Carlos Checa earned the top spot on the World Superbike grid after two fast qualifying rounds at Phillip Island, but didn’t manage to reach the podium at the end of Race 1. Instead, Checa and Althea Racing claimed the seventh spot.
Race 2 didn’t look much better as Checa faltered at the beginning of the race and dropped down toward the back of the pack. The veteran racer slowly made up ground, and by the final lap Checa was nipping at the heels of Leon Haslam, the race one winner.
“By the last lap I was up in second and I could finally get pass Haslam. I wanted to pass him earlier but it was impossible,” said Checa. “He didn't leave me space to pass until the very end.”
Checa (Ducati) maneuvered his way passed Leon Haslam (Yamaha) and managed to edge out the victory by 0.307 seconds. It was a good day for Checa but an historic day for his team, Althea Racing. Up until this weekend Althea racing had never placed above eighth place at the WSBK level.
“I am of course extremely happy with the result, it is my first race with the Althea team 
and on the Ducati 1198 and we have a good package with which to fight this season,” said Checa. “My thanks go to the entire team for their hard work and dedication.”
The victory is Checa’s third in WSBK. His last win was in 2008 at Miller Motorsports Park where he won both race one and two.
Race 2 Results
1. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1198 34mins 16.428secs 22 laps
2. Leon Haslam GBR Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +0.307s
3. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1198 +0.434s
4. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +0.837s
5. Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1198 +3.453s
6. Jonathan Rea GBR Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +11.530s
7. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR +12.068s
8. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +13.782s
9. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 +14.401s
10. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 +14.707s
11. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +14.743s
12. Shane Byrne GBR Althea Ducati 1198 +14.851s
13. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA DFX Ducati 1198 +15.143s
14. Joshua Brookes AUS Echo-CRS Honda CBR1000RR +30.947s
15. Andrew Pitt AUS Reitwagen BMW S1000RR +41.866s
16. Max Neukirchner GER Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +48.844s
17. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA SCI Honda CBR1000RR +1min 06.888s
18. Roger Lee Hayden USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +1min 07.761s
Not Classified
19. Matteo Baiocco ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 17 laps completed
20. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R 13 laps completed
21. Chris Vermeulen AUS Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R 7 laps completed
22. Jakub Smrz CZE PATA B&G Racing Ducati 1198 6 laps completed
Did Not Start
Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad S1000RR
Roland Resch AUT Reitwagen BMW S1000RR
