Ducati 1-2-3 on opening day of Phillip Island Test session
World Superbike’s Carlos Checa eclipses current lap record in Phillip Island test spree
Spain’s Carlos Checa has sent out an ominous warning to his 2011 world Superbike rivals by setting a scorching sub-lap record time at Phillip Island this afternoon, as final testing preparations continue for this weekend’s season-opening round.
Checa, the reigning world No 3 and Ducati’s main hope for championship success in 2011, blazed around the grand prix circuit in a best lap of 1min31.383secs, well under Australia Troy Corser’s existing lap record.
Checa, who shared wins at Phillip Island in 2010 with Leon Haslam, was just under one second faster than this morning’s pacesetter Sylvain Guintoli, with the top five completed by Jakub Smrz, world champion Max Biaggi and Michel Fabrizio.
For the Australian contingent, now pruned back to four with the official withdrawal of Chris Vermeulen, Mildura’s Josh Waters was the fastest in 12th position, upstaging two-time world champion Corser in 14th, Bryan Staring in 19th and Mark Aitchison in 22nd.
Waters and Staring, who won the Australian Superbike titles in 2009 and 2010 respectively, both have one-off wildcard rides at Phillip Island this weekend.
Meanwhile, Vermeulen has decided to maintain a cautious approach with his recovery from major knee surgery, and is eyeing a return to racing at the second round of the championship in late March.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s Broc Parkes was third overall in combined times after today’s two world Supersport sessions, behind Fabien Foret and his team-mate David Salom.
The final pre-season test continues tomorrow with two sessions apiece for the world Superbike and Supersport riders.
1 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1’31.383
2 Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’32.303
3 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1’32.316
4 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’32.383
5 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’32.453
6 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’32.466
7 Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 1’32.474
8 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’32.532
9 Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1’32.578
10 Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF R1 1’32.600
11 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’32.940
12 Waters J. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’33.140
13 Xaus R. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1’33.165
14 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1’33.255
15 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’33.560
16 Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1’33.786
17 Toseland J. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1’33.829
18 Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1’33.909
19 Staring B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’34.047
20 Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1’34.686
21 Rolfo R. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’34.821
22 Aitchison M. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’35.306
23 Yanagawa A. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’35.470
Supersport Times
1 Foret F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’34.117
2 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’35.042
3 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’35.195
4 Lowes S. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’36.110
5 Scassa L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’36.358
6 Dell’Omo D. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1’36.497
7 Szkopek P. (POL) Honda CBR600RR 1’36.624
8 Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’36.705
9 Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1’36.735
10 Roccoli M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’36.884
11 Davies C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1’36.972
12 Ivanov V. (UKR) Honda CBR600RR 1’36.996
13 Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.011
14 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.088
15 Ellison J. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.240
16 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1’37.391
17 Quarmby R. (RSA) Triumph Daytona 675 1’37.583
18 Pirotta M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1’38.869
19 Toth I. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR 1’39.042
20 Nemeth B. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR 1’39.053
21 Chesaux B. (SUI) Honda CBR600RR 1’39.402
22 Jezek O. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR 1’39.902
23 Jerman M. (SLO) Triumph Daytona 675 1’40.384
24 Marconi L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1’41.391
25 Lundh A. (SWE) Honda CBR600RR 1’42.541
