TOOELE VALLEY -- Jakub Smrz posted the fastest times Sunday in the Superpole sessions of the FIM Superbike World Championship at Miller Motorsports Park.
The questions remains whether the Czech Republic racer can deliver in today's final races.
After topping the time sheets in qualifying practice on Saturday, Smrz maintained his dominance on Sunday after finishing first in the Superpole qualifying sessions for the FIM Superbike World Championship, the featured race series in the BigM Weekend presented by Lucas Oil at MMP.
Riding the No. 96 Ducati 1098R for Liberty Racing Team Effenbert, Smrz took the pole for today's two races with a time of 1:47.626 around the 3.048-mile, 15-turn Outer Course.
Defending world champion Carlos Checa of Spain, who won both races at Miller Park last year and in 2008, was second-fastest on his No. 7 Althea Racing Ducati at 1:47.810. England's Tom Sykes took the third-fastest time, clocking in at 1:48.062 on the No. 66 Kawasaki ZX-10R. Rounding out the top five were Max Biaggi and Checa's teammate Davide Giugliano.
"I am very happy to take the pole," said Smrz, "because in all the practices we have been doing a good job and my bike has been perfectly prepared. I had small crash in free practice, but we got the bike back in time for Superpole and I am happy that we should have good pace for the races tomorrow."
Two-time and defending series champion Josh Hayes took pole position for today's AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Championship race, lapping his No.1 Monster Energy Graves Yahama R1 at 1:49.729, which is the fastest lap ever posted by an AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike rider on MMP's Outer Course. Blake Young took second with a time of 1:50.141.
Colombia's Martin Cardenas' return to the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike Championship after spending last season on a Superbike continues to be impressive. The 2010 series champion won his fourth race of five thus far this season on his No. 36 Geico Suzuki GSX-R600, using a last-lap, last-corner pass on Jason DiSalvo's Team Latus Motors Racing Triumph Daytona 675 to take a thrilling victory by a razor-thin 0.101sec.
Today marks the final day of the BigM Weekend, with the two feature races for the Superbike World Championship and single races for the AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike and Vance & Hines XR1200 series.
For Memorial Day weekend, America's armed forces are being featured at MMP, with a tribute field of 2,012 American flags erected in the track's infield and the Zions Bank Military Acre featuring interactive displays from all branches of the armed forces.
The United States Marine Corps color guard will present the colors during the opening ceremonies on Monday, prior to a flyover of an F-16 Fighter Jet, a combined effort by the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base.
Colonel Sarah Zabel, Commander of the 75th Air Base Wing at HAFB, will offer comments during opening ceremonies and the National Anthem will be performed by the 23rd Army Band.
All current and veteran military members are eligible for a 50-percent discount on event tickets, this weekend and every weekend.
For information about The BigM Weekend, visit www.MillerMotorsportsPark.com.
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