The Memorial Day weekend has kicked off at Miller Motorsports Park, and Jakub Smrz has found himself at the top of the World Superbike pack at the end of the first qualifying session.
The Pata B&G Ducati man set a 1'48.517 lap around the Miller Motorsports Park track, a time that beat the existing race lap record.
Michel Fabrizio, who has had an up and down season so far, proved once again that he is a contender with a close second place finish.
The two Ducati riders were followed by Yamaha as Cal Crutchlow finished in third, taking the last spot podium.
Season leader Leon Haslam took fourth, followed by two more Ducati's, Carlos Checa and Shane Byrne, who finished fifth and sixth respectively.
The top 13 riders all placed within one second of Smrz's record setting time.
The lone American, Richard Hayden, finished 18th at 1'50.806, just under two seconds behind Smrz.
World Superbike - Miller Motorsports Park - First Qualifying
1 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'48.517
2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'48.670
3 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'48.682
4 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'48.734
5 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'48.742
6 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'48.853
7 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'48.887
8 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'48.945
9 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'49.040
10 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'49.191
11 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'49.281
12 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'49.386
13 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'49.443
14 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'49.748
15 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'49.961
16 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 1'50.121
17 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'50.133
18 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'50.806
19 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1'51.074
20 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'51.122
21 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'53.724
