Checa fastest, Rea hurt in Australia

From worldsbk.com and Castrol Honda

Carlos Checa (Ducati Althea Racing) was quickest overall at the end of the four SBK official test sessions held at the Phillip Island circuit, which concluded on Tuesday.

On his Ducati 1098R the Spaniard, who won one of the races here in Australia last year, put a gap of over half-a-second between himself and second-placed man Sylvain Guintoli (Ducati Effenbert - Liberty Racing).

Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) crashed in the early stages of the last session, potentially jeopardizing his participation in this weekend’s opening round of the 2011 championship. He was taken by helicopter to hospital for an X-ray on his left wrist and on the ring finger of his left hand.

Rea had set the third quickest time in Tuesday morning’s session on day two of the official WSBK test and was on his first lap of the afternoon when he crashed at Phillip Island’s fast turn three, getting off his Castrol Honda CBR1000RR at around 210km/h (130mph).

Rea dislocated the ring finger on his left hand but was later transferred to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne to undergo x-rays and scans on his left wrist.

"I’m so frustrated because we were just about there on race pace and everything was feeling really good," the 24-year-old Rea said. "Early in this afternoon’s session, I was in turn three and winding it on when I suddenly felt the rear squirming and then I realised the bike was on fire. Basically I had to get off it quickly and unfortunately it was at 130mph, which is quick enough."

Fourth quickest overall was Jakub Smrz (Ducati Effenbert - Liberty Racing), followed by Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) and by Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia), whose best time of the two days came in the final session.

Several crashes marked the final stages of the two-and-a-half hour session. Michel Fabrizio, Marco Melandri and Lascorz all went down and were taken to the Medical Centre for checks.

Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) stayed on the top slot by just a fraction as the World Supersport runners completed their four testing sessions at Phillip Island on Tuesday.

The Frenchman was put under pressure throughout by an impressive Broc Parkes on the Kawasaki Motocard.com machine. David Salom on the second Kawasaki was a further two-tenths behind but held on to the place from youngster Florian Marino (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda).

Britain's Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) was next up, followed by Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Bike Service) in sixth. Luca Scassa was the first Yamaha ParkinGO man in the timesheets, in seventh with Chaz Davies a further five places down. Gino Rea (Step Racing Honda) was eighth, while Danilo Dell'Omo was the first Triumph in the timesheets in 10th.

Combined Superbike Test Times
1. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1:30.578
2. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1:31.196
3. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1:31.206
4. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1:31.654
5. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:31.866
6. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:31.870
7. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:32.113
8. Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:32.122
9. Laverty E. (IRL) Yamaha YZF-R1 1:32.137
10. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:32.272
11. Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:32.299
12. Waters J. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:32.394
13. Xaus R. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1:32.405
14. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1:32.413
15. Toseland J. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1:32.880
16. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1:32.994
17. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1:33.233
18. Staring B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:33.398
19. Yanagawa A. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:33.432
20. Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1:33.485
21. Rolfo R. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:33.514
22. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1:33.560
23. Aitchison M. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1:33.721