Honda Fills Top 3 Spots At Daytona Superbike Qualifying

AMA / Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship: Daytona Beach, FL, Road
Race Qualifying, Thursday, March 7

Pro Honda Oils 600cc Supersport Qualifying
      Honda Racing's Nicky Hayden claimed top honors in 600cc Supersport
qualifying. Hayden roared his Factory Honda CBR600F4i into the lead with an
official     qualifying time of 1:53.351.

   "I need to get into the lead group of riders right off the start and
just make sure that no one gets away," said Nicky Hayden. "There is such a
draft here at Daytona       and you don't want to get out of it."

   Honda Racing's Miguel Duhamel  finished 4th with a time of 1:53.446.
Duhamel is the most successful 600cc Supersport rider in AMA history.

   "The front row is going to be good," said Miguel Duhamel. "There will
probably be ten to twelve guys up there battling for the lead, and I plan
on being one of them."

   Honda supported Erion Racing's Kurtis Roberts finished his qualifying
with a 6th place overall position. Roberts time was 1:53.82 . Bruce
Transportation Group's
   Roger Lee Hayden rounded out the top ten with a time of 1:51.191.


   Daytona 600cc Supersport Qualifying
   1. Nicky Hayden - Honda
   2. Tommy Hayden - Kawasaki
   3. Damon Buckmaster - Yamaha
   4. Miguel Duhamel - Honda
   6. Kurtis Roberts - Honda
   10. Roger Lee Hayden - Honda
   12. Mike Hale - Honda
   13.Jake Zemke - Honda
   23. Alex Gobert - Honda

   Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying
   Honda Racing's Nicky Hayden backed up his performance in 600cc
Supersport qualifying by setting a new track record with a qualifying time
of 1:47.174. Hayden    just edged out teammate Miguel Duhamel who turned a
blistering time of 1:47.259. Duhamel, late in his qualifying session,
surpassed Erion/Honda Racing's   Kurtis Roberts who qualified 3rd for the
day with a time of 1:47.527.

"The RC-51 is working great," said Duhamel. "My Honda power showed after
the chicane, and I feel that I can do a 1:46 out there."

Nicky Hayden crashed with a few laps to go in his qualifying session and
was taken to the infield medical center for review. Hayden was released and
will return for Friday's 600cc Supersport race.


Daytona Superbike Qualifying, Front Row:
1. Nicky Hayden - Honda
2. Miguel Duhamel - Honda
3. Kurtis Roberts - Honda
4. Anthony Gobert - Yamaha