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World Superbike
WSBK: Smrz Beats Checa For MMP Pole
Jakub Smrz made it a clean sweep of qualifying this weekend at Miller Motorsports Park, edging MMP master Carlos Checa with a last-gasp effort in Superpole.
Liberty Racing Team Effenbert Ducati's Jakub Smrz (Photo: Infront Motor Sports)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: The United States round of the Superbike World Championship from Miller Motorsports Park will air on SPEED Monday, May 28 at 4:00pm ET and 7:00pm ET.
Despite controlling the top spot in both QP1 and QP2, it still felt as if Liberty Racing Team Effenbert Ducati's Jakub Smrz served up something of an upset when he eclipsed the mark of reigning Superbike World Champion Carlos Checa to claim the pole position for Monday's Memorial Day doubleheader at Miller Motorsports Park.
MMP genius Checa rode his Althea Ducati into the top spot in Superpole 1 and Superpole 2, and controlled first position in the third and final Superpole leg before the Czech rider threw down a smoking 1:47.626 on his very final lap to displace the Spaniard to second.
Kawasaki Racing Team's Tom Sykes again showed his Superpole class by claiming third, standing as the top four-cylinder pilot in the paddock, finishing just ahead of a third Ducati in the top four, this one guided by second Althea man, Davide Giugliano.
Honda World Superbike's Jonathan Rea will open Monday's races from the inside of Row 2, joined alongside by Sylvain Guintoli on yet another Ducati and the works Aprilias of Max Biaggi and Eugene Laverty.
Jakub Smrz: “I am very happy to take the pole because in all the practices we have been doing a good job and my bike has been perfectly prepared. I had a small crash in free practice but we got the bike back in time for Superpole and I am happy that we should have good pace for the races tomorrow.”
Carlos Checa: “I am quite satisfied and I think we did a good job for the race and for the qualifying as well. Smrz was very fast because I expected to take pole position but at the end he went faster and congratulations to him. We got a start on the front row, I feel quite comfortable and I think the sun will arrive. We have had many wet races and sessions this year and this track is pretty nice in the dry, so hopefully tomorrow it will be good weather.”
Tom Sykes: “I’m surprised to be on the front row because we have been struggling here at Miller. Once again the guys have done a great job because we changed something for Superpole to try and make something happen and fair play to the Kawasaki team because on the first lap on a race tyre I knew we had a lot better package.”
Davide Giugliano: “It’s my first time here and when I arrived at Miller, I went around in the car and could immediately see it was a great circuit for me and I really like it. So far the bike has never been as good as it was today but as long as it goes like this, then things are looking good.”
Superpole Results
1. Smrz (Duc) 1:47.626
2. Checa (Duc) 1:47.810
3. Sykes (Kaw) 1:48.062
4. Giugliano (Duc) 1:48.220
5. Rea (Honda) 1:48.563
6. Guintoli (Duc) 1:48.568
7. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1:48.794
8. Laverty (Aprilia) - no time in SP3
9. Melandri (BMW)
10. Fabrizio (BMW)
11. Davies (Aprilia)
12. Zanetti (Duc)
13. Haslam (BMW)
14. Berger (Duc)
15. Canepa (Duc)
16. Hopkins (Suz)
Despite controlling the top spot in both QP1 and QP2, it still felt as if Liberty Racing Team Effenbert Ducati's Jakub Smrz served up something of an upset when he eclipsed the mark of reigning Superbike World Champion Carlos Checa to claim the pole position for Monday's Memorial Day doubleheader at Miller Motorsports Park.
MMP genius Checa rode his Althea Ducati into the top spot in Superpole 1 and Superpole 2, and controlled first position in the third and final Superpole leg before the Czech rider threw down a smoking 1:47.626 on his very final lap to displace the Spaniard to second.
Kawasaki Racing Team's Tom Sykes again showed his Superpole class by claiming third, standing as the top four-cylinder pilot in the paddock, finishing just ahead of a third Ducati in the top four, this one guided by second Althea man, Davide Giugliano.
Honda World Superbike's Jonathan Rea will open Monday's races from the inside of Row 2, joined alongside by Sylvain Guintoli on yet another Ducati and the works Aprilias of Max Biaggi and Eugene Laverty.
Jakub Smrz: “I am very happy to take the pole because in all the practices we have been doing a good job and my bike has been perfectly prepared. I had a small crash in free practice but we got the bike back in time for Superpole and I am happy that we should have good pace for the races tomorrow.”
Carlos Checa: “I am quite satisfied and I think we did a good job for the race and for the qualifying as well. Smrz was very fast because I expected to take pole position but at the end he went faster and congratulations to him. We got a start on the front row, I feel quite comfortable and I think the sun will arrive. We have had many wet races and sessions this year and this track is pretty nice in the dry, so hopefully tomorrow it will be good weather.”
Tom Sykes: “I’m surprised to be on the front row because we have been struggling here at Miller. Once again the guys have done a great job because we changed something for Superpole to try and make something happen and fair play to the Kawasaki team because on the first lap on a race tyre I knew we had a lot better package.”
Davide Giugliano: “It’s my first time here and when I arrived at Miller, I went around in the car and could immediately see it was a great circuit for me and I really like it. So far the bike has never been as good as it was today but as long as it goes like this, then things are looking good.”
Superpole Results
1. Smrz (Duc) 1:47.626
2. Checa (Duc) 1:47.810
3. Sykes (Kaw) 1:48.062
4. Giugliano (Duc) 1:48.220
5. Rea (Honda) 1:48.563
6. Guintoli (Duc) 1:48.568
7. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1:48.794
8. Laverty (Aprilia) - no time in SP3
9. Melandri (BMW)
10. Fabrizio (BMW)
11. Davies (Aprilia)
12. Zanetti (Duc)
13. Haslam (BMW)
14. Berger (Duc)
15. Canepa (Duc)
16. Hopkins (Suz)
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