Superpole three

Carlos Checa 1’30.234

Michel Fabrizio 1’30.581

Alstare Ducati's rider Carlos Checa bagged his tenth World Superbike pole position of his career, when he set the fastest lap time of 1’30.234 in Superpole three on Saturday. Factory Aprilia rider Eugene Laverty was so close to claiming the coveted top spot but the Ducati was too fast on the day and Laverty clocked a solid lap time of 1’30.429. Red Devils Roma rider Michel Fabrizio grabbed the last remaining front-row position with a time of 1’30.581.

“After using my last qualifier in Superpole three I was on the second row, but I really wanted to be in the top three like I was in the last races last year. I threw myself into a fast lap using a race tyre and I must say that everything went perfectly. It was just a bit rocky in the turn that comes out onto the straight stretch, but second place is excellent, especially since we've worked well on our race pace. Starting from the front was important. It simplifies things and now I am looking forward to the races tomorrow with confidence," said Laverty.

Kawasaki rider Tom Sykes could not emulate his success he had in Superpole one and two and slipped out of the top three to fourth place and has to settle with a second row place on the grid alongside Goldbet BMW’s Marco Melandri and Laverty’s Aprilia team-mate Sylvain Guintoli. But there will be an all British third row, fronted by Fixi Suzuki’s Leon Camier. He will be joined by Pata Honda team-mates Leon Haslam and Jonathan Rea who line up in eighth and ninth positions on the Australian grid.

Superpole two

Eugene Laverty 1’30.676

Marco Melandri 1’30.710

The Factory Aprilia motorbike reigned supreme in Superpole two as Eugene Laverty came out on top with a time of 1’30.676. Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes clocked in a time of 1’30.696, but was not fast enough to beat Laverty. Italian Goldbet BMW rider Marco Melandri had a consistent Superpole outing and he comfortably made the top three.

It was not the start that Welshman Goldbet BMW’s Chaz Davies would have wanted for his first Superpole on a BMW bike. He was the first Brit who failed to progress into Superpole three, and now has to contend with starting from the fourth row of the grid. Also eliminated were Davide Giugliano and Loris Baz.

ELIMINATED

Davide Giugliano

Loris Baz

Chaz Davies

Superpole one

Tom Sykes 1’30.841

Eugene Laverty 1’30.994

British rider Tom Sykes dominated the first Superpole outing of the season with a lap time of 1’30.841. But Goldbet BMW’s Marco Melandri could not clinch the top spot from the Kawasaki rider, but hot on Italian's heels was Aprilia rider Eugene Laverty, who got over the line in a competitive time of 1’30.994

There was good news for the British riders, as all of them made it through to Superpole two.

ELIMINATED

Max Neukirchner

Jamie Stauffer

Ivan Clementi

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