For the last week, Carlos Checa has been absolutely dominant at Phillip Island. Checa was at the top of the timesheets during the final pre-season World Superbike test, he led the free practice session and claimed the provisional pole yesterday. Today Checa set a record breaking lap to claim the first superpole trophy of the season.
Carlos Checa set a 1'30.882 lap time around the Phillip Island track. But despite Checa's record setting time, Max Biaggi was still ale to finish within .013 seconds.
Biaggi has been setting respectable, but not impressive, lap times so far at Phillip Island. But today the returning World Superbike Champion threw down the gauntlet, and there is sure tobe a showdown between Biaggi and Checa tomorrow.
A second Ducati claimed the third place position, as Sylvain Guintoli gave the Effenbert / Liberty Racing team an impressive World Superbike debut.
Leon Haslam, took fourth aboard his BMW, and Eugene Laverty finished in fifth place about his Yamaha.
The World Superbike riders will face off for the first time tomorrow as the 2011 World Superbike season gets underway. Last year at Phillip Island, Haslam and Checa were able to take home victories.
Will 2011 see two riders taking home victories? Or will Checa be able to start the season off with a double?
2011 World Superbike - Superpole
- Carlos Checa - (Althea Racing) - 1'30.882
- Max Biaggi -(Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) - 1'30.895
- Sylvain Guintoli - (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) - 1'31.293
- Leon Haslam - (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) - 1'31.429
- Eugene Laverty - (Yamaha World Superbike Team) - 1'31.858
- Jakub Smrz - (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) - 1'31.980
- Troy Corser - (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) - 1'32.182
- Marco Melandri - (Yamaha World Superbike Team) - 1'32.662
- Michel Fabrizio - (Team Suzuki Alstare) - 1'32.153
