Checa blitzes race one at Phillip Island

Ducati rider Carlos Checa has scored a crushing win in the opening world superbike race at Phillip Island this afternoon.

The Spanish polesitter led for 19 of the 22 laps around the 4.445km grand prix circuit, crossing the chequered flag 4.365 seconds clear of Aprilia’s world champion Max Biaggi, with BMW rider Leon Haslam making it three different brands on the podium.

It was the 38-year-old Checa’s sixth world superbike win, and his second at Phillip Island.

“I feel great on the Ducati around here, and I knew at the start I could push hard if it was a dry race,” said Checa. “I just kept up my concentration and pushed as hard as I could.

“Only in the last few laps did I start to relax a bit once I knew everything was in control.

“Now I’ve got to try and do it all again this afternoon.”

Behind Haslam, who scored BMW’s first ever podium finish at Phillip Island, Northern Ireland’s Eugene Laverty just edged out Yamaha team-mate Marco Melandri in a thrilling drag to the finish line, with the top eight completed by Suzuki’s Michel Fabrizio, slow-starting Czech rider Jakub Smrz on a Ducati and Briton Tom Sykes on the all-new Kawasaki.

Wollongong’s Troy Corser circulated as high as fifth on his factory BMW, before gradually slipping back through the field to finish in 10th.

Perth’s Bryan Staring was 15th on his Kawasaki, while Mildura’s Josh Waters was 18th on his Suzuki after running off the track on lap four.

The final Australian home was Gosford’s Mark Aitchison in 19th, also on a Kawasaki. There were 20 finishers, with Spain’s Joan Lascorz and highly rated Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli both crashing out.

The fastest lap was set by Biaggi with a 1:32.034, well shy of Corser’s four-year-old lap record of 1:31.826.

Race two will be held at 3:30pm this afternoon.