Tommy Hayden set the fastest time during the first-ever practice for the AMA Pro American Superbike class, held Wednesday morning at Daytona International Speedway. Riding a 2008-model GSX-R1000 built during the last three weeks, Hayden lapped the 2.95-mile infield road course in 1:38.815, which is not far off last year’s AMA Superstock class pole position time of 1:38.231 (Aaron Yates) but well off the 2008 AMA Superbike pole position time of 1:35.760 (Mat Mladin). Asked if his American Superbike felt much different than the full-on Superbike he rode in 2008, Hayden said, “It has a lot different feeling. It definitely doesn’t have the power. In the end, I don’t think the lap times will be a lot different, but the feeling is a lot different. The Superbike felt stiffer, so rigid and it was a handful. This one [American Superbike] is a little tamer on the banking. For me it’s a lot easier to ride.” Although the American Superbike lap times were slower than 2008 Superbike lap times, a tailwind in the tri-oval helped boost the top speeds of the new American Superbikes to the same level as last year’s Superbikes. In fact, the Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000s went faster through the speed traps than they did last year. AMA Pro Racing’s speed trap clocked Blake Young at 199.9 mph during Wednesday morning practice. According to Team Manager Don Sakakura, his team’s bikes were timed through the traps at 193 to 194 mph in 2008. AMA Pro Racing American Superbike Championship Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida March 4, 2009 Provisional Practice Times (all on Dunlop tires, 2.95-mile course): 1. Tommy Hayden (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:38.815 2. Larry Pegram (Duc 1098R), 1:39.191 3. Neil Hodgson (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:39.407 4. Aaron Yates (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:40.383 5. Josh Hayes (Yam YZF-R1), 1:40.982 6. Blake Young (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.283 7. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.285 8. Michael Laverty (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.318, crash 9. Mat Mladin (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.533 10. Chris Ulrich (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:41.849 11. Ben Bostrom (Yam YZF-R1), 1:42.690 12. Hawk Mazzotta (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.695 13. Taylor Knapp (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.823 14. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.891 15. David Anthony (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:42.937 16. Shane Narbonne (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:43.021 17. Scott Greenwood (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:43.074 18. Scott Jensen (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:43.318 19. Barrett Long (Duc 1098R), 1:43.372 20. Aaron Gobert (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:43.393 21. Jeff Tigert (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:44.490 22. Brett McCormick (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:45.014 23. Davie Stone (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:46.190 24. Reno Karimian (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:46.376 25. Brad Hendry (Duc 1098R), 1:46.475 26. Dean Mizdal (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:47.129 27. Josh Graham (Yam YZF-R1), 1:47.454 28. David Loikits (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:47.619 29. Scotty Van Hawk (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:48.636, crash 30. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:49.664 31. Larry Orde (Yam YZF-R1), 1:49.957 32. Troy Vincent (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:51.406 33. Kevin Boisvert (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:55.896