FIM Superbike World Championship Phillip Island Victoria, Australia March 2, 2008 Race One Results: 1. Troy BAYLISS (Duc 1098F08), 22 laps, 34:22.933 2. Troy CORSER (Yam YZF-R1), -4.221 seconds 3. Michel FABRIZIO (Duc 1098F08), -4.738 4. Ruben XAUS (Duc 1098RS), -5.171 5. Fonsi NIETO (Suz GSX-R1000), -5.543 6. Carlos CHECA (Hon CBR1000RR), -5.895 7. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suz GSX-R1000), -5.964 8. Noriyuki HAGA (Yam YZF-R1), -14.826 9. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Hon CBR1000RR), -18.899 10. Roberto ROLFO (Hon CBR1000RR), -20.633 11. Gregorio LAVILLA (Hon CBR1000RR), -21.601 12. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Hon CBR1000RR), -29.281 13. Lorenzo LANZI (Duc 1098RS), -29.500 14. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR1000RR), -30.030 15. Shinichi NAKATOMI (Yam YZF-R1), -30.223 16. Sebastien GIMBERT (Yam YZF-R1), -30.800 17. Russell HOLLAND (Hon CBR1000RR), -50.107 18. Shuhei AOYAMA (Hon CBR1000RR), -67.385 19. Max BIAGGI (Duc 1098RS), -7 laps, DNF, crash 20. Makoto TAMADA (Kaw ZX-10R), -10 laps, DNF, retired 21. Ayrton BADOVINI (Kaw ZX-10R), -13 laps, DNF, retired 22. Loic NAPOLEONE (Yam YZF-R1), -15 laps, DNF, retired 23. Regis LACONI (Kaw ZX-10R), -16 laps, DNF, retired 24. Jakub SMRZ (Duc 1098RS), -20 laps, DNF, crash 25. David CHECA (Yam YZF-R1), -22 laps, DNF, retired 26. Luca MORELLI (Hon CBR1000RR), DNS 27. Vittorio IANNUZZO (Kaw ZX-10R), DNS More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: Checa claims 6th place in messy first Superbike race at Phillip Island The first race of the second round of the World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island today recorded one of the most dramatic starts. Straight after the lights went out, Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio stalled on the front row and got badly hit in the back by two other riders, causing a red flag situation and confusion in the field. HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s Carlos Checa got taken out by another rider while teammate Sofuoglu managed to make a narrow escape through the grass. Checa was then left on the track for minutes before medics brought him back to the paddock, giving him just 40 seconds to get ready and back onto the starting grid for the re-start the session. Checa, whose boots and leathers were still half done as he left the grid for the second time, managed to finish the messy race in 6th place, followed by Kiyonari at 9th, who put in a great performance and secured his first top 10 WSB finish. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager; I didn’t know so many things could go wrong in just one lap. First there was the collision of riders at the starting grid, after the red flag came out another rider, who hadn’t noticed the flag, took out Carlos. Then it took a while for Carlos to make it back to the garage and start again. I’m satisfied with the performance of Kiyonari and Sofuoglu who both put in a good performance and improved on their lap times. Carlos Checa, 6th; I saw a red flag just after the start and slowed down, when I was hit in the back by another rider. Then I was left on the track for minutes. The stewards must have thought I was a spectator rather then a rider as no one came out to pick me up. I only had 40 seconds to make it back to the starting grid once I left the medical centre. I’m satisfied with the race, after all these incidents finishing 6th on my second bike which I hadn’t tested is not a bad result. Hopefully I can improve my results this afternoon and forget this first round. Ryuichi Kiyonari, 9th; I am really happy as I finally made it into the top ten. My last 5 laps were among the fastest in the field, which shows there’s more to come. I feel a lot better then yesterday, a lot more relaxed and more at ease with the machine. The engine is starting to run smoother which enables me to go faster. Today’s race has certainly built my confidence, I know I can be out there with the fast guys, but still will have to work harder. Hopefully next race I will be able to further improve my lap times. Kenan Sofuoglu, 14th; It was a hard race for me. I still can’t be relaxed on the bike, which makes me really tired. In the beginning of the race I can tag onto a fast group, but towards the end I have to let go. That’s is really is something I have to improve on.