My predictions were not so bad after all 🙂
Superpole is finished and the resultlist tells the truth.
Carlos Checa is the fastest man ever round Phillip Island on a WSBK machine! ( 1.30,882 ). But he is just ( 0,013 ) seconds quicker than Massilmiliano Biaggi! Great battle between those two ex MotoGp Yamaha Factory teammates.
Third fastest was another privateer Ducati, Silvan Guintoli with the laptime of ( 1.31,293 ). I think Guintoli was the big surprise this morning here in Europe. Of course the afternoons surprise at the same time down under.
The last man to grab the front row position was Leon Haslam ( 1.31,429 ), with BMW.
I thought Corser would be one of the men on the first row, but he only managed to get 7th position.
Best Yamaharider was E.Laverty in 5th place. The lonesome Suzukirider Michelle Fabrizio took 9th and best Kawasakirider Tom Sykes was just the place after Fabrizio. And finally the best Hondarider were Jonathan Rea in 12th place.
So is there anyone who has messed everything up or not performing as predicted? Yes, I think so. I had expected a little bit more from the Castrol Honda team with Rea and Rubens Xaus ( 16th ). Ten Kate is one of the best teams in the paddock, and I don´t really think they are happy with the results of their boys.
Leon Camier Aprilia factoryrider is another dissapointment ( 17th ). If he want to really challenge for the title this year he can not afford to not be performing superb in every single race.
Nori Haga and his new Aprilia ( 14th ) in Pata Racing team is another questionmark. But as you know you can never count him out in the race anyway. Haga is a guy that seems to make surprises if he has a good nights sleep.
What about the ex GP riders Melandri and Rolfo? Melandri grabbed 8th place and that is approx what I thought he would be able to achieve at the moment. But Rolfo in 21.st place is not what I expected him to be. Away to bad result for the newcomer. But maybe the acclimation to the new Kawasaki needs plenty more laps?
Anyway. It will be fantastic to watch the races tomorrow morning live on Eurosport. As usual I cross my fingers for Biaggi and wish a double victory in the first round of WSBK. But Checa will be a hard man to beat. He has been dominating all the weekend and last weeks pretesting. And he also has the rutine that is needed to go for the cheqered flag.
Best Regards
Christer
