Josh Hayes and Tommy Hayden battled for the championship throughout the 2010 AMA Superbike season. The competition hasn't gotten any easier, as Hayes edged out Hayden for the first pole position of the 2011 Superbike season by just .1 seconds.
Hayes and Hayden were just as close during the first qualifying session, and will likely be contending for the first race win of 2011 later today.
"So far this weekend I've felt pretty good," said Hayden. "I would have really like to have grabbed the pole today. I thought we would be riding in the 1'37s, but it's Daytona. We'll see how it goes."
Hayes and Hayden went back and forth today, but Hayes was able to claim the pole position on his final lap.
"I was quite surprised by the lap time," Hayes said. "I was off my normal lines, and I
didn't think it was going to be the lap that counted. But starting off with a pole position in 2011, it's great."
Roger Hayden and Blake Young will complete the front row of the grid for the first race of the season.
AMA Superbike Results – Qualifying – Daytona
