Westby Fast and Consistent in Daytona Sportbike Qualifying

Henny Ray Abrams | June 22, 2012

LEEDS, AL, JUNE 22 – M4 Suzuki’s Dane Westby earned the provisional pole in Daytona Sportbike qualifying by edging out Y.E.S. Graves Yamaha’s Tommy Hayden and Cameron Beaubier on a scorching day in Alabama.

Westby lapped the 2.38-mile, 14-turn road course in 1:28.113 mins., which is under the previous qualifying mark of 1:28.374 mins. that Josh Herrin ran to take the 2010 DSB pole. The lap was the second of four low 28s that Westby strung together at the end of the session. And the time could drop farther in Saturday’s final qualifying session, which will be held in cooler morning temperatures.

Hayden was only .080 sec. slower overall, though far less consistent. He had only one lap in the 28s and one in the 29’s. Beaubier’s best lap of 1:28.279 mins. was the fastest of his final three-lap run.

Championship leader Martin Cardenas (Geico Suzuki) was fourth fastest at 1:28.504 mins. to fill out the provisional front row. Cardenas, winner of six races, has a 206 to 159 points lead on Jason DiSalvo, the Team Latus Motors Racing Castrol Triumph rider who was sixth fastest today.

Row two was led off by Meen Motorsports Racing’s Bobby Fong, the Yamaha rider only slightly slower than Cardenas, with DiSalvo next. Barber is now DiSalvo’s home track; he recently moved to the Birmingham area.

First into the 1:29s was Benny Solis on the Kneedragers.com/Triple Crown Industries Yamaha. Huntley Nash filled out the provisional second row on the LTD Racing Yamaha.

Daytona Sportbike Qualifying:
1. Dane Westby (Suzuki) 1:28.113
2. Tommy Hayden (Yamaha) 1:28.193
3. Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha) 1:28.279
4. Martin Cardenas (Suzuki) 1:28.504
5. Bobby Fong (Yamaha) 1:28.522
6. Jason DiSalvo (Triumph) 1:28.635
7. Benny Solis (Yamaha) 1:29.296
8. Huntley Nash (Yamaha) 1:29.768
9. Jake Zemke (Ducati) 1:29.778
10. Cory West (Suzuki) 1:29.787