Smrz shocks with fastest time in Q1

World Superbikes, Phillip Island

JAKUB Smrz scorched to the top of the timesheets in Friday's first qualifying session at Phillip Island, Australia.

The 25-year-old Czech rider was the fastest man around the 4.445km track, with a hotlap of 1:32.312 onboard the Guandalini Ducati.

Smrz just inched out factory Ducati Xerox pilot Noriyuki Haga, while Brit favourite Leon Haslam announced his return to the international championship by finishing the day third on his Stiggy Racing Honda.

"For me, Phillip Island is almost the best circuit in the world.  It is easy for me to make a good lap here," said Smrz.

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

The grid for Sunday's race will be determined tomorrow with a new Superpole formula, which will see the top 20 riders battle it out in a knock-out over three 12-minutes sessions.

The track claimed several fallers including reigning British champion Shakey Byrne, Ryuichi Kiyonari, Troy Corser, David Salon and Luca Scassa but there were no serious injuries.

1. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'32.312;
2. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'32.569;
3. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.623;
4. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'32.673;
5. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'32.704;
6. Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 1'32.928;
7. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'32.932; 8. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'32.939; 9. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'32.971;
10. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'32.991;
11. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1'32.995;
12. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098 RS 09 1'33.202;
13. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'33.206;
14. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'33.224;
15. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'33.317;
16. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'33.377;