Surprise, Surprise – It’s Holden
Paul Carruthers | July 3, 2009
Corona Honda’s Jake Holden pulled off a surprise today in the first practice session for the AMA American Superbike class at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the Washingtonian riding his CBR1000 to the top spot with some 15 minutes to go in the sssion and staying there.Holden lapped at 1:25.526 and actually did two laps in the 1:25s to lead the session, though both of the Yoshimura Suzuki men – Tommy Hayden and Mat Mladin – made last-second bids to take the spot from the Honda man. Hayden’s final lap came the closest as he clicked off a 1:25.807. Then came Mladin at 1:25.946 and the final man to crack the 1:26 barrier – Larry Pegram.Although Holden’s best was a surprise, he did ride a Suzuki GSX-R1000 to victory here in the Superstock class in 2007.Fifth fastest wast the first of the Yamahas ridden by Josh Hayes, putting four different manufacturers in the top five. Hayes led the National Guard Jordan Suzukis of Geoff May and Aaron Yates. Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom and Blake Young, on the third Yoshimura Suzuki, and Corona Honda’s Neil Hodgson rounded out the top 10.The top eight riders ended up on the same second.
Superbike Practice
1. Jake Holden (Honda) 1:25.526
2. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 1:25.807
3. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 1:25.940
4. Larry Pegram (Ducati) 1:25.961
5. Josh Hayes (Yamaha) 1:26.225
6. Geoff May (Suzuki) 1:26.265
7. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 1:26.411
8. Ben Bostrom (Yamaha) 1:26.507
9. Blake Young (Suzuki) 1:26.691
10. Neil Hodgson (Honda) 1:26.965
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.
