Superbike – Race 1 Phillip Island – Checa triumphs over Biaggi, Haslam 3rd in a tussle with Melandri and Laverty

Overcast skies, lowered temperatures and an at times damp track welcome the riders to the first starting grid of the 2011 world championship: the conditions, therefore, become considerably more complicated for the contenders to win the Australian round, first of all the poleman Carlos Checa, followed by the champion Max Biaggi in charge.

At the start of Race 1, it was the Corsaro who started very well from the second spot on the grid, but it was the debutant Eugene Laverty who surprised everyone and took first place, followed by the Spaniard from Althea Racing who took advantage of an uncertainty of Biaggi passes him. It is therefore Checa who has to duel with Laverty already in the second lap: the number seven easily overtakes the Yamaha rider, and seems to have a much faster pace than his rivals. Meanwhile, BMW comes to the rescue, with Leon Haslam knocking behind Max Biaggi, while a very good Marco Melandri takes fifth place from Troy Corser.

In the following laps, Laverty was again great, trying to resist Biaggi's overtaking on the outside, only to then be overtaken by Haslam too. A few positions further on, an extraordinary duel between two Superbike icons, Troy Corser and Noriyuki Haga, with the Japanese author of a magnificent comeback from 14th place on the grid. The battle that is preparing is, however, entirely within Yamaha, with the two riders ready to challenge Haslam for third position, while Jonathan Rea also joins the group. On the tenth lap, Melandri overtook his teammate, while Rea also managed to get ahead of him; the Italian then also overtook Haslam, taking third position.

On lap 14, a nice overtaking by Michel Fabrizio who, having joined the group fighting for the podium, manages to advance Laverty, while Checa continues to lead the race with a full 5 second advantage over Biaggi. Five laps from the end, there is still a big tussle between Haslam and Melandri, with both riders determined not to give up the last step on the podium, but Fabrizio and Laverty also entering the fight for third place. The last laps of race 1 were truly heart-pounding, with the number 33 attacking Haslam's exhausts, and then ending up battling at the finish line with his teammate.

Carlos Checa, therefore, triumphs in Race 1, followed by Max Biaggi and the surprising Leon Haslam on the BMW; fourth and fifth places for Yamaha riders Eugene Laverty and Marco Melandri.

Phillip Island – SUPERBIKE – Race 1

1. Carlos Checa34'16.503 Ducati 1098R (Althea Racing)
2. Max Biaggi34'20.868 Aprilia RSV4 Factory (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team)
3. Leon Haslam34'27.222 BMW S1000 RR (BMW Motorrad Motorsport)
4. Eugene Laverty34'27.769 Yamaha YZF R1 (Yamaha World Superbike Team)
5. Marco Melandri34'27.796 Yamaha YZF R1 (Yamaha World Superbike Team)
6. Michel Fabrizio34'28.542 Suzuki GSX-R1000 (Team Suzuki Alstare)
7. Jakub Smrz34'36.797 Ducati 1098R (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing)
8. Tom Sykes34'37.245 Kawasaki ZX-10R (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike)
9. Noriyuki Haga34'38.924 Aprilia RSV4 Factory (PATA Racing Team Aprilia)
10. Troy Corser34'42.325 BMW S1000 RR (BMW Motorrad Motorsport)
11. Roberto Rolfo34'45.773 Kawasaki ZX-10R (Team Pedercini)
12. Jonathan Rea34'47.562 Honda CBR1000RR (Castrol Honda)
13. Leon Camier34'48.224 Aprilia RSV4 Factory (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team)
14. Ayrton Badovini34'52.892 BMW S1000 RR (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team)
15. Bryan Staring34'52.973 Kawasaki ZX-10R (Team Pedercini)
16. Ruben Xaus34'58.431 Honda CBR1000RR (Castrol Honda)
17. James Toseland35'11.742 BMW S1000 RR (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team)
18. Joshua Waters35'16.815 Suzuki GSX-R1000 (Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team)
19. Mark Aitchison35'16.819 Kawasaki ZX-10R (Team Pedercini)
20. Maxime Berger35'46.628 Ducati 1098R (Supersonic Racing Team)
RT. Joan Lascorz20'23.035 Kawasaki ZX-10R (Kawasaki Racing Team)
RT. Sylvain Guintoli9'27.114 Ducati 1098R (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing)