With just two events left in the AMA Superbike series, Tommy Hayden trails season leader Josh Hayes by just 11 points, but Hayden isn't letting the pressure get to him. Hayden was comfortable today on the New Jersey Motorsports Park track, and claimed the provisional pole position.
"I felt really smooth, I just hit my marks and put it together. It wasn't an 'over-my-head' lap… like sometimes you're glad you made it around,” Hayden said. “It felt good and I'm looking forward to the weekend. We've put a lot of work in this year and I just want to make sure we come here the last couple races and try to finish up strong."
Hayden may have not put in an 'over-my-head' lap, but he did put in a record breaking lap of 1'20.623.
“Yeah. I didn't really think we'd get down into the '20s that far,” Hayden said. “I did a '21.1 or something in the race last year and hopefully I've gotten a little better and am riding a little better and our bike for sure is a little better. Looking at it like that, I don't think we should be surprised to be down in there.”
But Hayden knows that a provisional pole position doesn't mean much unless he can back it up on Saturday and Sunday.
Josh Hayes, who finished forth for the day, is sure to pick up the speed during tomorrow's qualifying event. The battle at the top is tight, and Hayes won't let 11 points slip away easily.
AMA Superbike - New Jersey - 1st Qualifying
| Pos | Rider(s) | Bike | ||||||
| 1 | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1:20.624 | ||||||
| 2 | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1:20.982 | ||||||
| 3 | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1:21.048 | ||||||
| 4 | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1:21.352 | ||||||
| 5 | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1:21.492 | ||||||
| 6 | BMW S1000RR | 1:21.731 | ||||||
| 7 | Ducati 1098R | 1:21.871 | ||||||
| 8 | Buell 1125RR | 1:22.134 | ||||||
| 9 | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1:22.316 | ||||||
| 10 | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 1:22.374 |
