PODIUM POSSIBILITIES FOR CARDENAS IN ALABAMA FORMULA XTREME

Team M4 EMGO Suzuki got off to a quick start on the opening day of the second round of the 2008 AMA roadracing championships at Barber Motorsports Park, placing a rider in the top five in all three of their classes.

Martin Cardenas qualified for Saturday's 17-lap Formula Xtreme race on Friday afternoon, posting a 1:27.300 lap around the scenic Alabama circuit. The Colombian's time was the fifth best in the session, earning him a starting position on the inside of the second row aboard his Pirelli-shod GSX-R600.

"I think we have a possibility of getting on the podium," Cardenas said. "We had a good rhythm today and we'll see how it goes tomorrow. It was a good session but I wanted to be on the first row and we were close, qualifying fifth. I think we have decided on a tire for tomorrow, and I believe it's going to work well for the race."

Blake Young entered the weekend with all eyes upon him following his podium-winning Daytona performance. The Wisconsin resident looked strong again today, laying down the fifth fastest times in both the Superstock and Supersport practice sessions. Young put in a 1:27.400 aboard his GSX-R1000 Superstock racer while stopping the clocks at 1:27.756 on his GSX-R600 Supersport machine.

Cory West wasn't too far behind Young in the morning Supersport session, also breaking into the top 10. West ranked eighth aboard his GSX-R600 with a fast lap of 1:28.176.

Meanwhile, Cardenas was 12th in Supersport with a time of 1:28.502.

On Saturday Team M4 EMGO Suzuki will qualify for Sunday's 60k Superstock and Supersport races before concluding the day with the Formula Xtreme race.

From Team M4 EMGO Suzuki