BOSTROM QUALIFIES ON FRONT ROW AT DAYTONA
Daytona (Florida) 9 March 2006: Ben Bostrom of the Parts
Unlimited Ducati Team will start on the front row for Saturday's
Daytona Superbike race aboard his factory Ducati 999. Bostrom
was third in Thursday's session with a time of 1:38.012, held
in sunny, cool Florida weather. Teammate Neil Hodgson qualified
sixth with a time of 1:38.491 and showed a consistent pace
throughout qualifying that he hopes to maintain for race distance.
"It's good to be on the front row, but at the same time,
I'm a little disappointed," said Bostrom, the 1998 AMA
Superbike champion. "As sure as I threw my leg over that
motorcycle, I thought I could have done a high 1:36 and I
thought no one could stop me for pole position. The track
really changed out there for our second session, though. There
wasn't as much grip as I would have liked. The times from
the others were pretty hot but I don't know if the other guys
can turn those lap times all day on Saturday. We're looking
really good for the race, especially since the Ducati seems
to pull all the way down the straight. The 999 seems like
a quick starter off the line, too. I can't wait."
Bostrom has plenty of experience at Daytona, and won the
pole and finished second in 2003. However, Ben raced in Europe
last season and missed the inaugural race on the new track
configuration. Neil Hodgson finished a competitive second
in last year's race, though, despite it being just his first
attempt on the high banks of Daytona.
"The race package we have is quite good," said
Hodgson, a resident of the Isle of Man. "We have chosen
a tire and we know exactly what we have with our settings.
There are some races that you aren't sure of where you stand,
but this isn't one of them. Looking at the lap-by-lap times
of all the riders, I think it's going to be a close race.
I'm a little disappointed to be on the second row. I thought
we had enough to start out front, but that's racing."
Saturday's 15-lap race will begin at 11:15 AM local time.
Qualifying Times:
1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki 1:37.075
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki 1:37.559
3. Ben Bostrom, Parts Unlimited Ducati 1:38.012
4. Miguel Duhamel, Honda 1:38.337
5. Jake Zemke, Honda 1:38.398
6. Neil Hodgson, Parts Unlimited Ducati1:38.491
7. Roger Hayden, Kawasaki 1:38.573
8. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki 1:38.904
|
