Smrz (Ducati) steals top spot at Phillip Island Friday QP, Triumph strong in WSS
In the first qualifying session of the 2009 WSBK season at Phillip Island, Australia, it was Czech rider Jkub Smrz from team Guandalini Ducati, that took the top spot with a dashing last-minute flyer. Nitro Nori Haga had put himself on top of the table seconds earlier, but was relegated to second by Smrz’s surprise lap.
A good spread of bikes filled out the top 10, wth Ducatis 1st, 2nd and 7th, Leon Haslam’s Honda in 3rd, Suzukis in 4th and 5th, Team Yamaha coming in 8th and 9th, and a surprise Aprilia in 6th spot, piloted by Shinya Nakano - showing that the Aprilia team might be getting their bike together quicker than expected.
Shane Byrne (Sterilgarda Ducati) was a notable omission from the top 10, managing to jump from outside the top 20 into 15th spot, before crashing with minutes remaining in the session.
Team BMW didn’t have much joy, with local boy Troy Corser coming in 16th and Ruben Xaus finishing 20th - after tomorrow’s final qualifying session, only the top 20 riders will be able to compete for the knockout superpole round. Max Biaggi looked strong initially on his Aprilia RSV4, but fell to 11th by the end of the session and was unable to improve on his early times.
Conditions at Phillip Island are fairly hot and muggy today, but the notoriously flighty Melbourne weather may have some surprises in store for the SBK paddock before the weekend is out.
1 Smrz Ducati 1.32.312
2 Haga Ducati 1.32.569
3 Haslam Honda
4 Neukirchner Suzuki
5 Kagayama Suzuki
6 Nakano Aprilia
7 Fabrizio Ducati
8 Spies Yamaha
9 Sykes Yamaha
10 Kiyonari Honda
11 Biaggi Aprilia
12 Laconi Ducati
13 Rolfo Honda
14 Checa C. Honda
15 Byrne Ducati
16 Corser BMW
17 Rea Honda
18 Tamada Kawasaki
19 Parkes Kawasaki
20 Xaus BMW
21 Hill Honda
22 Salom Kawasaki
23 Roberts Ducati
24 Muggeridge Suzuki
25 Scasa Kawasaki
26 Iannuzzo Honda
27 Baiocco Kawasaki
28 Badovini Kawasaki
World Supersport QP saw Australian Andrew Pitt put through the best time at his home track, followeed by fellow Honda rider Kenan Sofuoglu and Fabian Foret on his Yamaha R6.
The surprise was Garry McCoy in 4th place on his Triumph Daytona 675 - the Triumph has been the dominant road bike of the supersport class ever since its release, and it seems it might be ready to show its class in World Supersport competition. McCoy’s teammate Gianluca Nannelli came in 8th.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.