WSBK: Checa Fastest at First Day of Phillip Island Testing

Carlos Checa was fastest overall during World Superbike testing Monday at Phillip Island, nearly a second faster than anyone else during the dry running in the afternoon. Monday was a quick day for Ducatis, as Sylvain Guintoli led the morning session and was second fastest overall, while Jakub Smrz was third fastest of the day. Reigning champion Max Biaggi was fourth fastest, with Michel Fabrizio fifth overall. Notably absent was Christopher Vermeulen who will not ride during the test or his home race this weekend, and has been replaced by Akira Yanagawa at the factory Kawasaki team.

Guintoli’s fastest time in the morning was marred by a crash after the checkered flag, while Rea, Smrz, Fabrizio, and Lascorz completed the fastest five in the changeable conditions. Both Biaggi and Leon Camier sat out the morning session, the factory Aprilia team citing the damp conditions for remaining in the garage. Times in the afternoon dropped quickly at the end of the session on the dry track, and were the fastest of the day for the entire field. Testing continues Tuesday.

Combined Times for Phillip Island Test, Monday:

Pos.	No.	Rider	Team	Best Time	Laps
1.	7	Carlos Checa	Althea Racing	1:31.383	98
2.	50	Sylvain Guintoli	Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing	1:32.303	85
3.	96	Jakub Smrz	Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing	1:32.316	92
4.	1	Max Biaggi	Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team	1:32.383	38
5.	84	Michel Fabrizio	Team Suzuki Alstare	1:32.453	112
6.	66	Tom Sykes	Paul Bird Kawasaki Racing	1:32.466	79
7.	33	Marco Melandri	Yamaha WSBK Team	1:32.474	97
8.	4	Jonathan Rea	Castrol Honda	1:32.532	81
9.	91	Leon Haslam	BMW Motorrad Motorsport	1:32.578	92
10.	58	Eugene Laverty	Yamaha WSBK Team	1:32.600	96
11.	17	Joan Lascorz	Paul Bird Kawasaki Racing	1:32.940	102
12.	12	Josh Waters	Yoshimura Suzuki	1:33.140	103
13.	111	Ruben Xaus	Castrol Honda	1:33.165	84
14.	11	Troy Corser	BMW Motorrad Motorsport	1:33.255	81
15.	91	Leon Camier	Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team	1:33.560	29
16.	41	Noriyuki Haga	PATA Racing Aprilia	1:33.786	77
17.	52	James Toseland	BMW Motorrad Italia SBK	1:33.829	98
18.	121	Maxime Berger	Supersonic Racing	1:33.909	102
19.	67	Bryan Staring	Team Pedercini	1:34.047	78
20.	86	Ayrton Badovini	BMW Motorrad Italia SBK	1:34.686	81
21.	44	Roberto Rolfo	Team Pedercini	1:34.821	84
22.	8	Mark Aitchison	Team Pedercini	1:35.306	65
23.	6	Akira Yanagawa	Paul Bird Kawasaki Racing	1:35.470	72