For the first time during the 2011 AMA Superbike season, someone other than Josh Hayes will be leading from the front of the grid. Blake Young put in a fantastic lap in the final minutes of the second qualifying session to take his first pole position of the year.
"Congratulations to Blake," Hayes said. "He really put in a great lap."
Young set a 1'25.025 lap around the Mid-Ohio circuit, beating Hayes by .3 seconds.
"This is what we needed to do this weekend," Young said. "Those extra points are becoming more important and that's what's hurting us."
Young and Hayes were separated by just two points heading into the Mid-Ohio event. Young cuts that lead down to one by claiming the pole position today.
Roger Hayden will be starting in the third position during the race this afternoon ahead of Larry Pegram, who earned his first front row start of the season today.
"The bike (a BMW S1000RR) is running very good now," Pegram said. "The bike was better than I was today. It's kind of a brand new motorcycle, but I think we have the right set up now. This was a good turn around for us this weekend. I feel like we're going to beable to be competitive during the races this weekend."
Tommy Hayden will be starting from the top of the second row today, ahead of Steve Rapp, Ben Bostrom, and Chris Peris.
AMA Superbike - Grid Positions - Mid-Ohio
Front Row - Young - Hayes - R. Hayden - Pegram
Second Row - T. Hayden - Rap - Bostrom - Peris
Row 3 - Cardenas - Fillmore - Anthony - May
