Checa rules on first day at Miller

From the WSBK Pressoffice

Carlos Checa continued his brilliant first day form on the Althea Racing Ducati machine in World Superbike Championship action at Miller Motorsports Park on Saturday, the points leader and fastest rider in the first free session blasting his way to a time of 1 minute, 48.260 seconds and provisional pole.

With a few drops of rain appearing towards the end of the session, but not sufficient to disturb normal proceedings, the time that Checa set in the early phase was a full eight-tenths of a second clear of the one recorded by the next man, Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia). The young Brit was competitive enough to end the session just ahead of his team-mate and last year's double winner at Miller, Max Biaggi.

Kawasaki Racing Team's Tom Sykes put together a quick lap to earn the final place on the provisional front row, just a tenth behind Biaggi. With the possibility of rain looming for the second day of action the top riders were keen to get a fast lap in on day one to ensure qualification into the Tissot Superpole contest.

Other riders who featured well up in the one-hour session were Aussie Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) in fifth, followed by Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda), Jakub Smrz (Effenbert-Liberty Ducati) and Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike), who make up the provisional second row.

Michel Fabrizio, who is suffering from a heavy bout of flu, was next up in ninth for Suzuki Alstare, with Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK) completing the top 10.

Wildcard rider Josh Waters took his Yoshimura Suzuki to a fine 15th place, one up on Corser’s team-mate Leon Haslam.

First time Miller man Marco Melandri was 12th on his Yamaha World Superbike machine.

Outside the top 16 for the moment are Spain's Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) and the still convalescing James Toseland (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK) in 17th and 18th places, respectively.

Superbike Qualifying Times
1. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1:48.260
2. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:49.055
3. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:49.306
4. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:49.432
5. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000RR 1:49.552
6. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:49.621
7. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1:49.683
8. Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:49.708
9. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:49.855
10. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000RR 1:49.881
11. Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:49.938
12. Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:50.136
13. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1:50.140
14. Xaus R. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1:50.149
15. Waters J. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:50.153
16. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000RR 1:50.159
Etc.