Suzuki’s Mat Mladin posted the
best time on Tuesday as top riders competed at a Yamaha-sponsored AMA
Superbike Test Session at Infineon Raceway.
More than 200 race fans attended
Tuesday’s test session, billed as Two-Wheel Thunder, and they
weren’t disappointed as Mladin clocked a time of 1 minute, 34.76
seconds over the 12-turn, 2.22-mile road course. The time bettered the
actual track qualifying record for Superbikes, which Suzuki’s Ben
Spies owns at 1:34.991 (set in 2007).
The teams were testing in advance
of the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts, May
16-18, in the Sonoma Valley.
Mladin, a six-time AMA Superbike
champion, is also the defending champion at Infineon Raceway, having
swept the doubleheader in 2007. He holds the track record with
eight Superbike wins in Sonoma.
“You know, as far as layout
goes, (Infineon Raceway is) certainly one of my most favorite racetracks
anywhere,” Mladin said.
Fourteen riders from Kawasaki,
Attack Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Corona Extra Honda attended
the test, which concludes on Wednesday.
Mladin was followed by Yamaha’s
Jason DiSalvo (1:35.68) and Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking (1:36.30).
In addition to the AMA testing,
race fans were treated to Supermoto USA racing, SBFreaks Freestyle
demonstrations and Track Talk with top riders including Mladin and
track-favorite Miguel Duhamel (Honda).
For ticket information to the
Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts, in May visit www.infineonraceway.com
or call 800-870-RACE.
Yamaha Test Session
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma
The top times from Tuesday’s
test session over the 12-turn, 2.22-mile road course at Infineon
Raceway. All times were reported by individual race teams:
SUPERBIKE
Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 1:34.76
Jason DiSalvo (Yamaha) 1:35.68
Jamie Hacking (Kawasaki) 1:36.30
Eric Bostrom (Yamaha) 1:36.60
Neil Hodgson (Honda) 1:37.21
Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 1:37.60
Matt Lynn (Corona Extra Honda)
1:37.70
Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 1:38.38
SUPERSPORT
Ben Bostrom (Yamaha) 1:36.75
Josh Herrin (Yamaha) 1:37.50
Dominic Jones (Corona Extra
Honda) 1:41.40
FORMULA XTREME
Chaz Davies (Attack Kawasaki)
1:37.70
Steve Rapp (Attack Kawasaki)
1:38.30
SUPERSTOCK
Jacob Holden (Corona Extra Honda)
1:39.00