Is it the tires or the riders? That has to be the issue after AMA Superbike riders dramatically out-qualified the WSB riders today at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. Clocking a 1:24.9, the AMA’s Ben Bostrom (aboard a Honda CBR1000RR) recorded a pole position lap nearly two full seconds faster than the quickest lap recorded during the final qualifying (not including the single-lap Superpole) for the WSB races, a 1:26.8 recorded by Pierfrancesco Chili (aboard a Ducati). Steve Martin (also aboard a Ducati) took WSB Superpole with a lap more than two seconds slower than Ben Bostrom’s AMA pole. Indeed, six AMA superbike racers (including one privateer — Josh Hayes, aboard a Kawasaki) qualified quicker than Chili.
Most of the AMA Riders use Dunlop tires, while the WSB riders use Pirellis.
