Althea Ducati's Carlos Checa recovered from a bout of sickness to top the table on the third and final day of World Superbike private testing at Phillip Island, setting a 1'31.8s lap which is a second off his quickest time in Superpole last year but equals Troy Corser's lap record.
On the final day of testing last year, Checa set a 1'30.578s but Superbikes are now carrying an extra six kilos of weight (which is a good-sized cat). The reigning champion was once again harried all the way by Kawasaki's Tom Sykes while Leon Haslam, on the works BMW, was third fastest and four-tenths off the Spaniard albeit on a qualifying tyre which have historically never worked on the S1000RR.
“We lost time yesterday because I was unwell; I stayed in bed for most of the morning and only went out on track from about 2.30pm. Despite that setback, we still got most of the work done luckily. Today was even hotter and we tried different things but it seems hard to make further improvements when we already feel like we’re at the limit," said Checa.
"We started the season well here last year so we’ve compared last year’s set-up to this year’s, considering the extra six kilos, and we understand the direction to take. We’ll continue with the work on Monday, concentrating mainly on the tyres and their behaviour in these hot conditions but for now I can say I’m satisfied.”
It was bad news for Aprilia's Eugene Laverty, however, as he crashed heavily at Doohan's and is thought to have broken a bone in his hand and suffered a concussion too. (Click here). His team-mate Max Biaggi was just behind Haslam while Joan Lascorz put the second Kawasaki in fifth with Jakub Smrz setting an equal time.
Laverty recorded the eighth-best time despite his setback while Leon Camier put the Fixi Suzuki in 10th with a 1'33.1s lap. His temporary team-mate Josh Brookes spent the day getting used to John Hopkins' bike and managed a 1'34.5 after tipping off unhurt. Metzeler National Superstock front runner David Johnson, who is wildcarding for the Rossair BMW team, was forced to use a standard motor after his race engine expired on day two.
Phillip WSBK test day three - conditions dry
1 Carlos Checa Althea Ducati 1'31.8
2 Tom Sykes Factory Kawasaki 1'31.9
3 Leon Haslam Factory BMW 1'32.2
4 Max Biaggi Factory Aprilia 1'32.3
5 Joan Lascorz Factory Kawasaki 1'32.4
5 Jakub Smrz Effenbert Ducati 1'32.4
7 Michel Fabrizio BMW Italia 1'32.6
8 Eugene Laverty Factory Aprilia 1'32.8
9 Maxime Berger Effenbert Ducati 1'32.9
10 Leon Camier Fixi Suzuki 1'33.1
11 Marco Melandri Factory BMW 1'33.2
12 Sylvain Guintoli Effenbert Ducati 1'33.4
13 Davide Giugliano Althea Ducati 1'33.5
14 David Johnson Rossair AEP BMW 1'34.1
15 Josh Brookes Fixi Suzuki 1'34.5
15 Lorenzo Zanetti Pata Ducati 1'34.7
16 David Salom Pedercini Kawasaki 1'34.9
Air 32° Track 54°
Overall times
1 Carlos Checa Althea Ducati 1'31.8
2 Tom Sykes Factory Kawasaki 1'31.9
3 Leon Haslam Factory BMW 1'32.2 (Q)
4 Max Biaggi Factory Aprilia 1'32.3
5 Joan Lascorz Factory Kawasaki 1'32.4
6 Jakub Smrz Effenbert Ducati 1'32.4
7 Eugene Laverty Factory Aprilia 1'32.5
8 Michel Fabrizio BMW Italia 1'32.6 (Q)
9 Maxime Berger Effenbert Ducati 1'32.9
10 Leon Camier Fixi Suzuki 1'33.1
11 Marco Melandri Factory BMW 1'33.0
12 David Giugliano Althea Ducati 1'33.5
13 Sylvain Guintoli Effenbert Ducati 1'33.5
14 Ayrton Badovini BMW Italia 1'33.6
15 David Johnson Rossdale BMW 1'34.1 (stock engine)
16 Josh Brookes Fixi Suzuki 1'34.5
17 Lorenzo Zanetti Pata Ducati 1'34.7
18 David Salom Pedercini Kawasaki 1'34.9 (injured)
