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WSBK: Dry Conditions Prevail for Cold Qualifying at MMP

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Encircled by the gorgeous Wasatch and Oquirrh mountain ranges, Miller Motorsports Park has some of the most dramatic backdrops out of all the World Superbike venues, though coupled with the track’s 4,000+ foot elevation, the weather can be wet and cold at times. Such words were probably an understatement for the conditions on Sunday, as frigid temperatures and rain prevailed in the day’s earlier sessions. Realizing that some Superpole qualifying was scheduled for later though, the weather gods appeased the American crowd, who had been braving the conditions, and quickly dried the track for World Superbike qualifying.

Down on power at the very fast track, the Ducatis of Smrz and Checa surprised everyone with their dominance on the time sheets. Of course, Tom Sykes could not be counted out from the qualifying fun, as the Englishman has taken four of the past five pole positions. One of only two stops on the WSBK calendar that is outside of Europe, American fans were treated on this Memorial Day weekend to some fine qualifying, which included some upsets. Results after the jump.

Superpole Results from World Superbike at Miller Motorsports Park, USA:

Pos. Rider Team Bike Time Diff.
1 Jakub Smrz Liberty Racing Team Effenbert Ducati 1098R 1’47.626
2 Carlos Checa Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’47.810 0.184
3 Tom Sykes Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’48.062 0.436
4 Davide Giugliano Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 1’48.220 0.594
5 Jonathan Rea Honda World Superbike Team Honda CBR1000RR 1’48.563 0.937
6 Sylvain Guintoli Team Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati 1098R 1’48.568 0.942
7 Max Biaggi Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’48.794 1.168
8 Eugene Laverty Aprilia Racing Team Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’48.354 0.728
Out After Superpole 2
9 Marco Melandri BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’48.422 0.796
10 Michel Fabrizio BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet BMW S1000 RR 1’48.566 0.94
11 Chaz Davies ParkinGO MTC Racing Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’48.669 1.043
12 Lorenzo Zanetti PATA Racing Team Ducati 1098R 1’49.929 2.303
Out After Superpole 1
13 Leon Haslam BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 1’49.552 1.926
14 Maxime Berger Team Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati 1098R 1’49.750 2.124
15 Niccoló Canepa Red Devils Roma Ducati 1098R 1’49.818 2.192
16 John Hopkins FIXI Crescent Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’49.966 2.340
Not Qualified for Superpole
17 Loris Baz Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’50.424 2.798
18 Ayrton Badovini BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet BMW S1000 RR 1’50.427 2.801
19 David Salom Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’50.504 2.878
20 Leon Camier FIXI Crescent Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’50.520 2.894
21 Hiroshi Aoyama Honda World Superbike Team Honda CBR1000RR 1’50.963 3.337
22 Leandro Mercado Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’51.843 4.217
23 Jake Holden Grillini Progea Superbike Team BMW S1000 RR 1’52.108 4.482
24 Shane Turpin Boulder Motor Sports Ducati 1098R 1’54.399 6.773

Source: WSBK; Photo: © 2012 Rick Grayston – All Rights Reserved

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