited Infineon Raceway Sonoma, California May 16, 2008 Provisional Qualifying Results: 1. Ben Spies (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:35.840 2. Mat Mladin (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:36.423 3. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, 1:36.601 4. Eric Bostrom (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, 1:36.655 5. Jamie Hacking (Kaw ZX-10R), Dunlop, 1:36.854 6. Neil Hodgson (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:37.204 7. Aaron Yates (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:37.338 8. Miguel Duhamel (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:37.643 9. Matt Lynn (Hon CBR1000RR), Dunlop, 1:37.874 10. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:37.892 * 11. Chris Peris (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:38.921 * 12. Lee Acree (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:39.275 * 13. Jason Pridmore (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:39.521 * 14. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:39.603 * 15. Taylor Knapp (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:40.147 * 16. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:40.522 * 17. Scott Jensen (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:40.695 18. Martin Szwarc (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:41.303 19. Reno Karimian (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:43.045 20. Johnny Rock Page (Yam YZF-R1), Dunlop, 1:43.411 21. Dean Mizdal (Suz GSX-R1000), Dunlop, 1:44.473 22. Eric Haugo (Suz GSX-R1000), Pirelli, 1:44.991 23. Scott Van Hawk (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:45.115 * = known to be riding a Superstock-spec motorcycle More, from a press release issued by Infineon Raceway: Suzuki’s Spies Takes Provisional Pole in AMA Superbike in Sonoma San Francisco Native Zemke Tops Qualifying in Formula Xtreme SONOMA, Calif. (May 16, 2008) – Ben Spies posted the top time on Friday at Infineon Raceway in provisional qualifying for the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts. Spies (Suzuki) clocked a time of 1 minute, 35.840 seconds during the 90-minute qualifying session for Superbike in steamy 90-degree temperatures in the Sonoma Valley. Spies, the two-time defending AMA Superbike champion, is on a two-race win streak after sweeping the doubleheader at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana in April. “The bike is working good, and we’re working more on race set-up,” said Spies. “It’s hot out there, so the track record (1:34.991) wasn’t really going to happen today. It was pretty good and hopefully there’s more to come tomorrow.” Spies was followed by teammate Mat Mladin (1:36.423), Yamaha’s Jason Disalvo (1:36.600) and Petaluma High School graduate Eric Bostrom (Yamaha, 1:36.655). Mladin, the most decorated rider in AMA history with six Superbike championships and 66 victories, entered the weekend with a 20-point lead over Spies (178-158). “We need a good weekend right now with where we are in the points,” Spies said. In other qualifying on Friday, San Francisco native Jake Zemke (Honda) took the pole for Formula Xtreme with a time of 1:36.853. The time broke the track record held by Josh Hayes (2007, 1:37.244). Zemke won the 2005 Formula Xtreme title at Infineon Raceway. “This track is one of the better tracks we go to on the circuit for the riders,” said Zemke. “For this race it’s important to be in the front row and a good start is a good way to go. It’s going to take a lot of fast laps to win.” Zemke was followed by Oakland native Steve Rapp (Kawasaki, 1:37.185), who is a graduate of Acalanes High School in Lafayette. Josh Hayes (Honda, 1:37.678) and Chaz Davies (Kawasaki, 1:37.949) rounded out the top four. “Every year I come here I want to win here, but it’s not that easy,” said Rapp. “The bike was great, you just have to put it all together. It doesn’t take much to miss two-tenths and miss the pole.” Final qualifying for Superbike takes place on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., which will set the grid for Saturday’s 28-lap main event at 3:30 p.m. Formula Xtreme will run its 17-lap main event also on Saturday at 4:40 p.m. Other events taking place at Infineon Raceway over the weekend include Supermoto USA and Motocross on the hillsides behind Turn 7. This marks the first Motocross event at Infineon Raceway since 2002 as more than 500 competitors battle in 30 classes over the 1.3-mile circuit. Gates open at 7 a.m. on Saturday; for more information on the race weekend, visit www.infineonraceway.com. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ben Spies has taken provisional pole for this weekend’s two AMA Superbike Championship races at Infineon Raceway in California from team mate Mat Mladin. In an exciting 40 minute session, held in the 103 degrees, Mladin crashed early in the session in the final turn but then took over the top spot as soon as he got back up to speed. His best was a lap of 1:35.840 was well off the unofficial 1:34.76 Mladin ran during a recent test here, but missed the April 3 test while recovering from surgery. Said Spies: “We went out this morning and I just decided, hey, let’s put our head down these first couple of laps. And usually you try to work into things and take it lap by lap and get used to everything. But here, we obviously didn’t get to test here, and I was a little worried about that. But we just tested last week in Salt Lake (Miller Motorsports Park). “It’s the first time we’ve had these forks on the bike. The bike was here last year, but it was a different set-up. The bike’s working good. I’d say it’s in the ballpark of being where I want it to race. Usually you’re trying to find stuff and you’re really trying to make it happen. But here the bike’s working pretty well and right now we could go out and race it and I’d feel comfortable on it. It’s not perfect; it never is perfect, but it’s not super-great. But it’s there.” Mladin won both races here this year easily and it’s a track he likes and does well at. He’s won seven of the last 10 races at Infineon. He said: “On this track, the harder you ride the bike, the faster you go.”