Phillip Island friday times

Jakub Smrz was the surprise fastest rider in the first qualifying session of the FIM World Superbike Championship season at Phillip Island.

The Czech rider set the best time of one minute 32.312 seconds around the Australian circuit on the Guandalini Ducati.

Ducati Xerox rider Nori Haga was second fastest ahead of Leon Haslam on the Stiggy Racing Honda and Suzuki Alstare pair Max Neukirchner and Yukio Kagayama.

Aprilia's Shinya Nakano, Ducati's Michel Fabrizio, Yamaha's Ben Spies and team-mate Tom Sykes and Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari completed the top 10.

Smrz said: "For me, Phillip Island is almost the best circuit in the world.

"It is easy for me to make a good lap here.

"The bike is a good bike and 95% similar to last year's so I have been able to get on the pace very quickly.

"I have a lot of confidence with the tyre, even in these hot conditions."

Kiyonari and Troy Corser were among the fallers on the opening day of the season but both escaped without serious injury.

Shane Byrne, who was quickest at the Portimao pre-season test, recovered from a fall but could only post the 15th best time.

Leading positions after 1st Qualifying: 1 Jakub Smrz (Cze) Ducati 1min 32.312secs, 2 Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Ducati 1:32.569, 3 Leon Haslam (Gbr) Honda 1:32.623, 4 Max Neukirchner (Ger) Suzuki 1:32.673, 5 Yukio Kagayama (Jpn) Suzuki 1:32.704, 6 Shinya Nakano (Jpn) Aprilia 1:32.928, 7 Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati 1:32.932, 8 Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 1:32.939, 9 Tom Sykes (Gbr) Yamaha 1:32.971, 10 Ryuichi Kiyonari (Jpn) Honda 1:32.991, 11 Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia 1:32.995, 12 Regis Laconi (Fra) Ducati 1:33.202, 13 Roberto Rolfo (Ita) Honda 1:33.206, 14 Carlos Checa (Spa) Honda 1:33.224, 15 Shane Byrne (Gbr) Ducati 1:33.317



Not to bad i reckon, note the lack of BMW in the top 15irate

I'm really rooting for nakano this year, ever since he crashed at 200 mph i've had nothing but respect for the guy,

amazing how theres only 1 second between the top 15, goes to show anyone can still take it.

Christ:nervous ALL TOP 14 riders timed within 1 second of each other.

It is going to be the closest season for a long time i think.

I'm beginning to think maybe Shinya will outshine Max on the RSV4 this year:devious

Although Max will have more experience & knowledge of the tracks than Shinya.

Should be a great development year for the Aprilia Racing RSV4 Team.:devious


So

Who will win this weekend eh?

I go for Ruben & Troy 1st & 2nd...... NOT....lol.:laugh

No actually something like this i think,
Race 1
1st Nori Haga
2nd Shinya Nakano
3rd Max Neukirchner

Race 2
1st Haga
2nd Fabrizio
3rd Haslam or Byrne:thumbup i hope....

I'm putting my neck on the line even B4 Superpole here.

knew the R1 would be fast, Spies takes pole, Biaggi 2nd, Rea 3rd, cant wait for the races now.

Will be a very good race Corser did not seem to understand QUALIFYING should have been there:confused