Checa on front row for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda
 Carlos
Checa has secured his first front row start of the 2008 HANNspree
Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island in Australia
today. The HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider is starting to get
to grips with the all-new HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR
Fireblade and will start from fourth position on the grid
in tomorrow's race. The Spaniard set a Superpole lap of 1'32.373
to take his place alongside Troy Bayliss, Troy Corser and
Michel Fabrizio.
Checa's team-mates and fellow World Superbike rookies Ryuichi
Kiyonari and Kenan Sofuoglu are still adapting to the new
bike and working on finding the optimum set-up for their riding
styles. They will start tomorrow's race from 19th and 21st
places respectively.
HANNspree Honda Althea's Roberto Rolfo continued to improve
with his new team and propelled himself from 16th position
to 13th place on the grid following a successful Superpole
session. The Italian recorded a lap of 1'33.104 and improved
on his times from the previous day's practice sessions.
It is championship leader Bayliss who secured pole position.
The Australian looked comfortable at his home track and will
be pushing to further extend his lead at the head of the standings
to gain an early advantage in the title chase for the 2008
HANNspree Superbike World Championship title.
Qualifying and Superpole:
1. Bayliss (Ducati) 1'31.493
2. Corser (Yamaha) 1'32.011
3. Fabrizio (Ducati) 1'32.164
4. Checa (Honda) 1'32.373
5. Nieto (Suzuki) 1'32.711
6. Smrz (Ducati) 1'32"714
7. Haga (Yamaha) 1'32.728
8. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 1'32.767
9. Holland (Honda) 1'32.903
10. Laconi (Kawasaki) 1'32"962
13. Rolfo (Honda) 1'33.104
19. Kiyonari (Honda) 1'33.522
21. Sofuoglu (Honda) 1'33.728
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