Brno World Superbikes: Surprise package Smrz fastest in free practice

Local hero Jacob Smrz fired his Guandalini Ducati to the fastest time in the opening Free Practice session ahead of established stars Max Biaggi, Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus at Brno.

Smrz has been a revelation in 2008 since jumping onboard the 1200 Ducati and although he is yet to back up his qualifying performances with an actual race result has been tipped by many including factory Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi to climb on the podium before the year is out.

Biaggi continued his love affair with the Brno circuit and also benefited from a two day test four weeks ago to take second spot. Troy Corser continued his resurgence onboard his Yamaha Italia R1 to secure third.

Ruben Xaus is another man to have already tested at the resurfaced track and he used his previous knowledge to secure the fourth fastest time onboard his Sterilgarda Ducati making it three Ducati’s in the top four.

Spaniard Fonsi Nieto was the first of the Alstare Suzuki’s in fifth with team-mate Max Neukirchner sixth.

Factory Ducati men Michel Fabrizio and Troy Bayliss had to settle for seventh and eigtht places respectively, with Bayliss nearly a full second off the pace of Smrz.

 

1 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’00.233

2 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’00.623

3 11 T. CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 2’00.792

4 111 R. XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’00.796

5 10 F. NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 2’00.899

6 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 2’00.928

7 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 2’00.997

8 21 T. BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 2’01.013

9 23 R. KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 2’01.051

10 59 N. CANEPA ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 2’01.348

11 41 N. HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 2’01.351

12 34 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 2’01.514

13 57 L. LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 2’01.572

14 7 C. CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 2’01.656

15 44 R. ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR 2’01.957

16 31 K. MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 2’02.122

17 36 G. LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 2’02.202

18 38 S. NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 2’02.337

19 55 R. LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’02.391

20 86 A. BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’02.464

21 94 D. CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 2’03.074

22 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr. Honda CBR1000RR 2’03.238

23 13 V. IANNUZZO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’03.299

24 88 S. AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 2’03.535

25 100 M.TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 2’03.757

26 194 S. GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R1 2’03.808

27 43 J. PRIDMORE USA Alto Evolution Honda Superbike Honda CBR1000RR 2’04.712

28 113 J. DRASDAK CZE D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 2’05.643

29 73 C. ZAISER AUT Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 2’05.907

30 15 M. CIHAK CZE ProRace Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 2’06.728