News

Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) set the quickest lap ever recorded around Phillip Island on a Superbike machine when he powered his Ducati 1098R to a time of 1 minute 30.882 seconds, thus grabbing the first Superpole trophy of the year.

Checa, one of last year's winners in Australia, was just a fraction ahead of Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) who put in a quick lap towards the end but who was edged off the top slot by 0.013 seconds. Sylvain Guintoli gave the Effenbert - Liberty Racing team a great championship baptism with third place on the grid, after another good run at Phillip Island for teh Frenchman.

Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad) made a great effort to take his S1000 RR machine to the fourth slot, just managing to hold off a last-minute attempt by Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team). Jakub Smrz (Effenbert - Liberty Racing) was next up followed by Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad), while Marco Melandri concluded his first Superpole with eighth place.