With new 600s from Suzuki and Honda for 2001, and an updated R6 Yamaha ready to hit showrooms, one could almost be forgiven for not thinking that the Kawasaki Zx6R could be a contender for 2001 AMA 600 Supersport duties.

Trust me, that is no longer the case.

Eric Bostrom cut a 1:53.6 lap time on the Kawasaki 600 this afternoon, a time that was caught on many stopwatches, including those of the competition.

That time is at least a full second faster than anyone else on a 600 is lapping this week, and below the standing 600 lap record for Daytona.