Smrz stuns to break Spies pole run
We recenlty found this image of Jakub a week ago getting the congrats from a few of his crew mates on that spectacular run at Misano when he became the first person, other than Ben Spies, to score an SBK pole position in 2009. Our own Brian Sharp was there to give him a pat on the back for a job well done as well.
Jakub Smrz became the first person, other than Ben Spies, to score a World Superbike Championship pole position in 2009 after a stunning performance during Superpole at Misano.
Ending Spies' record-breaking run of seven consecutive pole positions, Smrz's effort of 1min 35.434secs was enough to see off pre-Superpole favourites Spies and Jonathan Rea by a comfortable margin.
Both his and the privateer Guandalini Ducati team's first ever pole position in World Superbikes, Smrz will start ahead of Rea, Spies and Michel Fabrizio.
Having struggled with set-up problems throughout day one, Smrz shrugged off his provisional 13th place qualifying position to ease into the top eight shootout, his first effort proving enough to get him through without requiring the use of another qualifying tyre.
It meant he was able to tackle Fabrizio and Spies, who traded quick times in the early stages of the session, his second effort, which included an outstanding final sector time, pushing him ahead of Spies and into pole position with around five minutes remaining.
Rea followed on the road, but while he had the edge on Smrz during the opening two sectors, he lost out during the final phase to slot in some two tenths adrift of the Ducati.
Spies, meanwhile, couldn't make progress beyond third and was then left without enough time to re-enter the pit lane, take on new tyres and get back around before the chequered flag was deployed for the end of the session.
Cueing jubilant scenes in the Pierfrancesco Chili managed team's garage, while this marks Smrz's fourth front row start of the season, this is the first time the former grand prix racer has climbed onto the top spot.