2011 AMA Superbike
Following the gap since the AMA Superbikes ran at Daytona, things got underway Friday at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma for the second round of the AMA Superbike Championship.
Topping the time charts in Superbike qualifying practice number one, reigning champ Josh Hayes pushed his Monster Energy Graves Yamaha R1 to a 1:36.397 lap.
Trailing him are four Suzuki superbikes, the first one being Rockstar Makita’s Tommy Hayden who posted a 1:36.508, followed by Ben Bostrom on the Jordan Suzuki with a 1:36.845.
Martin Cardenas, aboard the M4 Suzuki is showing steady acclimation to the superbike class with a fourth best at 1:37.289. Hayden’s teammate, Blake Young, brought the second Rockstar Makita Suzuki in at fifth fastest with a posting of 1:37.516.
Behind the Suzukis are three BMW AMA Superbikes. First is Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance – Pegram Racing: 1:37.599), followed by Chris Peris (Team Iron Horse BMW: 1:37.911), and Steve Rapp (San Diego BMW/Locust Powered by Lee’s Cycle: 1:37.987). Two more Suzukis round out the top ten, ridden by David Anthony of ADR Fly Racing (1:38.165) and the third Hayden brother, Roger, on the National Guard Jordan Suzuki with a 1:38.357.
Saturday should be interesting with second qualifying (for the all-important grid position) coinciding with a bleak weather forecast. Local radar shows rain in the forecast, which could dramatically impact how the riders line-up for the first Superbike race, which runs Saturday afternoon. The second Superbike race runs on Sunday.
AMA Superbike – Infineon Qualifying No. 1 – Friday
- Josh Hayes
- Tommy Hayden
- Ben Bostrom
- Martin Cardenas
- Blake Young
- Larry Pegram
- Chris Peris
- Steve Rapp
- David Anthony
- Roger Hayden
