Mladin’s run at gaining pole was disrupted in the closing minutes as he fell from his Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 at the chicane. At that stage, Mladin had set the fastest time of his session at that point and was preparing to go quicker, but was robbed of the opportunity due to the crash.

“Having the crash with about 15 minutes came at the time when we were starting to put some new tyres on the bike and make a run at a pole position time,” said Mladin, who took pole for the 200 in 2001. “I had a different tyre on the front that I hadn’t had much time on and just lost it on the entry into the chicane. I got back to the pits and on to my spare bike as soon as I could, so that I could make sure that all of my parts were still working at least, but was only able to get a couple of laps in before the session closed.”

Pole position for this weekend’s season opening round of the AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship went to former World Superbike rider Ben Bostrom. The American Honda rider posted a time of 1:48.376, to edge out Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda, 1:48.554) and Mladin (1:48.555). Mladin’s teammate Aaron Yates will complete the front row of the grid after setting a best time of 1:48.659. Less than one second covered the top nine riders during qualifying, with fellow Australian Anthony Gobert (Ducati Austin) seventh fastest.

Mladin ran a number of solid lap times during the morning’s free practice session as he and his team continued to develop the all-new Suzuki GSX-R1000 that they will be campaigning in this years championship.

“The morning session went well for us today. We know what the bike is capable of doing at the moment, but we’re not happy with that, as I want it to do more. We made more improvements on the bike today from yesterday, but basically we just need to have more track time and get the bike sorted since it is still so new.”

Qualifying continues tomorrow with the remainder of the grid positions to be sorted. For Mladin and his fellow front row starters, their place on the grid has already been confirmed which means that they will be able to turn their focus on race set up for Sunday’s 57-lap feature.

Duhamel took pole for tomorrows (Fri) supersport race.  Joining him on the front row is Jamie Hacking, Aaron Gobert and Kurtis Roberts.  Buckmaster qualified fifth, Jamie Stauffer 10th while Alex Gobert had some gearing problems with today's wind which resulted in him qualifying 17th.

Superbike Quotes

Ben Bostrom, No. 155 American Honda - "No I wasn't really sure (I could win the pole). Miguel (Duhamel) and I were sitting in the truck watching these guys and they were a really fast group. All of them put up mid-48s so I didn't know if we had enough to pull it out. The Honda worked really well, a big thanks to the team for setting it up. I kind of got lucky. It was really close. That's one of the closest poles probably ever at Daytona. There's a lot of guys right there within a few tenths of each other."

Kurtis Roberts, No. 80 Erion Honda - "I tried to work on just being smooth. I'm not the best qualifier up here. I really don't give (care) about it myself, except Daytona is Daytona and you get a watch."

Mat Mladin, No. 66 Yoshimura Suzuki - "It's one point, that's what I say all the time. If it didn't offer a point for the pole, then I wouldn't care where I qualified. But it's one point and at the end of the year that could make a difference and we missed out on that so I'm pissed."

Aaron Yates, No. 20 Yoshimura Suzuki - "We got the bike working, really comfortable. It felt good to run that kind of pace. Just riding the 1000 around like that, it's been awhile since I've been that comfortable on the thing. It was pretty good. It was a lot of fun there until the right at the end when we all went out together and nobody wanted to go. It's got a little frustrating. I don't have to worry about anybody bumping me back tomorrow. Just knowing that we have the bike working good enough to put up here with these guys."

Supersport Qualifying Quotes

Kurtis Roberts, No. 80 Erion Honda - "The qualifying run wasn't so special. I was a little faster earlier this morning by myself and was faster in December. I've had a hard time switching to the 600 this week from the Superbike because we've only rode it here for a few laps this winter and I hadn't rode it since. It's hard for me to go back forth and I'm just concentrating on Superbike. I could care less really about the 600. I just wanted to put in a real comfortable qualifying and get through without any close calls. First or second row was all I was hoping and just to be there for the race tomorrow because it's always the last two laps that matter here anyway. I just wanted to put ourselves in a good position for that and hopefully we can pull on out."

Pole winner Miguel Duhamel, No. 17 American Honda - ="It was definitely teamwork. Ben (Bostrom) and I, we were talking before going out and we figured let's get together and do the best that we can. On the first try around, I kind of mistimed it a bit. Then we came in together, we timed our pit stop like that, and had a little conference. He was trying to explain the way he wanted to do it which was the right way and it really worked out for me. Actually what happened out there, Ben was running in front of me and was waiting for me to come flying by him. He was going so good that I could barley catch up to him. He really took one for the team as far as that is concerned. Our bikes are running really good. I think if I would've got in front and gave him the same tow he gave me maybe he would be up here talking right now."

Jamie Hacking, No. 2 Yamaha - "I was ready for him to re-tyre. I never count him (Duhamel) out. You can't. He has been around long enough. He knows how to play this game. I kind of lost my draft partner earlier in the session. Little Jason (DiSalvo) had a little incident in the infield. I was out there by myself running around the bottom of the race track. The wind was blowing pretty good down the front straightaway and the RPMs were just dropping. I ran as hard as I could. I was hoping it was going to hold up, but this sucker got me."

Aaron Gobert, No. 96 Yamaha - "Yamaha has four riders and there's two crew chiefs spilt among into the two lots. (Damon) Buckmaster and myself tried to get together and do a few laps together and get something going. There was a bit of the breeze or headwind coming down the front straightaway and we knew we needed a draft to get through that. Buckmaster and I just had a plan and went out and did four laps on one tyre and did the best we could. Then we just choose another tyre that which was different. We picked one that work. The lap that I did my quick time, Buckmaster ran off in the chicane either that or it was the lap that I got caught behind some slower guys and Buckmaster got away from me and I pulled him back in. He was the only guy I rode with the whole time."

Jason DiSalvo, No. 40 Yamaha - "I went into the Turn (6) and lost the front end. The bike came down on my knee and I tried to gas it back up and the thing just caught and spit me off. I did some deep tissue damage to my hand (right hand) and it hurts worse than when I broke it. I' m still going to race Supersport, but I'm going to sit out the 750 (Superstock) race."

Superbike Qualifying - Front row is set - Rest to be finalised tomorrow

1. Ben Bostrom (American Honda) 1:48.376 mins
2. Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda) 1:48.554
3. Mat Mladin (Team Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:48.555
4. Aaron Yates (Team Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:48.659
5. Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki) 1:48.695
6. Ben Spies (Team Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:48.825
7. Anthony Gobert (Ducati Austin) 1:48.935
8. Larry Pegram (Dream Team Ducati) 1:49.087
9. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda) 1:49.280
10. Jason Pridmore (Attack Suzuki) 1:50.343
11. Doug Chandler 1m51.438
12. Michael Barnes 1m51.695
13. Jordan Szoke 1m51.836
14. Shawn Higbee 1m52.390
15. Andrew Deatherage 1m53.272
16. Geoff May 1m53.361
17. Steve Rapp 1m53.509
18. Josh Hayes 1m53.511
19. Mike Cicotto 1m53.545
20. Eric Wood 1m53.598

Supersport Qualifying - Final Grid - Race Tomorrow (Fri)

1. Miguel Duhamel 1m52.785

2. Jamie Hacking 1m52.817

3. Aaron Gobert 1m52.945

4. Kurtis Roberts 1m53.225

5. Damon Buckmaster 1m53.383

6. Ben Bostrom 1m53.539

7. Tommy Hayden 1m53.735

8. Jake Zemke 1m53.768

9. Roger Lee Hayden 1m53.800

10. Jamie Stauffer 1m53.929

11. Aaron Yates 1m54.047

12. Eric Bostrom 1m54.209

13. Matthew Wait 1m54.218

14. Ben Spies 1m54.287

15. Ty Howard 1m54.338

16. Tony Meiring 1m54.435

17. Alex Gobert 1m54.573

18. Craig Connell 1m54.819

19. Andrew Nelson 1m55.978

20. Lee Acree 1m56.519