Team Guandalini Racing - Stati Uniti – Miller Motorsports Park - Superpole - 30 April 2009
Jakub Smrz got off to a great start for Team Guandalini on Saturday morning riding his Ducati 1198. With a wonderful Qualifying Practice time on the second run, that put him just behind rider Michel Fabrizio by only 125 thousandths of a second. Gregorio, thanks to his placing in 17th also had a fight for the superpole Sessions.
During the first mini-session of superpole, the expert rider by Terragona was able to cut down his time more than 2 tenth of second the time obtained in the morning, but this was not enough to allow him to move to the next round. Gregorio with 17th time will start first of 5th row. As with the first two days of racing, Jakub Smrz showed that he is one of the best riders in the World Superbike Championship by managing great qualifying sessions and superpole. Third in the first mini-session and fourth in second only minor drops of rain hampered the search of absolute performance. The fifth time he obtained landed him immediately behind Michel Fabrizio which gave him the first position of the second row. On starting grid we find on first position Ben Spies (Yamaha), which precedes the two riders Honda, Checa and Kiyonari, and Michel Fabrizio.
“This morning went really well and bike two felt good. I improved my laptime from yesterday and finished second in qualifying. Superpole 1 and 2 went easy for me but the last session it started to sprinkle. On my first lap the rain got heavier so I didn't do that as fast as I could and finished 5th. I am happy about the last two days because we're consistant in the front but little bit sad about superpole. I am sure I could have done much better. Anyway it's a good starting position for tommorow!”
Jakub Smrz