WSBK 2nd Qualfying Session - Smyrz and Biaggi Tie for First

Up until the second qualifying at Portimao, Portugal, the top three spots on this years World Superbike time sheet have typically been guarded by Leon Haslam, Michele Fabrizio, and Carlos Checa. But today, two new riders rose to the top of the list with identical lap times. Jakub Smyrz (Pata B&G Racing Ducati) and Max Biaggio (Aprilia Alitalia) both set a 1’43.003 time. Smryz gets the top spot for the day because he set his time first.

Behind Smryz and Biaggi came the usual suspects in rapid succession. From third place to sixth place there was only a tenth of a second difference. Michelle Fabrizio claimed third just .007 seconds behind Biaggi, and Haslam came in at fourth just .007 seconds behind Fabrizio.

Jonathan Rea and Carlos Checa finished just inches behind in fifth and sixth respectively.

The race for the pole position will be tight as almost all of the top riders showed improved speed around the Portimao track.

All 7 manufacturers made it into the top ten with James Toseland coming in at 7th on a Yamaha, Tom Sykes riding into ninth with Kawasaki, and Shane Byrne bringing his BMW along into tenth place.

Sheridan Morais, Matteo Baiocco, Vittorio Iannuzzo and Roger Lee Hayden failed to qualify.

1 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'43.003
2 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'43.003
3 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'43.010
4 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'43.037
5 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'43.053
6 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'43.115
7 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'43.320
8 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'43.418
9 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'43.485
10 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'43.491
11 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'43.588
12 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'43.589
13 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'43.589
14 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'43.616
15 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1'44.037
16 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.212
17 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'44.249
18 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1'44.272
19 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'44.553
20 49 Tamada M. (JPN) BMW S1000 RR 1'45.044
21 32 Morais S. (RSA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.520
22 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'45.610
23 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'45.795
24 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'45.799