Carlos Checa was quickest in first qualifying for this weekend's opening round of the FIM Superbike World Championship in Australia.
Spaniard sets the early pace Down Under
Spain's Carlos Checa was quickest in first qualifying for this weekend's opening round of the FIM Superbike World Championship at Australia's Phillip Island circuit.
The Althea Racing rider lapped the 2.76-mile track in one minute 32.155 seconds to stand just seven-thousandths of a second ahead of Ducati Xerox's Michel Fabrizio.
British riders Leon Haslam, fastest in the earlier free practice session, and Shane Byrne, who is Checa's team-mate at the satellite Ducati outfit, were third and fourth fastest respectively.
Both Checa and Fabrizio suffered falls during the course of the day, however, with hotter track temperatures than those experienced during last week's test causing problems.
"I had a fall, losing the front, but without causing myself, or my bike, too much damage fortunately," Fabrizio explained.
"During my fast lap I lost a couple of tenths through the last corner but I'm happy; we've worked well and I'm satisfied with the results."
Suzuki rider Haslam was just two-tenths shy of Fabrizio, while Byrne threatened to go even better than his fourth best before also suffering a fall late in the session.
Noriyuki Haga was fifth on the second factory Ducati while Aprilia rider Max Biaggi took sixth.
Jonathan Rea was seventh fastest for Ten Kate Honda ahead of Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki) and Jakub Smrz (Ducati).
Cal Crutchlow completed the top 10 for Yamaha but team-mate and double World Champion James Toseland, making his return to the series after two years in MotoGP, could only go 13th quickest after suffering a fall.
