Checa, current SBK world champion, got straight to work in the
first practice session of the morning, projecting himself into first
place after only ten minutes. In very warm conditions (air temperature
26˚C, track 41˚C), Carlos continued to improve throughout the 45-minute
sessions, closing with a best time of 1m31.9. He was the only rider to
lap in under 1m32. His team-mate Giugliano began to make progress in the
second part of the session, working hard to increase feeling with his
Ducati 1198 and improving on his times to close the practice in
sixteenth position with a best time of 1m33.1.
Later in the day, in
afternoon qualifying, Checa put in a similar performance, recording some
very fast times at the start of the session and moving into first
position once more. He maintained a very good pace throughout the entire
session which, on a track now 53˚C in temperature, bodes well for
Sunday's races. Having found a better setting this morning, Giugliano
made a convincing step up mid-session to join his team-mate near the top
of the timesheets. Both Althea men made a tyre choice that suited the
warm conditions and, as a result, first qualifying saw Giugliano close
in third position with a best time of 1m32.1, followed by Checa in
fourth (1m32.2).
Carlos Checa:
"We've worked well today.
All went well apart from the incident of course; I lost the rear, maybe
because of tyre wear, and couldn't keep hold of it but luckily I didn't
collide with the small wall in front of me! I was able to get back to
the garage where we sorted the handlebar and changed the tyre. I had the
chance to try the narrower tyre but we saw that the wider tyre lasts
longer. The tyres were the focus of our work today really, identifying
the best solution to ensure good race pace. I'm satisfied with what
we've got done. I've always gone well with the Ducati at Phillip Island
and so I think we can benefit from this ‘track factor' come Sunday."
Davide Giugliano:
"It
didn't go at all badly. I had lost some feeling after my crash on
Tuesday and so this morning was difficult but, with the team's help, I
was able to regain confidence by the afternoon. Concentrating on finding
feeling means that we couldn't work on race pace but that will be on
tomorrow's schedule. I had Carlos' help in putting together those fast
laps and it looks like we have the potential to be fast -
now I just
need to go out and find consistency on my own, which is difficult as I
don't yet have all the references. Anyway, we've worked hard and we'll
see what happens tomorrow but today we leave the track very happy."
Genesio Bevilacqua, General Manager of Althea Racing:
"It was a
very positive first qualifying session. Today we identified a better
setting with Davide after carrying out some final tests this morning but
the key was selecting the most suitable tyre for him - this allowed
Davide to put in a fantastic time that puts him in third place for now. I
have to say that Carlos also gave him an involuntary hand in making
that fast lap but the performance was nevertheless strong.
Carlos,
having more experience, concentrated on finding a race pace that will
allow him to complete the races at the highest level and was less
worried about setting the kind of times he'd set in practice. He also
selected the right tyre that will probably be the race tyre. All of the
members of team Althea did a top job today which allowed our two Ducati
riders to be so fast. Tomorrow it should be hotter, meaning less grip,
so I expect a difficult day as far as tyres are concerned."
TIMES (Qualifying): 1. Rea (Honda) 1'31.9; 2. Smrz (Ducati) 1'32.1; 3. Giugliano (Ducati) 1'32.1; 4. Checa (Ducati) 1'32.2; 5. Biaggi (Aprilia) 1'32.3; 6. Canepa (Ducati) 1'32.3; 7. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'32.4; 8. Lascorz (Kawasaki) 1'32.4; 9. Melandri (BMW) 1'32.5; Fabrizio (BMW) 1'32.6
